Kentucky Bourbon Tour Suggestions

[dfkoon]

We just got back from Kentucky doing a barrel pick at Buffalo Trace. We spent 6 days in Louisville and hit up 14 distilleries while there. Here are a few suggestions based on what we liked.

Travel Plans
1. Book the tours early as they fill up fast.
2. I would suggest staying in downtown Louisville close to Old Forester. There is a lot to see.
3. Bring an extra suitcase to bring bottles back or drive. I've done both but flew most recently due to fuel prices. Helps if you split with several people.
4. If you stay in Louisville and find yourself in NULU...stay on the main strip. That area is revitalized but very close to projects. Whiskey Row has a lot to do if you want to stay in that area but NULU has Evergreens and good restaurants.

Distilleries
1. Buffalo Trace obviously
2. Heaven Hill "You Do Bourbon" Tour
3. Castle and Key as the grounds are awesome
4. Willet - Eat lunch or dinner there and order the Egg Salad Sandwich. Thank me later
5. Other Bardstown Distilleries after Heaven Hill and Willet

• Bardstown was more modern and bar was nice
• Lux Row was really nice
• Skip 1792 (I think they closed the tours anyway)

6. Jim Beam tour was pretty cool and get to bottle a Knob Creek single barrel
7. Louisville Distilleries

• Old Forester was cool but tours were sold out
• Michters same as Old Forester
• Evan Williams - Got a tasting and went to the bar. Try the new Masters Blend
• Rabbit Hole - This is a cool distillery and got a free tasting

8. Four Roses...Meh
9. Woodford Reserve only got to check out the gift shop as tours were booked. Looked cool though. If you go to Castle and Key then Woodford is pretty close to this.
10. Wild Turkey just opened their small gift shop and wouldn't plan to make that a long stop.

Stores/Bars
1. Evergreens This is a cool store that sells their allocation at reasonable prices. If you wanted to try something rare, this would be the place. I got Pappy 20 for 50 per oz
2. Neat This is a cool bar that sells dusties at a reasonable price. Think late 80's/early 90's Blanton's for like 25oz
3. Proof On Main Good bar/restaurant
4. Hell or High Water This is an awesome Speakeasy. In the early 2000's it was a sex dungeon that flooded then converted to a bar that burnt down and now it's a speakeasy.
5. Meta I didn't go to this one but one of the other guys in our group did and recommends.
6. Doc Crows Great southern food with a good whiskey selection. Pricey compared to others

We only did 2 days of whiskey tours as part of another road trip. But liked it enough to do again.

We only did a tour at Bulleit and tastings everywhere else.

Buffalo trace was my favorite. But a tour of Buffalo Trace would've been excellent I'm sure. Tasting was good and they do chocolate too which was interesting.

Makers Mark (I would add that to your list) was 2nd favorite. Really nice place.

Tasting at Four Roses was good.

Thought Woodford Reserves was full of themselves and a bit snobbish. Really popular place though.

For tours at least when we were there, reservations are almost required. I generally don't like to be on a schedule when I'm on vacation though.

[Bryan11]

definitely coming back to this for tips when i plan our bourbon tour