How to Plan a Perfect Bourbon Trail Trip

If you’re a bourbon lover, then you know the feeling of excitement that comes when you begin to plan a Bourbon Trail^™ trip to Kentucky.

From the distillery tours to the whiskey tastings and everything in between, there’s no shortage of things to do when visiting one of America’s most famous alcohol trails.

If you’re looking for some inspiration on planning a Bourbon Trail^™ trip or just want a few Bourbon Trail tips from someone who’s been there before, read on!

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What is the Bourbon Trail^™?

The Bourbon Trail^™ is the official route of distilleries in Kentucky. A bourbon lover’s dream, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail^® is a road trip style experience that takes you through eighteen of the most well-known distilleries in the state. It’s known as one of the best ways to taste bourbon at its source.

Visitors can tour facilities, enjoy bourbon tastings, and get a glimpse into what makes this area so special, all while learning more about bourbon’s rich history.

Over the past five years, more than six million people have embarked on tours along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail^®.

The trail has been so successful that it now includes a Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour^®, which lets you visit craft distilleries and learn about how they’re making their own variations on the classic bourbon style.

Where does the Bourbon Trail^™ start and end?

The Bourbon Trail^™ is actually a collection of distilleries across one hundred miles split between ten different cities in Kentucky. It’s best to think of the Bourbon Trail^™ in regions if you’re looking to visit all of them.

There is no set path to take, and you can visit as many or as few of the distilleries as you choose.

How much does the Bourbon Trail^™ cost?

A visit to Kentucky distilleries is a unique experience. Whether you’re looking for a tour of your favorite brand, or just stopping by for a tasting, the cost of visiting these places isn’t cheap when you add up all the costs.

You may think you can stop by for a visit without a tour, but very few distilleries will allow you to walk the grounds without purchasing a tour or tasting. Although I’m sure, they would welcome you into the gift shop.

Distillery tours range from $16 up to as much as $300, depending on what you choose. Many extra activities and experiences offered come at an additional price.

If you are a bourbon aficionado, you may also want to figure in the cost of bottles you may want to purchase. Many distilleries offer “only sold here” bottles that you will undoubtedly want to buy.

Finally, have a plan for how you will bring those bottles back home since most distilleries will not ship them out of their facility. We slipped our bottles in plastic laundry bags, wrapped them with clothes, and then had the airline label our bags as fragile.

Thankfully, none of them broke.

Should I drive or book a guided Bourbon Trail^™ tour?

Before planning your Bourbon Trail trip, you must ask yourself whether you want to drive or have someone else drive.

Let’s look at the pros and cons to help you decide.

Driving yourself is more flexible but requires more planning, including renting a car and booking your own distillery tours. This also means you can control where you go and how long you stay.

It is possible to participate in the bourbon tastings and not get drunk since, by Kentucky law, the tastings along the Bourbon Trail^™ can’t exceed 1.75 ounces. However, every distillery has a bar where you might choose to stay for a drink. Make sure you have a willing designated driver.

Booking a tour is the way to go if you don’t mind sticking to someone else’s schedule. A guided tour lets you spend more time enjoying your bourbon and less time trying to find places on your phone map.

You will also have an expert guide who knows about Bourbon and can answer any questions that come up during your trip.

There are several great companies for booking a tour. Local tour operators like Travel the Trail Tours or Mint Julep Experiences will help plan the perfect bourbon trail experiences.

The choice is yours, but I will tell you that we rented a car and drove ourselves without any trouble. I have shared our exact Kentucky Bourbon Trail 3 day itinerary that you can follow.

Pick up a Bourbon Trail Passport & Field Guide

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Welcome Center is the perfect place to gather everything you need for your trip. Located inside the Frasier History Museum in downtown Louisville, this is the official starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail^®.

Here you can pick up a bourbon trail map, get help with routes, and participate in interactive exhibits around all things bourbon. It is also where you can purchase a Bourbon Trail Passport & Field Guide.

Admission to the Frasier Museum is $14, and the museum is open from 10 AM to 5 PM Monday-Saturday, except for Sundays when it is open 11 AM to 4 PM.

The Bourbon Trail Passport & Field Guide gives you information about each distillery, provides cocktail recipes, and has a place for a passport stamp to indicate you visited the distillery.

When you collect all the passport stamps from each region, you can redeem them for a special gift.

Of course, a passport is not necessary for visits to the distilleries, but it is filled with fun facts and a nice way to commemorate your visits. At the time of this post, the cost of the Bourbon Trail Passport and Field Guide was $14.

Buy your passport at any distillery gift shop if you aren’t able to visit the Welcome Center.

Start planning a custom Bourbon Trail^™ itinerary.

Now you know the basics, start planning your own custom Bourbon Trail^™ route that will include your favorites!

1. Pick the distilleries you want to visit using my guide below.
2. Group the distilleries by region.
3. Explore the distillery tour times and tasting times available.
4. Book your distillery tours and tastings.
5. Map out your route.
6. Get ready to enjoy your trip.

To plan a perfect Bourbon Trail^™ day, look at the distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail^®, which I’ve listed below.

Do you have a favorite bourbon? Is there a bourbon you’ve been wanting to try? Have you heard about a great location? Make a list of the distilleries that are a must-see based on your likes.

Next, group the distilleries on your list using the regions mentioned below. It will be difficult to visit distilleries in different regions in one day, so keep this in mind when you plan.

Visit the distillery websites to explore the distillery tours and experiences and discover the times each one offers. I’ve linked them all below each description.

I recommend booking two distillery tours per day and then tastings for the others. You will be pressed for time if you try to do more than that on any given day.

Once you find the tours you want, don’t wait to book them. Many of the distilleries have a generous cancellation policy if you change your mind later.

Finally, map out your route. You might find there is a craft distillery along the way that you can stop and visit.

My best piece of advice is don’t plan your day too tightly!

The best part about traveling along the Bourbon Trail^™ is getting lost along the way–especially if it means finding an incredible new restaurant or brewery that isn’t on any map but should be.

And don’t worry if things don’t go exactly as planned; there’s always tomorrow!

As you plan a Bourbon Trail^™ trip, here’s a list of the distilleries that you will find closest to each other:

Louisville Area Distilleries

Louisville has several distilleries downtown along Whiskey Row. Here you will find Evan Williams, Michter’s, Old Forester, Angel’s Envy, and Rabbit Hole. Stitzel-Weller, Bulleit, and Green River are part of this region but are located a short distance outside the city.

I recommend booking tours at these distilleries if your time in Kentucky is limited since many of these are within a very short distance of each other.

Evan Williams Bourbon Trail Experience

Located in downtown Louisville on Whiskey Row, The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience offers an immersive historical exhibit that takes you through the entire bourbon-making process from start to finish.

The distillery is within walking distance of various attractions, including the Louisville Slugger Museum, 21C Museum Hotel, and the Frasier Museum.

Evan Williams – 528 West Main St., Louisville, KY 40202

Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery

With its rich history and Old World charm, Michter’s offers an unforgettable atmosphere to enjoy fine spirits. Michter’s Distillery is located in the heart of Louisville, Kentucky, making it easy to visit while you’re in town and within walking distance from Evan Williams.

Michter’s Bar at Fort Nelson serves classic cocktails, from hand-crafted glassware for your enjoyment. There are three floors to visit, including a gift shop with amazing Michter’s products, and a tasting room.

Two distillery tours, the Founders Tour and the Legacy Tour, are offered daily except Mondays and include seven whiskey tastings, including several single-barrel whiskeys.

Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery – 801 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202

Old Forester Distillery

Old Forester, America’s First Bottled Bourbon™, has been making whiskey of the finest quality for more than 140 years.

You can find Old Forester along downtown Louisville’s Whiskey Row, in the original building where they began brewing bourbon in 1870.

Besides being the first single-barrel bourbon ever made, it is the only bourbon continually sold by the same company before, during, and after Prohibition.

They offer two tours of their distillery: Nothing Better in the Market Tour and the Old Forester Tour.

Old Forester Distillery – 119 West Main St, Louisville, KY 40202

Angel’s Envy Distillery

Whiskey Row is home to Angel’s Envy, a fairly new family-run distillery with hand-crafted small-batch bourbon created by Lincoln Henderson, the creator of Woodford Reserve and Gentleman Jack.

Angel’s Envy Distillery offers a bottle-your-own experience, cocktail classes, and several tours, including their Signature Tour that ends with tastings of their bourbon finished in port barrels and rum casks.

Angel’s Envy Distillery – 500 E. Main St, Louisville, KY 40202

Rabbit Hole Distillery

Rabbit Hole Distillery is in an impressive architectural building in NuLu.

NuLu (New Louisville) is known for its art, culture, and food, making it a great place to explore.

Rabbit Hole Distillery was created by a former psychologist who fell in love with a native Louisvillian.

He turned his passion for bourbon into Rabbit Hole, which has a modern take on the classic drink by combining old techniques with exclusive mash bills.

They take reservations eight weeks in advance. Book this tour if you want to see Rabbit Hole, as it is the only way to explore this distillery.

Rabbit Hole Distillery – 711 E Jefferson St, Louisville, KY 40202

Stitzel – Weller Distillery

The Stitzel Weller Distillery is located in Shively, five miles from downtown Louisville. The distillery originally opened in 1935 but stopped distilling in 1992.

The historic site was renovated and reopened in 2014, with tours available to the general public.

You can take a tour of the distillery or visit the Garden & Gun Club, which is a full-service bar.

Tours include the Progressive Walking Tour and Tasting and the Stitzel Weller Experience Tour.

In addition to the traditional tours, Stitzel Weller also offers two types of cocktail and mixology classes, along with my favorite, the Chocolate Tasting experience. It’s a guided tasting experience with five different kinds of chocolates.

Stitzel-Weller Distillery – 3860 Fitzgerald Road, Louisville, KY 40216

Bulleit Distillery

Bulleit Whiskey is a bourbon that’s high in flavor, and one of my favorite bourbons to drink.

Since its introduction to the national market, Bulleit has been one of the fastest-growing brands in the entire whiskey category.

Bulleit was founded in 1987 and is highly commended for its commitment to quality, sustainability, and craftsmanship.

The distillery is located in Shelbyville, Kentucky, and boasts one of the most beautiful visitors center where you can experience their commitment to quality firsthand.

This is an odd fact, but you have to smell their hand soaps. They smell amazing!

If you want to book a tour or cocktail class, be sure to do so quickly because it’s pretty difficult to get openings.

Bulleit Distillery – 3464 Benson Pike, Shelbyville, KY 40065

Green River Distilling Co.

Green River Distilling Co. is home to the most western location on the Bourbon Trail^™, offering tours and tasting experiences in a unique, historic setting.

The distillery offers three different types of distillery tours and tasting experiences, as well as a gift shop and cocktail lounge.

It is important to note that the distillery is in the Central Standard time zone.

Green River Distillery – 10 Distillery Road, Owensboro, KY 42301

Lexington Area Distilleries

Lexington is located about an hour and a half east of Louisville. This region has Wilderness Trail, Woodford Reserve, Town Branch, Four Roses Distillery, and Wild Turkey. While Buffalo Trace Distillery is no longer an official member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail^®, it is a popular spot in this region.

You must drive or take a guided tour to reach these distilleries.

Wilderness Trail

Wilderness Trail Distillery is a fairly new distillery in Kentucky specializing in small-batch bourbon, rye whiskey, and vodka.

The distillery is open to the public and offers tours and tastings.

You can visit the Visitor Center from 9 AM to 5 PM Tuesday through Saturday.

There are six one-hour-long tours given throughout the day, all ending with a tasting.

Wilderness Trail – 4095 Lebanon Rd, Danville, KY 40422

Woodford Reserve Distillery

Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky, began bourbon making in 1812 and is now a National Historic Landmark.

The distillery is located along Glenn’s Creek. To visit the distillery, you must make a reservation for tours and tastings. Tours operate Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM and Sundays from noon to 4:30 PM.

There are several tours and experiences from which to choose, which include the Woodford Reserve’s Path to Flavor Tour, The Spectacle for the Senses Tasting, VIP Master Distiller Tour Experience, Innovation Inspired tour and tasting, and a mixology experience where you can learn how to make an Old Fashioned.

A gift shop is also open Monday through Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and Sundays from noon to 4:30 PM.

Across the street from the distillery is a cocktail bar where you can enjoy drinks made with Woodford Reserve spirits Monday through Saturday, 11 AM – 4:30 PM, and Sundays, noon to 4:30 PM. This is one of the few places that offered food for sale.

They also offer a lovely lounge area and outdoor seating.

Woodford Reserve Distillery – 7855 McCracken Pike, Versailles, KY 40383

Town Branch Distillery

Town Branch Distillery is the first new distillery in Lexington, Kentucky, in over a century.

It offers both beer and bourbon, with its bourbon barrels used for craft beer brewing.

Town Branch Distillery is the only combination brewery and distillery on the Bourbon Trail^™ and offers hour-long tours for guests to experience.

Town Branch Distillery (Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.) – 401 Cross St, Lexington, KY 40508

Four Roses Distillery

Four Roses Distillery has opened its new Visitor Center in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.

This is an impressive site with a state-of-the-art distillery. The bourbon is actually not kept here, though. It is shipped to the warehouse and bottling facility in Cox’s Creek.

The facility houses a newly designed bar, Bar 1888, which offers a sampling of each of its ten recipes.

Guests can participate in a single-barrel flight tasting experience or a distillery legacy tour. For those short on time, they offer a guided flight tasting with a bit of history.

Four Roses Distillery – 1224 Bonds Mill Rd, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342

Wild Turkey Distillery

Our trip to Wild Turkey was unfortunately foiled by our GPS.

We found the distillery, but it turns out that they are undergoing renovations now, so they are closed to tourists.

We tried to visit the pop-up location for the temporary gift shop, but GPS led us astray, and we couldn’t find the location before closing time.

You will definitely want to check their website before heading that way.

Wild Turkey Distillery – 1525 Tyrone Road, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky 40342

Buffalo Trace Distillery

Located in Frankfort, Kentucky, Buffalo Trace has a long history of distilling bourbon and making it their own. They were once part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail,^® but after a disagreement with those in charge, Buffalo Trace is no longer an official member.

However, it still remains popular among visitors to the area who enjoy tours and tastings for free.

Buffalo Trace Distillery – 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY 40601

Feeling overwhelmed with so many choices? Use my Kentucky Bourbon Trail 3 day itinerary, where I have mapped all the stops.

Bardstown Area Distilleries

Bardstown is considered the Bourbon Capital of the World. In this region, you will find Bardstown Bourbon Co, Lux Row, Heaven Hill, Maker’s Mark, and Jim Beam, all within thirty miles of each other.

This is another region in which you will need to drive or book a guided tour since it is about an hour away from Louisville.

Heaven Hill Distillery

Enjoy a tour of Heaven Hill Distillery, home to Heaven Hill, Bernheim, Larceny, and Elijah Craig brand bourbons.

Located in Historic Bardstown, Kentucky, this expansive complex features many interactive exhibits, including a Bourbon 101 exhibit, a family gallery, and a 1935 Distillery Theater.

Don’t forget to head upstairs to the Five Brothers Bar with its massive lounge and outdoor patio.

They offer four types of tours, including the You Do Bourbon Experience, which allows you to taste three different types of bourbon, then bottle and personalize your own bottle for an additional fee, of course!

Heaven Hill Distillery – 1311 Gilkey Run Rd., Bardstown, KY 40004

Bardstown Bourbon Company

The Bardstown Bourbon Company is located in the heart of Bourbon Country, on 100 acres of farmland in the town of Bardstown.

The distillery features a Napa Valley style experience, and offers ten different tours for everyone from first-time visitors to experienced connoisseurs.

One of the few distilleries with a restaurant, it would make a great lunch stop on your visits to the Bardstown area.

Bardstown Bourbon Company – 1500 Parkway Drive, Bardstown, KY 40004

Lux Row Distillery

You’ll be in awe as you enter the Lux Row Distillery property, with its tree-lined street leading the way to its expansive property.

Relatively new to the bourbon business, Lux Row has grown rapidly, becoming one of the top producers in the USA.

You can start your tour or tasting at their welcoming Visitor Center and Bar before heading over to their distillery for a more in-depth look at how bourbon is made.

Lux Row Distillery – 1 Lux Row (3050 E John Rowan Blvd), Bardstown, KY 40004

Maker’s Mark Distillery at Star Hill Farm

Maker’s Mark is distilled at the famous Star Hill Farm located in Loretto, Kentucky. This distillery has the distinction of being the largest distillery in the world at over 1,000 acres.

One of the most beautiful distilleries on the Bourbon Trail^™, Maker’s Mark is also recognized as a National Historic Landmark.

Maker’s Mark at Star Hill Farm is a family-owned distillery that has been committed to sustainability, and its motto, “Make your Mark, Leave no Trace,” reflects that commitment.

They are rooted in traditions, and still, hand rotate all their barrels, cut their own labels, and hand dip each bottle.

Once there, you can participate in one of three tours. You’ll also want to check out their gift shop, where visitors can purchase a bottle of bourbon and try hand-dipping their own bottle.

Maker’s Mark Distillery –  3350 Burks Spring Rd, Loretto, KY 40037

James B. Beam Distilling Co.

Founded in Clermont, Kentucky, by James B. Beam, Jim Beam is one of the most recognizable bourbon brands in the world.

Considered the first family of Bourbon, this historic distillery has been making bourbon for over 200 years.

This working distillery offers three tour experiences, a restaurant called The Kitchen Table, and a class to learn how to make your own bourbon cocktail.

Jim Beam Distillery – 568 Happy Hollow Rd. Clermont, KY 40110

How long does the Bourbon Trail^™ take?

The recommended minimum amount of time to spend on the Bourbon Trail^™ is three days. Honestly, if you plan to see anything else in Louisville or Lexington, three days will not be enough time to see every distillery simply because of their hours of operation.

You can still see most of the distilleries without too much trouble–it just might mean skipping some stops along the way.

Some of my favorite stops along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Once you’ve decided when to go, it’s time to book your bourbon trail tours.

There are tons of different ways to experience the Kentucky Bourbon Trail^®, and I’ve tried most of them. I’ve done distillery tours, bottle-your-own experiences, a horse farm tour with a bourbon tasting, and special experiences like dipping and sealing my own bottle.

The best part is that each experience is unique and interesting in its own way.

I’ve rounded up my favorite tours and stops, but you will undoubtedly want to choose a tour that fits your needs and interests.

• Maker’s Mark distillery tour and dip your own bottle experience – This is one of my favorites because it includes an educational tour of Maker’s Mark, followed by an opportunity to dip your own bottle in their signature red wax.

• Four Roses distillery tour with guided tasting – The Four Roses distillery tour is great because it includes both an educational tour of their facilities and a guided tasting.

• Heaven Hill bottle your own bourbon through the You do Bourbon experience – Heaven Hill has produced bourbon since 1936 and still makes great bourbon today. The self-guided museum experience, followed by a guided tasting, is highlighted by the bottle-your-own-bourbon experience at the end of the visit.

• Evan Williams Distillery tour – Evan Williams’ employees were super friendly and just made the whole experience wonderful. They have a chic bar called On3 Bar where you can do a sampling. The Evan Williams Master Blend was by far a favorite bourbon.

• Woodford Reserve is a beautiful property. Spending time in their Adirondack chairs on the lawn while sipping cocktails was a nice way to end the evening.

A Few Kentucky Bourbon Trail Tips

While you’re here in Kentucky, there are a few things you’ll want to remember to help you plan a Bourbon Trail^™ trip that is perfect.

Bourbon Trail^™ Tip #1 – Dress appropriately

Most distilleries require you to wear closed-toed shoes. Distilleries are pretty active places, and most have walking tours where you’ll be touring the grounds and learning about the distilling process.

Bourbon Trail^™ Tip #2 – Bring your ID

Distilleries are fun places to visit. Remember that most distilleries allow only one experience per person daily to encourage visitors to drink responsibly. Make sure to bring your ID, even if you are well past the legal drinking age of 21 years old. Most distilleries will ask for it.

Bourbon Trail^™ Tip #3 – Leave the kids at home.

Although some distilleries allow children, as a courtesy to the other adults, please don’t bring your children. I love children; however, the Bourbon Trail is not the best place for them.

I was unfortunately on a tour where a mom brought four kids with her, two of which were toddlers.

The tour group had to wait when they needed to use the bathroom since they don’t allow guests unattended on the property. The kids were bored and fussy, making it difficult to hear the tour guide. Trust me when I tell you the experience was not great for anyone.

Bourbon Trail^™ Tip #4 – Book tours in advance

My next Bourbon Trail^™ tip is to make reservations for tours in advance.

As you plan a Bourbon Trail^™ trip, make note that the days of operation vary between distilleries, with most being closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Because of the summer heat, many distilleries also have a shutdown period in the middle of summer. I would hate if you planned a Bourbon Trail trip and then missed out on some distilleries.

Bourbon Trail^™ Tip #5 – Arrive early.

Most distilleries ask you to arrive 15-30 minutes early to ensure you get the most out of your tour.

Pay attention to time zones, as Kentucky lies in both Central Standard and Eastern time zones.

What are you waiting for? Plan a Bourbon Trail trip today!

I hope this guide has helped you to plan the perfect Bourbon Trail^™ trip. Whether you’re driving or booking a guided tour, use this information to make your experience memorable and enjoyable.