In historic Bardstown, Kentucky, you’ll find the Old Talbott Tavern, in operation since 1797, the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History, a 50-year collection of rare whiskey artifacts from pre-colonial to post-Prohibition days, and a variety of museums of the Civil War, Kentucky Railways, and wildlife and natural history. Kentucky’s longest-running outdoor musical plays here on summer nights celebrating the life of composer Stephen Foster, just off Stephen Foster Avenue on Drama Drive.
Bardstown is also the Bourbon Capital of the World. A dozen whiskey distilleries are within sixty miles of downtown and a week-long Kentucky Bourbon Festival each September celebrates all things bourbon. To promote interest in America’s only native spirit, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association established the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 1999. Each year 50,000 people come to Bardstown to tour distilleries and the informative visitor centers, to see how bourbon is made, and best of all, to taste the products. In 2012, 4.9 million barrels of bourbon were aging in Kentucky distilleries. The following nine are part of the official tour and will welcome you all year round.
BULLEIT FRONTIER WHISKEY, Louisville, KY
Thomas E. Bulleit, Jr. (pronounced Bullet) started a distillery in 1987 to revive an old recipe from great-great-grandfather Augustus Bulleit who made a high-rye whiskey between 1830-1860. Bulleit carries on this tradition using rye to give its products bold, spicy character and a distinctively smooth, clean finish. Products are Bulleit Bourbon, Bulleit Rye, and Bulleit 10-year-old Bourbon.
EVAN WILLIAMS, Louisville, KY
A young immigrant to America from Wales, Evan Williams eventually settled in land among the Kentucky Hills. He became a farmer, building contractor, harbormaster, businessman, inventor, and civic leader but his most successful venture was turning corn into smooth whiskey. He established the Evan Williams Distillery on the banks of the Ohio River, becoming Kentucky’s first commercial distiller, where Evan Williams Black, Bottled-in-Bond, 1783, and Single-Barrel are distilled today along with a variety of flavored whiskies.
FOUR ROSES, Lawrenceburg, KY
Legend says a Southern belle said yes to a marriage proposal from distillery founder, Paul Jones Jr., by wearing a corsage of four roses. He named his bourbon in her honor. Four Roses produces three bourbons generally available in the US: Yellow Label, Small Batch, and Single Barrel.
HEAVEN HILL, Bardstown, KY
Established in 1934 by investors including the five Shapira brothers, Heaven Hill is now the largest family owned and operated distillery in the country. The Bourbon Heritage Center was built here in 2004 in response to the growing number of visitors to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Their huge product line includes Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Cabin Still, Old Fitzgerald, and Heaven Hill bourbons.
JIM BEAM, Clermont, KY
Seven generations of Beams have made bourbon here since 1795. Jim Beam Bourbon is the original, but the line now includes Jim Beam Black, 7-year, Rye, and Devil’s Cut; Red Stag flavored bourbons; and four small batch bourbons: Knob Creek, Booker’s, Baker’s, and Basil Hayden’s.
MAKER’S MARK, Loretto, KY
Robert Samuels began making bourbon in Kentucky in 1780. By 1840 the family was earning a living from it and built their first distillery. Six generations later, Bill Samuels abandoned the family recipe and started over, the result being Maker’s Mark. Maker’s 46 is a recent addition to the line.
TOWN BRANCH, Lexington, KY
Alltech Lexington Brewing & Distilling is the first distillery built in Lexington in more than a hundred years. Founded by Dr. Pearse Lyons of County Louth, Ireland, his family of coopers provided barrels to distilleries in Ireland for five generations. Alltech’s barrel-aged beers carry a definite bourbon influence and Town Branch, its smooth and sweet signature bourbon, is named for the waterway on which Lexington was founded. Other bourbons include Pearse Lyons Reserve, Town Branch Rye, and Bluegrass Sundown.
WILD TURKEY, Lawrenceburg, KY
The original distillery was built on Wild Turkey Hill in Lawrenceburg in 1869. In 1940, a distillery executive brought bourbon on a wild turkey hunting trip and the brand was born. Products include Kentucky Spirit, Rare Breed, Russell’s Reserve, American Honey, Wild Turkey 81, 101, and Rye.
WOODFORD RESERVE, Versailles, KY
Elijah Pepper chose this remote site in 1812 to distill the finest bourbon of his day. Scientist Dr. James Crow perfected the distillation process here in 1840 which is used by distillers today. Woodford produces small batches of Distiller’s Select and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon.