*This post was updated on 12/10/23 (more distilleries were added to the trail earlier in the year)
What is the Kentucky Bourbon Trail?
All That the KBT Entails.
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a group of distilleries gathered by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA). It is a sponsored program that is designed to highlight and promote the bourbon industry in Kentucky. Technically for a spirit to be classified as a bourbon, it has to be made in the United States. However, 95% of the world’s bourbon is made in Kentucky and, therefore, it is the epicenter of the bourbon world. In fact, in Kentucky there are actually more barrels of aging whiskey than there are people in the state.
Let’s get back to the tour and what it entails. The tour is compromised of 46 distilleries- 18 signature and 28 craft. Technically, there is no actual federal definition as to what differentiates a distillery from a signature or craft. Craft distilleries are often smaller, independently owned, and operate on smaller scales. It may even surprise you to know that some very popular distilleries (like Willet) still fall into that category of craft. But when compared to major distilleries like Buffalo Trace, Maker’s Mark, or Jim Beam, they aren’t putting out anywhere near the same amount of product.
So if this Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a challenge that peaks your interest and is worthy of your time and money, let’s get started. In order to begin, you have to purchase a Kentucky Bourbon Trail Passport & Field Guide. You can snag the passport online or at any of the participating distilleries. I’ve also seen them on Amazon or at little gift shops scattered throughout Kentucky.
Collecting Stamps
To collect a stamp from a distillery, all that is required of you is to physically visit the distillery. Tastings and tours will be offered at all of the distilleries, and I’d highly recommend doing at least a few of them. However, they are not required to receive a stamp. It is stated in the passport that collecting a stamp at the signature distilleries will allow you to “gain access to purchase collectible bottling and unique experiences.” I have, disappointingly, not found that to be the case. Although, at some of the signature distilleries, they will throw in a sticker or a pin for free.
When it comes to the craft distilleries, they are a little more spread out, and thus grouped into categories based on location. There are four regions for the craft distilleries- Northern, Central, Western, and Bluegrass. Upon completion of a region (collecting all stamps in that group), you’ll get to collect a coin for said region. Completion of all of the 28 craft distilleries will earn you a total of 4 coins, along with a stave to display the coins in that you’ll receive at your final distillery.
TIP: if you know that you’re going to be finishing a region, you may want to call ahead to that craft distillery to be sure that they have the coins and/or stave in stock. Sometimes the really small distilleries may not always have those on hand and will need time to obtain them. So you may want to plan accordingly and not finish a region at the smallest distilleries (ex. Old Pogue).
When you complete all of the 18 signature distilleries, you need to collect a special stamp from your last distillery. The same goes for the 28 craft distilleries. Upon completion, you will need to collect a special stamp at your last stop. These final stamps are to be collected on the last page of your passport. If you finish the tour, you will receive “a surprise sure to impress even the most discerning Bourbon enthusiast.” I still have a few craft distilleries where I need to collect stamps. So, I cannot personally attest to what that impressive gift is. After researching, it seems as if that gift has changed a few times through the years. So you’re just going to have to finish it to find out. Anyway, I’d hate to spoil the surprise! So let’s get started!
What happens if more distilleries are added to the KBT before you finish?
It’s a good question. And one that I had not thought of until it happened to me. Earlier this year, 4 craft distilleries were added to the Trail: Pensive Distilling Co., Augusta Distillery, RD1 Spirits, and Fresh Bourbon. If another distillery gets added to a region that you’ve finished and collected a coin for, it’s up to you if you want to revisit that area to collect that stamp from the new distillery. For example, I had already completed the Bluegrass Region and collected my Bluegrass coin. And then before I could finish the entire tour, RD1 and Fresh Bourbon were added to the Bluegrass Region. Since I’ve already collected the coin, it’s really of no consequence. But because I’m a person who likes to finish things, I’ll head back to Lexington and collect those two stamps.
Which brings me to my next point. There is a page in the back of your passport that is specifically for stamps of distilleries that have been added to the Trail. Depending on how long it takes you to complete the Trail, they may add new distilleries. And you don’t want to have to go get a new passport every time that happens. So just collect those new distilleries’ stamps on the page in the back of your book.
BEFORE leaving… Planning In Advance Is Recommended.
Before arriving in Kentucky, decide what kind of Bourbon Trail experience that you’d like to have. There are two different kinds. The first is where you “do the dang thing.” And by that, I mean participating in tours and seeing behind the scenes of your favorite bourbon distilleries. The second, and more relaxed, is to casually visit the distilleries and their gift shops.
If you choose the second option, there isn’t a lot of pre-planning that is needed before leaving. Again, it is not required for you to do anything other than visit the distillery’s gift shop to receive a stamp. It will still be an amazing experience to visit all of the distilleries and their gift shops. At some distilleries, you can even walk their grounds without a scheduled tour. Most of the distilleries will even have bars where you can sample their products without reservations. And many have beautiful properties and patios where you can sit down and relax or enjoy a drink.
Now, if you’re leaning more towards the first option (“do the dang thing”), planning is definitely required. In fact, if you are wanting to do tours, I would recommend booking your tours BEFORE booking your accommodations. Make sure to book your tours online in advance. Do not expect to be able to walk into a distillery and be able to get into a tour. I have found that while that is, on the rare occasion, possible, it is not likely. And give yourself plenty of time to book those tours. Even with weeks or months of advanced planning, depending on the time of year and distillery’s popularity, tours may be booked solid. I would recommend trying to book tours at least one month in advance.
Booking Accomodations and Planning Distillery Visits
Don’t Expect to Finish the KBT in One Trip.
One thing that you might not realize before embarking on the KBT, is that the distilleries are rather spread out. Most of the major distillers are grouped into four areas- Lexington, Versailles/Lawrenceburg, Bardstown, and Louisville. There are a few outliers from these areas like Maker’s Mark, Wilderness Trail, and Green River. Also, as you can see on the map below, the craft distilleries are even more spread out than the signature. Depending on where you’re going and where you’re coming from, travel time can take an hour or more. And considering that the distilleries operate on different days with varying hours, you really need to plan ahead.
Do not expect to be able to finish the trail in one trip. Even if you’re not planning on doing tours, it would probably take you at least a week to visit all 46 of the distilleries. If want to (quickly) complete the KBT, try visiting all of the distilleries in one area before moving on to another. This will cut down on travel time and negate having to make multiple trips to the same area.
Important to Know
Some distilleries have limited hours depending on the season. Many are shut down one or two days a week (a lot are closed Mondays and Tuesdays), and most have an even smaller window for when tours operate. If it is a small craft distillery, you may even need to book a reservation just to visit (ex. Old Pogue). So I would always recommend checking the hours in advance and planning your route accordingly.
So where should you stay? If your plan is to visit a lot of distilleries, stay as central as you can. If you’re only planning to hit a region, stay in that region. However, if you’re only planning to visit your favorites, stay nearby. There are a ton of fantastic options for hotels and Airbnb places to stay while traveling the trail. There are also a lot of cute Airbnb rentals that are bourbon trail-themed, adding a little more fun to the experience. There’s a wide range of prices for the hotels and rentals. Depending on events and the time of year, you can definitely score a great deal if you plan in advance. Therefore saving your money for your trip. And (of course) for purchasing bourbon.
Buffalo Trace, Not Technically on the Trail
Still a MUST See.
You may have noticed on the map above that Buffalo Trace is absent from the trail. Located in Frankfort, KY, Buffalo Trace is one of the largest and most popular bourbon distillers. So why is it not included on the bourbon trail? I asked this very question to one of my guides during a BT tour, and he delivered an interesting response.
Since BT is one of, if not, the largest bourbon distillers, it does not need the added advertising that comes along with the KBT. Thus, they did not want to take away from the other distillers that could benefit from said advertising. And because they operate on such a large scale, there were a few parameters that BT did not want to adhere to in order to be included on the trail. For example, BT does not charge for their tours and has no plans to in the future- they are the ONLY distillery that offers free tours and tastings. Even though Buffalo Trace may not technically be on the bourbon trail, it is definitely still a stop worth making. I will write up a whole post dedicated to tips and tricks to Buffalo Trace.
Distillery Tours
Not Necessary, but Definitely Fun.
If you decide to schedule a tour with a distillery on the KBT, please be sure to arrive at least ten minutes early to check in. Most of these distilleries have a very strict schedule. If you show up late, you run the risk of being bumped from the tour or missing a portion of it.
What should you expect on a tour? If you’ve ever done a distillery tour, bourbon or otherwise, you should have some idea of what to expect. A lot distilleries will offer different tiers and types of tours. Some distilleries also offer in-depth tastings that you will need to book ahead of time (ex. Willet, Heaven Hill). Some distilleries offer special experiences like barrel-thieving or bottling your own bourbon (ex. Bardstown, Heaven Hill, Michter’s) All tours offer a tasting upon completion of the tour.
Tour Costs
Personally, I don’t think that it’s necessary to book a tour at every distillery. Especially not if you plan on completing the KBT. Firstly, that’s going to get expensive. Depending on the tour that you take, tour prices can range from $10 to upwards of $150. Most standard tours cost around $15-$20.
Secondly, the more tours that you do, the more that they become a bit monotonous. All distilleries have their own unique flair and style, but a big part of the standard tours will be to explain what makes a spirit a bourbon and to describe the process of how it is made. However, all tours do come with a tasting at the end so if you were planning on doing a tasting at a particular distillery, it might worth it to throw in a tour for a few dollars more.
Keep In Mind
Not all tours are created equal. I definitely don’t want to not recommend any tours at distilleries. Even though I may not have enjoyed a tour at a particular distillery doesn’t mean that someone else wouldn’t love it. Some distilleries are smaller, some have less products to offer, some are newer, and some are just starting to establish themselves. Some distilleries just don’t have the space or experience that other distilleries do.
I will say that all of the distilleries that I have been to have had incredibly friendly and knowledgeable staff members. I’ve never had a bad tour per se, but some have definitely stood out over others. So my best advice would be that if you want to do a distillery tour, start with the distilleries where you enjoy their product.
While I won’t say what tours I found disappointing, I would love to share what tours I found incredibly worthwhile. I would absolutely recommend doing a tour at Buffalo Trace, Old Forester (they have their own cooperage and it’s a very unique experience), barrel-thieving at Bardstown Bourbon Co., and a tour at Four Roses. These distilleries definitely go above and beyond to offer an unforgettable experience.
Distillery Gift Shops
Finding Hard to Get Bottles.
Unfortunately, do not expect to score any rare bottles when visiting a distillery’s gift shop. All gift shops will, at the very least, offer some of their spirits for sale, along with some other merchandise. There are a few distilleries (like Buffalo Trace and Heaven Hill) that will do special releases each day. These special releases will not be announced ahead of time and are only available while supplies last. The special releases at Buffalo Trace and Heaven Hill happen in the morning and will typically sell out within a few hours of opening. If you’re looking to get a bottle at either of these places, I’d recommend getting there as close to opening as possible, if not a little before.
Distilleries with Random Releases
Other distilleries will offer special releases as well, but will release them randomly throughout the day/week. These releases are also unannounced and are really just a matter of luckily stumbling upon them. Some examples of distilleries that participate in random releases include Old Forester, Michter’s, Wild Turkey, Jim Beam, and Four Roses. If you’re staying near any of these distilleries, it may be worth a few random pop ins to check. You can also try to politely ask an employee if the distillery is planning a release that day. Unfortunately, more often than not, they will not know ahead of time or are not at liberty to share that information.
Just because a distillery doesn’t typically do special releases, you could still get lucky with them putting something special out. Depending on the time of year, the distillery’s release schedule, or special events that are happening in the area, a distillery that typically does not do special drop, might do just that. The thing that I’ve found with visiting distillery gift shops is that you never know. Some trips I’ve had the best of luck and some trips, I’ve completely struck out. So I guess that I would say, don’t expect to get lucky, but hope for the best and you just might.
Liquor Stores in Kentucky
What to Expect…
Even though Kentucky produces 95% of the world’s bourbon, that does not mean that the state is flush with it. In fact, Kentucky has the same issues with supply and availability that other states have, if not more. The state of Kentucky is not a controlled liquor state, meaning that each store can determine the price of which they want to sell a product. If you happen across any rare bottles in a liquor store, the odds are that the price is going to be way above msrp. The more rare or scarce that the bottle is, the higher the price tag will be. I once came across a bottle of Buffalo Trace EH Taylor Tornado Surviving for sale at a small liquor store in Bardstown for like $10,000. Obviously, it is up to you to determine what you are comfortable spending.
As someone who lives in a controlled state, when I go to Kentucky, the things that I most look for the at liquor stores are bottles that are not available in my state. There are many brands that have not found their way to my state yet. Another thing that I enjoy shopping for are store picks. Over the years, I have become really fond of store picks because they’re often times better than the standard release of that bottle. I’d assume that reason to be because of the care that went into choosing that pick (and that the store’s name is attached to it). Bigger box stores like Liquor Barn, the Party Source, Liquor City locations, Total Wine, and Evergreen Liquors usually have great store picks.
So while you might not be able to score extremely rare bottles on your trip to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, that doesn’t mean that you won’t come home with some great bottles.
Other Places to See Along the KBT
Lots of Great Restaurants, Bars, and Shopping
Besides visiting the distilleries and drinking your way through the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, one of the best parts about participating in the KBT is getting to see all that Kentucky has to offer. With bourbon being such a big business in Kentucky, so many other businesses have opened to take advantage of all of the tourism that the trail brings. There are so many wonderful restaurants, bars, places to shop, and things to see along the way.
If you find yourself with a little downtime, I would definitely recommend exploring the area and asking locals and distillery employees where to eat and drink. A lot of the distilleries, themselves, have fantastic restaurants and bars that I would absolutely suggest trying out. A few of those distilleries would be: Bardstown Bourbon Co. (bar and restaurant), Maker’s Mark (restaurant and bar), Jim Beam (bar and restaurant), Copper & Kings (restaurant and bar), Willet (restaurant and bar), Stitzel-Weller (bar and restaurant), Michter’s (bar), Rabbit Hole (bar), Evan Williams Experience (bar), Heaven Hill (bar), and Woodford Reserve (bar).
Other great restaurants and bars that I have discovered along the way would include…
- Bardstown Burger (Bardstown)
- Hadorn’s Bakery (Bardstown)
- Mammy’s Kitchen & Bar (Bardstown)
- Scout & Scholar Brewing Company (Bardstown)
- Toogie’s Table (Bardstown)
- Bourbon on Main (Frankfort)
- Main Street Diner (Frankfort)
- Cliffside Diner (Frankfort)
- Trifecta BBQ (Frankfort)
- Rebecca-Ruth Candy (Frankfort)
- Goodfellas Pizza (Distillery District, Lexington)
- Crank & Boom Ice Cream Lounge (Lexington)
- Elkhorn Tavern (Lexington)
- Doc Crow’s (Louisville)
- Evergreen Liquors (bar, downtown Louisville)
- Royal’s Hot Chicken (Louisville)
Final Notes
A Few Last Words on the KBT
At the end of the day, what you get out of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail will depend on what you put into it. This is an experience that my husband and I decided to share with our friends. It has been a truly memorable journey. If this is something that you plan on undertaking, my biggest advice would be to at least do a few tours along the way. Expect that it will take some time (and probably a few different trips) to complete. PLAN, PLAN, PLAN ahead. And also, just have fun! Enjoy the history, the architecture, and the beauty of Kentucky. Enjoy the individuality of each distillery. And, for goodness sakes, enjoy the bourbon too! I hope that this has provided you with some new information about what to expect if you have not yet experienced the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Best of luck and safe journey to you!
Cheers!!
Here are a couple great cocktail recipes for after completing the tour 👇🏻
Welcome to Cupcakes and Sarcasm! My name is Maggie and I am the creator of C & S. I am a wife and mom of two beautiful kiddos. I grew up in Columbus, Ohio and now live in Northeast Ohio with my family. I have been cooking and baking since I was a kid. I decided in 2017 that I wanted to share my passion (and recipes) with all of you! On this site, you’ll find easy and delicious recipes- both savory and sweet. I’ll also sprinkle in some stories of parenting and our adventures along the way.