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Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Posted on 6/24/21 at 8:38 pm
Posted on 6/24/21 at 8:38 pm
Thinking about a trip up to Kentucky and do the Bourbon Trail. Any suggestions? Must Do or good to avoid?
4
Posted on 6/24/21 at 8:59 pm to MagZilla
Woodford and makers are gorgeous. Buffalo trace has some history and great tours but has absolutely slam packed lately. Only chance is getting a tour through mint juliep. Four roses is nice. Heaven hill and willet are good for a quick stop buy.
How many people are coming? The mint julep tours are kind of nice. Get some premium booking and put some food in there as well. The private tours are even better
How many people are coming? The mint julep tours are kind of nice. Get some premium booking and put some food in there as well. The private tours are even better
Posted on 6/25/21 at 8:54 am to MagZilla
On the main Bourbon Trail, I'd skip Heaven Hill and the Four Roses bottling facility. Four Roses has 2 stops(or did when I went). Definitely hit their distillery near Lexington. The bottling facility was just okay. Heaven Hill wasn't much of a tour when we went. They just walked around the parking lot pointing out their distillery facility, then walked us through a rickhouse. Kind of a waste of time, and if memory serves it was the most expensive tour.
If you're short on time, I'd do just one between Wild Turkey and Jim Beam. They were fairly similar tours of mass produced bourbon making. I'd lean Wild Turkey of the two, but I'm a fan of the Russel's Reserve line they make.
Buffalo Trace is a nice facility, but their tours book up quick. Once you know your dates, get on their site to check availability. The hard hat tour is most popular, and it was booked when we tried. We did the architectural one which was very interesting.
If you're short on time, I'd do just one between Wild Turkey and Jim Beam. They were fairly similar tours of mass produced bourbon making. I'd lean Wild Turkey of the two, but I'm a fan of the Russel's Reserve line they make.
Buffalo Trace is a nice facility, but their tours book up quick. Once you know your dates, get on their site to check availability. The hard hat tour is most popular, and it was booked when we tried. We did the architectural one which was very interesting.
Posted on 6/25/21 at 9:02 am to The Spleen
One last thing I'll add, for us after about 5 or 6 tours, they all start to be the same. We were there a Wednesday through Sunday, doing most of the tours on Thursday and Friday. We did a couple on Saturday, but were pretty bored with it by then.
Also, if you plan to buy some to bring home, you'll find better prices at a local liquor store than what the gift shops charge. We hit the Kroger liquor store in Bardstown. Great selection and some bottles were almost $10 cheaper there.
Also, if you plan to buy some to bring home, you'll find better prices at a local liquor store than what the gift shops charge. We hit the Kroger liquor store in Bardstown. Great selection and some bottles were almost $10 cheaper there.
Posted on 6/25/21 at 10:07 am to MagZilla
Makers' ground are immaculate. great tour and tasting at the end as well. Been a couple of times.
Posted on 6/25/21 at 11:05 am to The Spleen
quote:
, I'd skip Heaven Hill and the Four Roses bottling facility. Four Roses has 2 stops(or did when I went). Definitely hit their distillery near Lexington. The bottling facility was just okay. Heaven Hill wasn't much of a tour when we went. They just walked around the parking lot pointing out their distillery facility, then walked us through a rickhouse. Kind of a waste of time, and if memory serves it was the most expensive tour.
Yes the 4r southwest of lexington is the one to go to, its right off the highway as well. HH just opened their new whiskey heritage center. Ive heard its good. But yeah HH and willet are typically good for a quick stop to try and get something allocated. Willet is about 1/2 mile from HH
Posted on 6/25/21 at 11:41 am to NYCAuburn
Taking notes here. Something my dad and I had always talked about doing, and were actually thinking in 2019 of going to the Derby in 2020 and either going early or staying after to get some tours in. I know they're slammed during that time, but Covid ended up cancelling plans anyways.
Now we're thinking about making it a football weekend instead. See whoever KY or Louisville has a home game and plan a Thursday/Friday of tours, and maybe another on Sat AM if it is a night game and see another stadium we haven't been to.
Now we're thinking about making it a football weekend instead. See whoever KY or Louisville has a home game and plan a Thursday/Friday of tours, and maybe another on Sat AM if it is a night game and see another stadium we haven't been to.
Posted on 6/25/21 at 12:22 pm to MagZilla
Some buddies and I did a Thursday - Sunday run a few years ago.
Thursday - Arrival day.
Friday - We booked a tour through Mint Julep Tours. They were awesome. They planned the day (including lunch at Feast BBQ, which was great) and drove us around in a nice, air-conditioned, van that was plenty big for the 5 of us.
We did Angel's Envy, Jefferson's, and Bulleit. Angel's and Jefferson's were great because we got to see the distilleries, but Bulleit was awesome because, while only a tour of the racks and a tasting (no distillery) it is on the old Stitzel-Weller campus, which was amazing.
We did dinner at Pat's Steakhouse but, honestly, we were not impressed with the food. Would've preferred Jeff Ruby's.
Saturday - We golfed in the AM, then shite, showered, and shaved before heading to the Clemson/Louisville game that night. Clemson was rolling them, so we left shortly after halftime. Wound-up grabbing a late dinner somewhere and then just bounced around different places drinking.
Sunday - Headed home.
Some pics:
Angel's Envy
Jefferson's (KY Artisan)
Bulleit (by far my favorite of the three)
Before Papa fricked-up
Thursday - Arrival day.
Friday - We booked a tour through Mint Julep Tours. They were awesome. They planned the day (including lunch at Feast BBQ, which was great) and drove us around in a nice, air-conditioned, van that was plenty big for the 5 of us.
We did Angel's Envy, Jefferson's, and Bulleit. Angel's and Jefferson's were great because we got to see the distilleries, but Bulleit was awesome because, while only a tour of the racks and a tasting (no distillery) it is on the old Stitzel-Weller campus, which was amazing.
We did dinner at Pat's Steakhouse but, honestly, we were not impressed with the food. Would've preferred Jeff Ruby's.
Saturday - We golfed in the AM, then shite, showered, and shaved before heading to the Clemson/Louisville game that night. Clemson was rolling them, so we left shortly after halftime. Wound-up grabbing a late dinner somewhere and then just bounced around different places drinking.
Sunday - Headed home.
Some pics:
Angel's Envy
Jefferson's (KY Artisan)
Bulleit (by far my favorite of the three)
Before Papa fricked-up
Posted on 6/25/21 at 12:41 pm to TU Rob
quote:
Now we're thinking about making it a football weekend instead. See whoever KY or Louisville has a home game and plan a Thursday/Friday of tours, and maybe another on Sat AM if it is a night game and see another stadium we haven't been to.
Definitely do this. We went in October 5 or so years ago, and the weather could not have been more perfect. Leaves changing, cool and crisp in the mornings, but comfortable in the afternoons. It did spit rain off and on that Saturday, but we didn't do a whole lot where it bothered us. It did make us reconsider going to the Kentucky football game though. I think they played Tennessee that night.
Places were crowded on Thursday and Friday, but not unmanageable. I don't think we had to wait very long for the start of a tour at any of them. We did hit Maker's right as they opened as we heard it gets really crowded as the day goes on. Most of them had tours leaving every 15-30 minutes.
Posted on 6/26/21 at 6:49 pm to The Spleen
Come on up boys. LSU is here this fall, Keeneland is in session. Get your bourbon tours in. We'll send you home with good bourbon and an L on the scoreboard 
Posted on 6/28/21 at 9:22 am to UKWildcats
A loss to geaux home with. Gonna be a whole different team this year. STTDBThis post was edited on 6/28/21 at 9:24 am
Posted on 6/28/21 at 12:25 pm to tigerstripes
I did this a few years ago and really loved it. There's a great inn in Harrodsburg called the Beaumont Inn. I believe it's the oldest in Kentucky.
My wife's family is good friends with the family that owns/operates it. It's a great place even if it's just for a night. If you stay there, I'd suggest the separate building - Goddard Hall. The rooms are bigger and a little nicer. Their food is fantastic as well. They won a James Beard award in 2015.
LINK
Their son, Dixon, is the guy that revived Kentucky Owl. He's since sold that to Stoli, but he still does private tastings there. LINK
They can connect you to great bourbon driving tours as well. He got us a guy that was an encyclopedia of bourbon knowledge. We did the tours on site at the distilleries, but he drove us to them and told us everything there was to know on the way.
My wife's family is good friends with the family that owns/operates it. It's a great place even if it's just for a night. If you stay there, I'd suggest the separate building - Goddard Hall. The rooms are bigger and a little nicer. Their food is fantastic as well. They won a James Beard award in 2015.
LINK
Their son, Dixon, is the guy that revived Kentucky Owl. He's since sold that to Stoli, but he still does private tastings there. LINK
They can connect you to great bourbon driving tours as well. He got us a guy that was an encyclopedia of bourbon knowledge. We did the tours on site at the distilleries, but he drove us to them and told us everything there was to know on the way.
Posted on 6/28/21 at 10:04 pm to RummelTiger
Thanks for all the feedback. It's a couple of guys at the moment, maybe a couple more depending. Looking to go up midweek through weekend. I appreciate the input on what to hit and what not to.
Posted on 6/29/21 at 11:04 pm to UKWildcats
quote:
LSU is here this fall
Flights booked...Wednesday arrival
quote:
Keeneland is in session
Got box seats that Friday
quote:
Get your bourbon tours in
Got a 23-seater with Mint Julep for Thursday
quote:
L on the scoreboard
Andre Woodson and Stevie Johnson ain’t showing up
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