Experience Kentucky's iconic bourbon distilleries

Four grains that embody the American spirit are lifting spirits all over Kentucky.
They are Corn, rye, wheat and barley.


 

They’re the ingredients that the state’s many distillers expertly transform into bourbon and rye whiskies, amber elixirs that are riding a wave of popularity like never before.

The bourbon industry accounts for $8.5 billion in business annually in the Bluegrass State, according to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. In fact, there are more bourbon barrels holding aging whiskey there than there are people, and a visit to favorite Kentucky bourbon distilleries has long been a pilgrimage for travelers.

Bourbon tourism accounted for 1 million distillery visits last year, says the distillers’ association, and attendance has tripled over the past decade.

Indulge in the rich flavors found in quality bourbons, such as vanilla, caramel and dried fruit. Kentucky’s master bourbon distillers can create an endless array of tastes, aromas and potency by massaging the basic ingredients over time. Discovering those nuances of flavor and feel can be a joyful experience.

“Absolutely every bourbon you’re gonna find from a major distiller is quality stuff,” says Brent Elliott, master distiller at Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Ky. “They have different tiers, but they’re different degrees of great bourbon.”

Start with the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, a collection of 10 key distilleries. Most of the big ones charge fees for tours. View their websites for up-to-date schedule and admission information. Two large distillers not on the official trail, Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, and Buffalo Trace in Frankfort, provide free tours.

 Meanwhile, check out some smaller producers on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour, which is also gaining steam.

 

Photo credit: Mike Pramik