The Bluegrass State is associated with several things including Colonel Sanders and horses, but most likely you know it for bourbon. The brown water is considered to be America’s spirit and has been distilled within the state for over a century.
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail was officially outlined in 1999 as a tourism product for those interested in visiting the places where bourbon is made. There’s an official passport where you can get stamps for every visit. But there are also several distilleries not included in the trail worth a stop.
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What to Know About the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Most travelers will start their journey in Louisville because this is where the major airport is located and it’s an easy hub to use to explore the smaller communities. You can pick up your passport from the Frazier Museum of History, which also has an excellent exhibit on bourbon history.
Louisville also has its own “urban bourbon” trail where several distilleries have set up in-town tasting rooms and operations. You can visit more than one in a day easily without needing a car, getting around on street level or use rideshare apps. Lexington is another hub with many distilleries clustered together.
From there, you might want to pick two to three smaller areas to explore, including Bardstown, Frankfort, Lexington, and Shelbyville, all highlighted below. Each distillery also has its own costs associated with tastings and tours, bottling, and cocktail classes. Some may require reservations, so check before you go.
Where to Go on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but we’ve visited these distilleries and can recommend them firsthand!
Louisville
Louisville Distilleries
Many of the big names have a presence in town, so you can hit several spots in one visit, mostly around Whiskey Row. Angel’s Envy offers tours and tastings from $25 as well as monthly cocktail classes and single barrel bottling. The Finishing Room is the distillery’s onsite bar.
While most of the distilling happens at the other location, Michter’s Fort Nelson is located inside a historic brick building and includes the original still from Pennsylvania. Here, visitors can do a tour and tasting, even bottling a bottle and enjoying a drink at the cocktail bar.
The downtown Evan Williams Bourbon Experience has the standard tours and tastings plus history tours, chocolate pairings, and cocktail classes. Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company has tours and tastings, including one led by a distiller.
Rabbit Hole Distillery is located in the NuLu neighborhood, with tours and tastings available for $25. The Overlook Loung is also open to the public for cocktails made with the spirits. Tours and tastings of Old Forester open three months ahead but visitors can also go to George’s Bar onsite.
Stitzel-Weller Distillery is a bourbon nerd favorite for tours and tastings of Blade & Bow, Bulleit, and I.W. Harper. It’s also the site of the Garden & Gun Club, a restaurant and bar affiliated with the magazine. Kentucky Artisan Distillery is in Crestwood, a Louisville suburb, with tours and tastings available to be booked in advance.
Private Tour of Kentucky’s Small Batch Bourbon Distilleries visits Kentucky Artisan Distillery, Stitzel-Weller Distillery, and Three Boys Farm Distillery.
Louisville Restaurants
Just about every type of cuisine can be found in town, but several restaurants are known for their ties to bourbon. Bar Vetti crafts Italian fare and barrel-aged cocktails. Named for the neighborhood, Butchertown Grocery and Bakery has delightful pastries and coffee by day but also operates as a bottle shop.
Open since 2005, Bourbons Bistro is another contender for best bourbon bar with dishes like steak and shrimp and grits. Barn8 Restaurant is worth the trip out to Goshen for farm-fresh cuisine and, of course, a bourbon bar.
Louisville Bars
You’ll be drinking plenty of bourbon at the distilleries, but don’t skip out on the bars as well. Shop and sip at Clayton and Crume, a leather goods and gift shop with a secret bar. Hell or High Water is a moody cocktail lounge with creative cocktails and live jazz. Reservations are recommended.
Neat Bar has rightfully earned its reputation as one of the best bourbon bars and bottle shops in the nation. But The Last Refuge, run by the Heaven’s Door bourbon brand, is after that crown with an entire wall of bottles to choose from in a former church.
Louisville Hotels
Louisville has several excellent hotels, but if it’s history you’re after, you’ve got to stay at The Seelbach Hilton, which even has a cocktail named for it. Hotel Distil Autograph Collection sits inside a former barrel warehouse, while the Myriad Hotel redesigned the factory where disco balls were made. Hotel Genieveve is a chic stay in NuLu from the folks behind Bunkhouse Hotels.
Looking for more to do in Louisville? Check out our weekend guide.
Clermont
Set between Louisville and Bardstown, Clermont is generally used as a day trip from either side because it’s home to Jim Beam and little else. James B. Beam Distilling Co. has tours and tastings, plus extras like visits to the warehouse, the Fred B. Noe Distillery, and a supper club with the master distillers.
The Kitchen Table is the onsite restaurant with Southern favorites like wings, pimento cheese, fried chicken, and pizza. You can also get a cocktail from the bar serving Beam products.
Bardstown
Bardstown Distilleries
Bardstown has been given the title of “Bourbon Capitol of America,” so you know what to expect when you arrive. Heaven Hill‘s tasting room showcases its brands with galleries and exhibits to go with the tours and tastings. Five Brothers Bar & Kitchen is a full-service restaurant with salads and sandwiches.
Bardstown Bourbon Co. has a Louisville tasting room, but you can also go straight to the source, which has tours and tastings, whiskey thieving, cocktail classes, blending, and bottling experiences. There’s also an on-site restaurant.
Preservation Distillery is a farm distillery with tours and tastings, including a food pairing luncheon. Lux Row Distillers offers tours of its production facility and guided tastings. Book in advance for the experiences at Willett Distillery, including the tour and tasting, visit to the bar, and table at the restaurant.
And while not a distillery, the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History is a must-see for the bourbon trail traveler. Tours are also offered at the Four Roses Warehouse and Bottling in nearby Cox’s Creek.
Bardstown Restaurants
Old Talbott Tavern is a must-see, where every traveler of the old West passed through, including Daniel Boone and Jesse James. The restaurant serves local dishes like burgoo and beer cheese. There’s also a bourbon bar and history tours offered in the storied space.
Pat’s Place is another local spot for daily specials like barbecue pork and meatloaf.
Bardstown Bars
You can drink at several places around town, but Chicken Cock Whiskey Circa 1856 is one to check out, located across the street from the Talbott Tavern. The bar crafts cocktails from the whiskey brand as well as hosts tastings, which should be booked ahead of time.
Bardstown Hotels
Many of the accommodations in Bardstown are rentals, but more options are opening. Talbott Tavern and Inn is a longstanding favorite, located at the historic watering hole. Bourbon Barrel Retreats is just outside of town with cabins shaped like bourbon barrels, perfect for groups.
Bardstown Motor Lodge is a converted motel with retro vibes, an outdoor swimming pool, and a restaurant. The Trail Hotel is set to open in 2025 with amenities like a “bourbon butler” to make recommendations for bourbon trail visitors.
Private Bardstown Bourbon Tour is a small-group tour visiting several area distilleries, including Willett, Lux Row, and Heaven Hill.
Lebanon
Lebanon is short on distilleries, but it is a good place to stop for a meal between visits. Most come for Limestone Branch Distillery, which has tastings of its brands and cocktail classes in the Minors Lounge. You can also take a tour of the Lebanon cooperage, where barrels are made for bourbon’s biggest names.
In neighboring Loretto is the Maker’s Mark Distillery, with tours of the distillery, farm, and property, including an ASL-interpreted tasting. Visitors can dine at Star Hill Provisions.
Dine at Cedarwood Restaurant for a hearty breakfast and burgers, or at Ragetti’s Italian Food for basic pizzas and pastas.
There’s only one real place to stay in town, Hampton Inn Lebanon, which has the amenities you’d expect, like free parking and WiFi.
Shelbyville
Shelbyville Distilleries
Charming Shelbyville is the site of Bulleit Distilling Co. Visitors experience standard tours and tastings, and higher-level tastings of single barrels.
Jeptha Creed Distillery has a distillery tour, free spirit tasting, barrel tasting, and mixology classes. Creed Cafe has pizza and small bites, and the bar offers bourbon cocktails.
Shelbyville Restaurants
Don’t miss the famous hot brown at the Bell House Restaurant, a popular Southern restaurant serving the Kentucky sandwich covered in rich Mornay sauce. The Claudia Sanders Dinner House is named for the wife of Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame.
Shelbyville Hotels
The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Shelbyville is your basic chain hotel with typical offerings. Cerulean Farm is a charming bed and breakfast that even allows equestrian guests for those traveling with horses.
Frankfort
Frankfort Distilleries
The state capitol has its fair share of bourbon operations like the storied Buffalo Trace Distillery. There are several ways to experience it, including tours of the gardens, historic landmark buildings, and, of course, the distillery. All tastings end with a chocolate bourbon ball. Expect to wait during bottle release days. The Firehouse Sandwich Stop is the distillery’s cafe, set in the former fire station.
Located in the former E.H. Taylor Distillery, Castle & Key has tours of the gardens and grounds plus tastings of bourbon, gin, and vodka. Whiskey Thief Distillery is set on a century-old farm with tours and tastings.
Detour to Versailles (pronounced ver-sayles) to see the Woodford Reserve Distillery in all its glory. Choose from one of several tour options or embark on a cocktail class, ending your visit at the Cocktail Lounge.
Over in Lawrenceburg, you’ll find Four Roses Distillery, which has the standard tour and tasting, a tour in the historic distillery building, and single-barrel tastings. Visitors can also grab a drink at Bar 1888.
From there, you can hop over to the Wild Turkey Distillery Visitors Center, offering standard lineup and premium selection tastings and tours of the distillery and rickhouse.
Frankfort Restaurants
As the name implies, Locals Food Hub & Pizza Pub is a casual local spot for pizza, craft beer, and locally made products. Another restaurant known for its bourbon selection is The Stave Restaurant, but don’t sleep on the hot honey fried chicken here. Bourbon on Main has burgers, sandwiches, and bourbon cocktails.
Frankfort Hotels
Travelers can now stay in the heart of Frankfort at The Delegate Hotel, which has large, modern rooms. Castle & Key has Airbnb rental homes not far from the distillery. The Kentucky Castle in Versailles has luxury accommodations, a spa, and a restaurant.
Buffalo Trace, Woodford, Four Roses, and Wild Turkey Tour includes stops at the aforementioned distilleries.
Lexington
Lexington Distilleries
Louisville may be the main hub for bourbon, but Lexington is a great alternative as it has a smaller airport and its own “urban bourbon” trail. Check out the tasting room experiences at Fresh Bourbon Distillery, Bluegrass Distillers, RD1 Spirits, and Barrel House Distillery.
Lexington Brewing and Distilling actually makes Town Branch bourbon and varieties of craft beer. It’s open for tours and tastings, along with the taproom and patio open to the public. James E Pepper offers distillery tours and is set within a historic district now surrounded by restaurants and bars.
Hartfield & Co Distillery in Paris has distillery tours and a “distiller for a day” experience. Wilderness Trail Distillery in Danville offers distillery tours and cocktail classes.
Lexington Bars
Bluegrass Tavern claims to have the biggest bourbon selection in Kentucky, making it an essential stop for booze travelers. The tiki vibes at the rooftop Lost Palm take inspiration from 1960s Florida with a raw bar and shareable bites. If you can find Trifecta Glass Art Lounge, you won’t soon forget it, tucked behind a glassblowing studio.
Lexington Restaurants
Start the day with a big breakfast from Doodles, which has a hot brown quesadilla and biscuits and gravy. Bourbon on Rye is another top bourbon bar with sandwiches. Located at the 21C Hotel, Lockbox is an award-winning restaurant with Southern dishes and seafood.
Lexington Hotels
Spend the night at The Manchester, the latest boutique hotel with an equestrian style and two restaurants. The 21c Museum Hotel Lexington was one of the first to open from the brand, filled with interesting artwork.
Looking for more to do in Lexington? Check out our weekend guide.
Getting Around the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Perhaps the most important detail in planning your trip to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is figuring out how to get around. From the furthest points, it’s about an hour in any direction, so you absolutely need a designated driver.
If you plan on taking a tour, check out the aforementioned options, which typically offer guided bus tours for groups. You can even take a riverboat tour or just book a shuttle for your crew from one of the several operators, like Mint Julep.
Public transportation is limited but is offered in some areas. If you’re staying in the capital, hop on the Frankfort Trolley, which runs to Buffalo Trace. The TARC bus in Louisville is helpful for visiting the stops along Whiskey Row, including route 10. In Lexington, Route 3 on Lextran passes several distilleries.
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