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The 6 Best Distilleries to Visit in Lexington, Kentucky

TripSavvy / Taylor McIntyre

When people think of Kentucky, they think of whiskey, but not just any whiskey. This is bourbon country—and Kentucky's legacy is well earned. There are more whiskey barrels in Kentucky than there are people, with more than 7 million barrels of the brown stuff compared to just 4.5 million people. People from all over come to experience the famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and Lexington is an integral stop along that trail. Home to 14 distilleries, including the renowned Woodford Reserve and smaller family-run distilleries, Lexington is a must-stop to learn about (and drink) whiskey. Here's where to go.

James E. Pepper Distillery

This Lexington staple first began distilling in 1779 during the American Revolution. However, it shut down during the 1960s when the bourbon industry experienced a recession. In 2017, the brand was able to reopen in its original home distillery, which is located in the now popular distillery district. You can tour the site and taste their award-winning "1776" rye whiskey. It's also a great location to check out other local spots like Ethereal Brewing and Crank and Boom Ice Cream, which are both next door.

Woodford Reserve

Courtesy of Woodford Reserve

Woodford Reserve is perhaps the most well-known distillery out of Lexington. This site began distilling back in 1812 and is now considered a National Historic Landmark. Now that Woodford has perfected making bourbon, this distillery focuses its future on making the practice more sustainable. More than 98 percent of all waste material is recycled, 10 acres of land are dedicated to native species conservation, and 97 percent of all food scraps are composted. This tour takes guests through the past and future of bourbon distilling and allows them to taste all their favorites along the way.

Buffalo Trace Distillery

Located in Frankfort, Buffalo Trace is one of the most popular distillery tours in the Lexington area, and it's easy to see why. As one of the oldest continuously running operations in the country (one of the few that lasted through prohibition), Buffalo Trace is also unique in that it keeps the mash for its products top secret. (However, the distillery's website has a simulator for guests to make up their own mash and test out different combinations.) While Buffalo Trace is their flagship brand, the distillery is also home to several other well-known brands, including cult-favorite Van Winkle, Sazerac Rye, and E.H. Taylor.

Town Branch Distillery

Courtesy of Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company

Town Branch Distillery is a part of the larger Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company. So if you’re not the biggest fan of whiskey or just craving something different between all your bourbon tastings, you can explore the brewery side! It’s one of the few distilleries in the world that doubles as a brewery. With 13 different beers, eight other liquors, and their most recent line-up of hard teas, everyone will find a favorite beverage. Town Branch is also located in downtown Lexington, making it one of the most accessible distilleries to visit.

Castle & Key Distillery

Castle & Key might be one of the newer distilleries in Lexington, but the brand itself holds important bourbon history. Formerly the Old Taylor Distillery, the ruins included limestone castle and old railroad tracks left abandoned and falling apart until 2014. The new owners have refurbished the historic buildings and created an outdoor space that is free and open to all visitors. This back patio sits along a river and includes a botanical walk and a bar serving up Castle and Key cocktails. The Manhattan comes highly recommended!

Four Roses Distillery

Courtesy of Four Roses Distillery

Four Roses is a veteran in the distilling world, making whiskey since 1888. It's unique because it's the only distillery with five different yeast strains and two different mashes, ultimately coming together in 10 different bourbon recipes, later mixed by hand to create their flagship bourbon. Four Roses offer tours that take guests through their complex process and a visitor center where you can enjoy a tasting or a Four Roses original cocktail. 

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“The James E. Pepper Distillery has lived up to my expectations… and is producing some excellent whiskeys.” Michael Veach, Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Author & Historian

Distillers, Blenders & Bottlers ~ Lexington, Kentucky

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Sold Out Products:  6 Year Bourbon, 15 Year Bourbon, 15 Year Rye, and Sherry Cask Finish Rye

In 2008 the brand was relaunched by whiskey entrepreneur Amir Peay. A decade-long campaign of thorough historical research and collection of historic materials was used to retell the lost story of this iconic American whiskey brand and to distill new stocks of "Pepper" whiskey (visit the History Page to learn more). To initiate the relaunch of the brand, partnerships with the Lawrenceburg Distillery in Indiana and the Bardstown Bourbon Co. in Kentucky were formed.  Today some of our whiskies contain whiskies distilled at those distilleries.

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This is Bourbon Country!  Explore “America’s Native Spirit” and other local flavors.  We’ll handle the driving and details, you handle the Spirits.

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We’ve put together some outstanding tours that include some of the most popular destinations and even a few right here in Louisville.  Choose from distilleries, horse farms and more.  Check out our “menu” of tours.

Public tours

We are proud to now offer public Bourbon tours. As with our other tours, we'll visit must-see Kentucky distilleries, and of course, there will be plenty of tastings along the way. Heck, you might even meet a new friend.

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KENTUCKY PEERLESS DISTILLING

Louisville, Ky

“The Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company began in Henderson, Kentucky in the early 1880s. In 1889, under the leadership of the entrepreneur and our ancestor, Henry Kraver, Peerless Whiskey production began to flourish.”

EVAN WILLIAMS DISTILLERY

“The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience is proud to be the first distillery on Whiskey Row.”

ANGEL’S ENVY DISTILLERY

“Rooted in 200 years of bourbon heritage, we create hand-finished spirits that aren’t afraid to improve on the classic tradition.”

OLD FORESTER DISTILLING CO.

“A truly rare and distinctive occasion took place in Louisville, Kentucky in 1870. When George Garvin Brown sealed Bourbon in a bottle for the very first time, he did so knowing it would guarantee quality and consistency for Bourbon lovers everywhere.”

BULLEIT DISTILLERY

Shively, Ky

“In 1987, Thomas E. Bulleit, Jr., fulfilled a lifelong dream of reviving an old family bourbon recipe by starting the Bulleit Distilling Company.”

RABBIT HOLE DISTILLERY

“ Rabbit Hole Distillery is a Kentucky-based bourbon and whiskey distiller, inspired by modern approaches to whiskey making.”

MICHTER’S FORT NELSON DISTILLERY

“Located at 801 West Main Street in the heart of downtown Louisville, Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery is across the street from the Louisville Slugger Museum…”

HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY

Bardstown, Ky

“Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. is an American, private family-owned and operated distillery founded in 1935 and headquartered in Bardstown, Kentucky.”

Limestone Branch DISTILLERY

Lebanon, Ky

“It all began when a man named Jacob Beam sold his first barrels of corn whiskey.”

JIM BEAM DISTILLERY

Clermont, Ky

“Jim Beam is a brand of bourbon whiskey produced in Clermont, Kentucky, by Beam Suntory, a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings of Osaka, Japan. It is one of the best-selling brands of bourbon in the world.”

MAKER’S MARK DISTILLERY

Loretto, Ky

“Maker’s Mark is a small-batch bourbon whiskey produced in Loretto, Kentucky, by Beam Suntory. It is bottled at 90 U.S. proof and sold in distinctively squarish bottles sealed with red wax.”

WILLETT DISTILLERY

“Makers of Kentucky Bourbon and Kentucky Rye Whiskey”

BARDSTOWN BOURBON CO.

“Napa Valley style experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, featuring a state-of-the-art bourbon distillery…”

Lux Row Distillery

"The newest destination on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail producing Blood Oath, Rebel, Daviess County and more."

Preservation Distillery

"We are the first and only 100% pot-distilled producer in Nelson County, Kentucky's Napa Valley for bourbon."

Kentucky Cooperage

"Wonder where all those barrels come from? See them assembled and charred right before your eyes. Closed-toe shoes are required."

James Pepper Distillery

Lexington, Ky

"After a multi-year construction effort, the historic James E. Pepper Distillery—which after fifty years of neglect had fallen into a terrible state of disrepair—was completely rebuilt and restored. In December 2017, the distillery once again began distilling whiskey using the same historic recipe as when it shut down in 1967."

Whiskey Thief Distillery

Graefenburg, Ky

"Whiskey Thief Distillery at Three Boys Farm is situated on our 122-acre farm in rural Franklin County Kentucky. We are distilling single barrel Bourbon and Whiskey of distinct quality. Family owned and operated, our distillery began operations making single barrel bourbons and high quality whiskeys in 2013."

Barrel House Distillery

"Located in the barreling house of the old Pepper Distillery in historic Lexington, Kentucky, we strive to continue the tradition of the old Kentucky Distillers by producing fine spirits made with traditional methods."

JEPTHA CREED DISTILLERY

Shelbyville, Ky

“Jeptha Creed Distillery uses old fashioned methods to meet today’s demanding modern tastes. We use only the finest ingredients, locally grown and sourced (when possible) to ensure our products meet the highest expectations for quality and flavor.”

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY

Frankfort, Ky

“Over 200 years of fine bourbon craftsmanship make Buffalo Trace the World’s Most Decorated Distillery.”

WOODFORD RESERVE DISTILLERY

Versailles, Ky

“One of Kentucky’s oldest and smallest distilleries, the present day Woodford Reserve Distillery is built on history, sitting on Kentucky’s oldest distilling site where Elijah Pepper began crafting whiskey in 1812.”

Castle & Key Distillery

"Castle & Key began restoring the historic Old Taylor Distillery in 2014 and after four years of hard work, was overjoyed to open the distillery to visitors in September of 2018."

WILD TURKEY DISTILLERY

Lawrenceburg, Ky

“Wild Turkey is different for good reason, and it all comes down to premium ingredients, select barrels, and a lot of patience.”

FOUR ROSES DISTILLERY

“Visit our historic Spanish mission style distillery to discover what makes Four Roses truly unique.”

BULLEIT DISTILLING CO.

“Bulleit Bourbon is a brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey produced at the Kirin Brewing Company Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, for the Diageo beverage conglomerate.”

RD One Distillery Tasting Room

"In 1865, the Ashland Distillery was established, the first to obtain a federally registered distillery license, and was assigned RD#1. Today, the remains of the original distillery can be found at what is now the entrance to Lexington’s Distillery District."

Bluegrass Distillers

"Home of the first and only Kentucky Blue Corn Bourbon."

Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.

"The only brewery AND distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon tour."

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• Downtown Lexington

Downtown Lexington Distillery

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Since our establishment in 2012, our Downtown Lexington Distillery remains the heart of our bourbon production. Welcoming the public in November 2015, following two years of meticulous distilling, Bluegrass Distillers Downtown Lexington proudly stands nestled on the rear side of West Sixth Brewery. Here, witness our humble beginnings—starting from the ground up, handcrafting each precious drop of bourbon in an intimate setting, a testament to our dedication and passion for the art.

For parking details, we encourage you to refer to the map below.

Our History

Spring 2012 - bluegrass distillers was founded, february 2017, spring 2019.

A Complete Guide to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Everything you need to know to sample your way around the land of wild turkey and maker’s mark..

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The Kentucky Bourbon Trail extends throughout the Bluegrass State from big cities to historic hamlets like Bardstown, which has been dubbed the Bourbon Capital of the World.

Photo by Jason Busa/Shutterstock

For whiskey lovers, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a bucket-list trip, full of opportunities to visit distilleries and learn about bourbon—plus, of course, plenty of sampling along the way.

Kentucky is the spiritual home of bourbon, an American whiskey made with at least 51 percent corn and aged in new, charred, white oak barrels. That said, many Kentucky distilleries also make other types of whiskey (like rye or American single malts) or other types of spirits. But if you’re headed to Kentucky, it’s a safe bet that you’ll find plenty of bourbon, first and foremost—including some pours you can’t find anywhere else. Here’s how to navigate the world of Kentucky bourbon.

What is the Kentucky Bourbon Trail?

The official Kentucky Bourbon Trail exists under the auspices of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (who have trademarked the phrase), and it includes 18 distilleries, as well as 32 smaller distilleries designated as the “ Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour. ” This official trail doesn’t necessarily include every bourbon producer in the state. But it’s still a pretty comprehensive overview, and the KBT provides a useful way to organize a visit—including a website with plenty of maps and links. Those who prefer a hard-copy guide can purchase a Bourbon Trail Passport & Field Guide ($15) with similar info. Kentucky’s bourbon distilleries are sprawled across the state, with most of them within about 100 miles from Louisville, the logical starting point for the journey.

How long to spend

It’s possible to visit a good number of the best-known distilleries within three or four days. Most visitors use Louisville as a home base, spending a day or two exploring the city’s “Whiskey Row” and other distilleries within city limits. From there, it makes sense to drive about an hour east toward Lexington, perhaps visiting Wild Turkey, Four Roses, and Woodford Reserve, before returning to Louisville. The following day, head southbound toward Loretto, home of Maker’s Mark, stopping at Bardstown and its distilleries along the way. Expect to spend an hour or two at each distillery; visiting two or three distilleries a day is a realistic pace.

Quite a few are located farther afield, in more rural areas, meaning more travel time is necessary to get there. (Green River, in Owensboro, is furthest removed; it’s even in a different time zone, though it’s only about 100 miles from Louisville.)

For people who want to visit all 18 distilleries, the KBT recommends at least four days. However, a week to nine days might make for a more relaxed and enjoyable experience, particularly for those who want to visit craft distilleries along the way or make a detour to explore surrounding areas.

In addition, the KBT recommends at least a week to visit the Kentucky Craft Distillery circuit; many of the facilities are near the core KBT distilleries or en route. It’s worth doing a little advance planning and mapping to maximize visits.

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail consists of numerous well-known distilleries—and plenty of lesser-known spots equally worth a visit.

Courtesy of @GoToLouisville@GoToLouisville

Which distilleries are on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail?

There are 18 KBT distilleries —it’s essentially a who’s who of the bourbon names you’ll spot at a well-stocked bar or liquor store:

• Angel’s Envy
• Bardstown Bourbon Co.
• Evan Williams
• Four Roses Distillery ; Four Roses Warehouse & Bottling (two different locations)
• Green River
• Heaven Hill
• James B. Beam
• Maker’s Mark
• Old Forester
• Rabbit Hole
• Stitzel-Weller
• Town Branch
• Wild Turkey
• Wilderness Trail
• Woodford Reserve

How to get around

Within Louisville, it’s easy to reach distilleries on foot or via taxis or rideshares. Beyond city limits, you need a car to get around; particularly in more rural areas, ridesharing isn’t always available. To delegate the transportation and/or planning, consider booking tours with a company like the famous Mint Julep or Pegasus Distillery Tours . They’ll shuttle you or your group around; many of the tours focus on specific interests, like culinary or horse farm tours, or offer VIP access to tastings or other experiences. However you’re getting around, don’t drink and drive.

How to plan a distillery visit

Planning ahead is strongly encouraged. Many distilleries are closed during the week (most often Monday and/or Tuesday), and hours may vary, so check a distillery’s website before heading out. (Also: Note that part of Kentucky is in the Central time zone, so you may need to factor that in.) For those traveling with kids: Some places welcome all ages, while others are limited to those 21 years old and over.

Do you need reservations for the Kentucky Bourbon Trail?

Not always, but it helps, particularly during the peak summer and fall tourist seasons. That said, many tours are reservation only and charge a fee. Most cost around $25, but that can range much higher when special bottlings or cocktails are involved, and they tend to run about 60 to 90 minutes.

In general, visiting two or three distilleries in a day is plenty. Most tours cover the same “how-bourbon-is-made” info, and especially if you’re sampling, it all starts to add up. But it’s well worth it for bourbon fans looking to learn about America’s native whiskey and snap up hard-to-find bottles to add to a collection.

The historic Old Forester Distilling Co. is one of the major stops on Louisville’s Whiskey Row.

Photo by Joseph Hendrickson/Shutterstock

Start in Louisville

Louisville is ideal as a home base for a bourbon tour: In addition to distillery experiences available within city limits, it’s also relatively central to Lexington, Clermont, and Bardstown and has plenty of appealing bars, restaurants, and cultural attractions.

Start with Whiskey Row, which is home to Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery (and its top-notch bar), Old Forester Distilling (keep an eye out for special whiskey drops here), and Angel’s Envy . From there, the NuLu district offers the modern design of Rabbit Hole Distillery and its second-floor Overlook bar, with drinks by the Death & Co. team. Grab a rideshare for the five-mile drive to West Louisville to tour the historic Stitzel-Weller Distillery , which opened in 1935 but had been closed to the public for many years. (Attention horse fans: The Kentucky Derby Museum is nearby.)

Among the smaller Craft Trail distilleries nearby in downtown Louisville: Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. and Copper & Kings, an industrial-chic space that started as a brandy facility and has only recently begun producing bourbon. Look for the monarch butterfly garden out front and the rooftop restaurant/bar with sweeping city views.

When the distilleries close, continue bourbon tasting at Louisville bars like the Silver Dollar , a Bakersfield-style honky-tonk owned by whiskey expert Larry Rice; Trouble Bar , where you choose among flights curated by local experts; or the 1920s-inspired Neat Bourbon Bar & Bottle Shop .

Where to stay in Louisville

Consider a stay at Hotel Distil , a bourbon-themed hotel located in a historic building on Louisville’s “Whiskey Row”; the boutique-y 21c Museum Hotel is also home to stellar restaurant Proof on Main .

You could also try Galt House Hotel , a much larger venue with views of the Ohio River, or the genteel Brown Hotel , which dates back to 1923 and offers skyline views from the restored rooftop garden.

Day trip options from Louisville

Visit a couple of distilleries during each of these day trips with Louisville as a convenient home base, or combine them for a longer road trip. Here are a few potential options to build an itinerary.

1. Clermont

From Louisville, it’s about a 30-minute drive south to Clermont to reach James B. Beam Distilling—known for making Jim Beam, Knob Creek, and Basil Hayden, among others. They’ve been busy over at Beam: In 2022, the distillery cut the ribbon on a new $45 million “homestead experience.” The new space includes the Kitchen Table , a 5,000-square-foot restaurant and bar, and the Fred B. Noe Craft Distillery, a facility to explore new fermentation and distillation techniques.

2. Bardstown

Either starting out from Louisville or continuing on from Beam, head to Heaven Hill , the family-owned distillery that makes such legendary brands as Elijah Craig, Old Fitzgerald, and Henry McKenna, among many others. While the company’s new $200 million distillery is slated to open at the end of 2024, this remains a fine place to learn about bourbon production and snap up exclusive bottles.

See also two sleek, state-of-the-art newcomers: Lux Row Distillers and Bardstown Bourbon Company (the latter focuses on elaborate bourbon blends).

You’ll love strolling the grounds of the Maker’s Mark Distillery, which has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

Photo by Fiona Young-Brown/Shutterstock

3. Lebanon/Loretto

Maker’s Mark is on many a bourbon lover’s must-see list. Visit the distillery and tour the grounds, but don’t leave without dipping your own bottle in the iconic red wax.

This might be the endpoint of a route heading south through Clermont and/or Bardstown. Since the distillery is fairly remote from Louisville, plan to stay overnight—if possible, at the Samuels House , an Airbnb-style house rental owned by the family behind Maker’s Mark, stocked with a collection of whiskey memorabilia.

Add on a tour of the Kentucky Cooperage Visitor Center to learn how barrels are made, and see firsthand how they’re charred with a burst of flame—a key part of the bourbon-making process. (Note: You can also go directly from Louisville to Maker’s Mark by helicopter .)

4. Frankfort/Lexington

From Louisville, it’s also about an hour east to Frankfort, home of Buffalo Trace . Choose from several different themed tours of the sprawling facility, such as the “Old Taylor Tour,” which focuses on the legacy of E.H. Taylor, who revolutionized the bourbon industry; or a tour through the property’s arboretum and botanical gardens.

Continue on to Four Roses in Lawrenceburg, housed in a 1910 mission-style building, or Woodford Reserve in Versailles (pronounced “ver-sales”). Of note, Lexington, the “Horse Capital of the World,” is home to multitudes of thoroughbreds, so consider adding a horse farm tour to your itinerary.

5. Danville

About an hour south of Lexington, the picturesque Wilderness Trail Distillery is in the heart of the Bluegrass region. The distillery is a relative newcomer, having launched in 2012 and releasing its first bourbon in 2018. In that short time, it has garnered plenty of attention and is already expanding capacity. Starting with 44 acres, the distillery purchased another 124 acres in 2021, adding six new fermentation tanks and six new barrel houses.

This article originally appeared online in August 2022; it was updated most recently on April 24, 2024, to include current information.

There’s something here for everyone. Explore the Kentucky Bourbon Trail ® experiences and find what you’re looking for in our map below. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour ® is organized into four regions—please toggle through the drop down menu for official groupings.

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Your all-inclusive ticket to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®

We plan your day in Bourbon Country from start to finish – transporting you to Kentucky bourbon distilleries and grabbing a local lunch along the way (except Sundays). Your Mint Julep guide will lead the day with fun facts and bourbon history, filling in the blanks between each stop. They will take care of all the details – from tour timing to distillery admissions and more. You just sit back and enjoy your fully-guided bourbon tour!

Interested in Multi-Day Bourbon Tour?

Two-day and three-day bourbon tour packages are available through a Custom Bourbon Tour booking. When booking a custom bourbon tour, you will work with an Experience Coordinator to pick your favorite distilleries to make your own bourbon trail itinerary. For help with your booking, call 502-583-1433 or fill out the Request Tour form . 

Thursday Bourbon Tour

January - December 2024

Rabbit Hole, Buffalo Trace, Bulleit

This Thursday bourbon tour includes guided transportation, 3 distillery stops for tours and tastings. Distilleries include: a tour & tasting and tasting at Rabbit Hole, a local lunch, a premium tasting at Buffalo Trace, and bourbon tour and tasting at Bulleit Bourbon.

Departs from the Omni Hotel in Downtown Louisville Departs at 8:45 a.m. Returns at 6:15 p.m.

Friday Bourbon Tour

January - June 2024

Woodford Reserve, J. Mattingly, Angel's Envy

This Friday bourbon tour includes guided transportation, 3 distillery stops for tours and tastings, and a local lunch. Guests will enjoy a tour and tasting at Woodford Reserve, a tasting at J. Mattingly, and a tour and tasting at Angel's Envy.

Departs from the Omni Hotel in Downtown Louisville Departs at 7:30 a.m. Returns at 4:15 p.m.

July - December 2024

Woodford Reserve, Jeptha Creed Stitzel Weller

This Friday bourbon tour includes guided transportation, 3 distillery stops for tours and tastings, and a local lunch. Guests will enjoy a tour and tasting at Woodford Reserve, a tour/tasting at Jeptha Creed, and a tasting at Stitzel Weller.

Departs from the Omni Hotel in Downtown Louisville Departs at 7:30 a.m. Returns at 4:45 p.m.

Lux Row Heaven Hill, James B. Beam

This Friday bourbon tour includes guided transportation, 3 distillery stops for tours and tastings, and a local lunch. Guests will enjoy a tour and tasting at Lux Row, a Connoisseur tasting at Heaven Hill, and a tour with tastings at James B. Beam Distilling Co..

Departs from the Omni Hotel in Downtown Louisville Departs at 8:15 a.m. Returns at 5:00 p.m.

Saturday Bourbon Tour

Maker's Mark, Heaven Hill, Bardstown Bourbon Co.

This Saturday bourbon tour includes guided transportation, 3 distillery stops for tours and tastings, and a local lunch. Guests will enjoy a tour and tasting at Bardstown Bourbon Co., a Connoisseur tasting at Heaven Hill, and a tour with tastings at Maker's Mark distillery.

Departs from the Omni Hotel in Downtown Louisville Depart at 8:15 a.m. Returns at 5:30 p.m.

Stitzel-Weller, Angel's Envy KY Artisan/Jefferson's Reserve

This Saturday bourbon tour includes guided transportation, 3 distillery stops for tours and tastings, and a local lunch. Guests will start the day with a tasting at Stitzel-Weller, enjoy a tour and tasting at Angel's Envy after lunch, and a tour and tasting at KY Artisan/Jefferson's Reserve.

Departs from the Omni Hotel in Downtown Louisville Depart at 9:15 a.m. Returns at 5:30 p.m.

Sunday Brunch & Bourbon Tour

Local Brunch, Kentucky Artisan/Jefferson's Reserve, Buffalo Trace

Your Sunday brunch experience includes guided transportation, a local brunch that includes 1 breakfast cocktail at The Cafe in Louisville, a tour with tastings at KY Artisan/Jefferson's Reserve and a tasting at Buffalo Trace distillery.

Departs from the Omni Hotel in Downtown Louisville Departs at 10:15 a.m. Returns at 5:15 p.m.

Reviews from Guests

• This was the perfect way to tour the Bourbon Trail! The three distilleries we went to were unique from each other which provided a diverse tasting experience. Diane was a wonderful tour guide and Nelson was a great driver! I would highly recommend Mint Julep to anyone visiting Louisville. Thanks for a great day on the Bourbon Trail! Mary M. 8/13/2023
• We enjoyed getting to know & talk bourbon with others on the tour! We were in Louisville for a few days for the Urban Bourbon Half Marathon and did the Sunday Brunch & Bourbon Tour that took us to a local restaurant for brunch and 2 distilleries. Check-in at the Omni was easy, and Michael, our tour guide, was friendly, funny, welcoming, and very knowledgeable. Throughout our travels, he shared details about the area, some of the history of Louisville, and the history of KY bourbon in general. Overall, this experience was a great way to relax on the day after the half marathon and the day before we left town. We enjoyed getting to know & talk bourbon with others on the tour. We would not hesitate to book another Mint Julep tour in Louisville or try one of their Nashville tours when we visit there in the near future. KW 10/16/2023
• I highly recommend Mint Julep Tours to maximize your Bourbon Trail adventure. This was our second time on a Mint Julep tour. As expected, it was fantastic! From the promptness of the pickup, cleanliness and comfort of the vehicles, to the knowledge of all things Bourbon, we had a remarkable experience. I highly recommend Mint Julep Tours to maximize your Bourbon Trail adventure. Jim M. 5/20/2023
• Extremely convenient to go through Mint Julep Very educational tour with a good amount of product tasting. I loved how I didn't have to navigate around any of the stops. Extremely convenient to go through Mint Julep, and to have lunch already secured was an added enhancement! Thank you for the great time and wonderful memories. Lisa &. 4/09/2020
• I can’t recommend Mint Julep enough, it is the only way to do the Bourbon Trail right. Mint Julep was fantastic to work with from the beginning. We had great support and communication in the planning, suggestions, and guidance taking into account all our preferences for creating a custom trip for our group. The experience was seamless and easy due to all the hard work and organization by the Mint Julep team. This was my fourth time on the Bourbon Trail and this was by far the best. Our driver was knowledgeable and proficient of course, but just as important fit our groups’ personality really well. I can’t recommend Mint Julep enough, it is the only way to do the Bourbon Trail right. Richard B. 11/01/2023

More Information

Departure information.

All public bourbon tours depart from the Mint Julep Experiences Hub inside Falls City Market in the Omni Louisville Hotel . Departure times and destinations vary. Please double-check your confirmation sheet for the exact timing. In most cases, tour availability opens 180 days in advance of the tour departure date. For help with your booking, call 502-583-1433 .

Best Time To Visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®?

The beauty with the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® is you can visit any time of the year, as the distilleries operate year-round. Some distilleries are closed to the public on certain days of the week, but most are open seven days a week.

What is included on a public bourbon tour?

• Transportation: Each public bourbon tour includes transportation to all tour destinations. Public tours depart from the Falls City Market in the Omni Louisville Hotel in downtown Louisville. You’ll be in a Mint Julep Tours vehicle. All of our vehicles are sanitized after each tour— learn more about it on our Vehicle Safety Procedures page.
• Admission & Tastings: All distillery admissions for the day and tastings at each location are included.
• Lunch: Lunch at a local Louisville restaurant is also included. The lunch location will vary. Guests will be able to choose one option from a special menu. *Lunch is not included for the public Sunday tour. If you would like to purchase alcohol at lunch or any souvenirs or bottles to take home, that is not included.
• *Gratuity for your Tour Leader is not included but always appreciated. Kentucky sales tax and a convenience fee will be added at checkout. Parking is not included in your ticket fee. For Louisville parking information, visit PARC Map or PARC Garage websites.

How much walking is involved on a public tour?

Each distillery tour varies but there is a fair amount of walking in Bourbon Country. We do suggest comfortable closed-toe shoes on all tours. Most distilleries are wheelchair accessible and can accommodate special circumstances. Most tours are partially outdoors.

Where is the pickup location?

All public bourbon tours and most other ticketed tours depart downtown Louisville. Tours depart from the Mint Julep Hub in the Omni Louisville Hotel. Please check-in at least 15 minutes before your departure time. Your tour leader will check you in, give you a wristband, and lead you to the bus as a group.

Book a Custom Bourbon Tour with Private VIP Transportation

Build a Bourbon Trail itinerary that takes you to all your favorite places in Bourbon Country, Horse Country and more! A Custom Tour can be tailored to your interests, schedule and tastes. Popular custom experiences include hands-on mixology classes, bottle-your-own experiences, bourbon heritage site tours, bourbon-infused culinary experiences and so much more! Please contact us to work with an Experience Coordinator to discuss a Custom Tour itinerary for you and your group.

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Serving Louisville, Bardstown, Lexington, and all of Bourbon Country

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Welcome to bourbontown tours.

Hello! We’re so glad you found us. Feel free to browse around and take a look at all of the tours we have to offer. If you have specific ideas of where you want to go,  give us a call  and we will try to make that happen. We love showing guests the beautiful place we call home and can’t wait to take you on a ride to enjoy some of the  greatest scenery  the bluegrass state has to offer.

Jim Beam Distillery Tour – Clermont, Kentucky

Buffalo Trace Distillery Tour Frankfort, Kentucky

Maker’s Mark Distillery Tour – Loretto, Kentucky

Woodford Reserve Distillery Tour Versailles, Kentucky

Where we go.

We are a small-batch tour company, serving Louisville, Bardstown, Lexington and everywhere in between. Some of the places and attractions that can be included in our tours may include, but are not limited to:

Kentucky Distilleries

Louisville area.

• Angel's Envy Distillery
• Bardstown Bourbon Co. Tasting Room
• Buzzard's Roost Tasting Room
• Brough Brothers Distillery
• Copper & Kings Distillery
• Evan Williams Distillery
• Michter's Distillery
• Old Forester Distillery
• Peerless Distillery
• Rabbit Hole Distillery
• Stitzel-Weller Distillery

Bardstown & Beyond

• Bardstown Bourbon Co. Distillery
• Four Roses Bottling & Warehouse Facility
• Heaven Hill Distillery
• James B. Beam Distillery
• Limestone Branch Distillery
• Lux Row Distillery
• Maker's Mark Distillery
• Preservation Distillery
• Wilderness Trail Distillery
• Willett Distillery

Frankfort/Lexington

• Bluegrass Distillers
• Buffalo Trace Distillery
• Bulleit Distillery
• Castle & Key Distillery
• Four Roses Distillery
• Glenn's Creek Distillery
• James E. Pepper Distillery
• Jeptha Creed Distillery
• Lexington Brewery & Distillery (Alltech)
• Whiskey Thief Distilling Co.
• Woodford Reserve Distillery

Horse Farms:

Sun Valley Mares, Old Friend’s Farm, Coolmore Stud Farm

Historic Sites and Other Attractions:

Churchill Downs, Muhammad Ali Center, Louisville Slugger Museum, Frazier History Museum, Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Shops of the Bluegrass Outlet Mall

Kentucky Breweries:

BlueGrass Brewing, Akasha, Monnik, West Sixth, Atrium, Great Flood, Apocalypse, Gravely, Against The Grain, Goodwood, Blue Stallion, Falls City, Gallant Fox, Great Flood, et al

Kentucky Wineries:

Lover’s Leap, Equus Run, Forest Edge, Castle Hill, Hive & Barrel, Jester’s, McIntyre’s, Old 502, Talon, et al

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Bourbontown times, why bourbontown tours is the perfect choice, pocket-friendly adventures.

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Passionate & Knowledgeable Team

With our expert crew, each tour goes beyond sightseeing.

Off-the-Beaten-Path Experiences

Discover hidden gems and lesser-known spots that only we can guide you to.

Great People. Amazing Tours. Beautiful Kentucky.

Limestone Branch Distillery Tour – Lebanon, Kentucky

Equus Run Winery Tour – Midway, Kentucky

Waverly Hills Sanatorium Tour – Louisville, Kentucky

Forest Edge Winery Tour – Shepherdsville, Kentucky

Jeptha Creed Distillery Tour Shelbyville, Kentucky

Blue Stallion Brewery Tour Lexington, Kentucky

Unveiling kentucky’s secrets.

Delve into the rich tapestry of  Kentucky’s history , culture, and natural beauty with us. From its world-renowned distilleries to the gentle hum of its countryside, there’s always something new to learn and love about our beautiful state. Join us, and let’s write your next travel story together.

Enjoy Amazing Tours Along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail With A Great Team Of Expert Guides.

• 1-844-BOURBON / 844-268-7266
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• Louisville, Kentucky

distilleries & tours

WE ARE OPEN FOR TOURS AND TASTINGS!

In the heart of Bourbon country, Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. celebrates timeless traditions and bold imaginations. Our award-winning beers and spirits are steeped in the history, charm, and excitement of Kentucky – where legends live fast and free.

Our family-owned brewery and distillery is shaped by a heritage that includes seven generations of Irish distillers, brewers, and coopers. Uncompromising in excellence, we carefully select natural ingredients for their superior quality. From tours to pours, we are committed to delivering a world-class customer experience. Our story is deeply rooted in the rolling green hills of Ireland and the limestone-rich landscape of Kentucky. Make Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. part of your story.

Visit us along the world-renowned Kentucky Bourbon Trail® to experience and explore the only brewery and distillery on the trail.

PRIVATE TOUR PACKAGE:

At Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co, home of Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale and Town Branch Bourbon, we are the perfect place to host private tours for corporate outings, wedding guests, or visiting family and friends. This tour provides an atmosphere for only you and your guests to enjoy seeing how we produce our award-winning brews and our distinctive spirits. And of course, there will be samples along the way!

Your guests will go on a one-hour private tour of both our brewery and Town Branch Distillery. Each ticket includes four tastings of your choice of any of our beers and distilled spirits. Please make your reservation at least ten days in advance. Call us at 859-255-2337 or email [email protected] for more detailed information.

TAPROOM & OUTDOOR PATIO

Our Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. Visitor Center and Taproom provides signature cocktails, fresh beers on tap, and flights of our spirits and beer. Depending on the season enjoy your beverages and relax with family or friends either indoors or outdoors on our patio. Look out for special events from late Spring to early Autumn and local food truck features.

OUR COMMITMENT:

Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. continues to prioritize the health and safety of our visitors, team members and the communities in which we live and work. We adhere to protocols based on CDC guidelines, so you can tour and taste safely.

If you have any issues booking a tour on-line, please feel free to reach out direct: [email protected] / 859-255-2337

Discover the Bourbon

Behind the beer, information for your visit to the lexington brewing & distilling co., contact for tours, hours of operation, holiday closures, walk-in details, allergen awareness.

Phone:   (859) 255-2337

Please park in the lots behind the distillery or on Pine Street. Handicap spaces are available in the brewery front parking lot off Cross Street.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

MONDAY – SATURDAY: 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM

SUNDAY: 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM. First tour at Noon, no spirits sales until 1:00PM

TOUR SCHEDULE:

**Go to BOOK NOW for additional tour and time options.

For Private or Master Distiller Tours, please contact Stacie Layne or Austin McDonald at [email protected] .

Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. is closed on:

• Labor Day 9/2
• Thanksgiving Day 11/28 and the day after 11/29
• Sunday, December 24th – 26th and reopens Wednesday December 27 th
• New Year’s Day January 1 st 
• We welcome walk-ins, but strongly encourage booking tours on-line as tours book quickly.
• All tours start in the Visitor Center (red/brown brick building).
• Each tour lasts about an hour and fifteen minutes.
• Visitors 21 years and older receive four tasting tokens to use in both the brewery and/or distillery.
• If tours are booked, please stay a moment to relax, and enjoy some of our award-winning spirits or craft beers.
• Service animals are allowed.
• We are a handicap accessible facility.
• Reservations for private or specialty tours are available upon request.

The Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company strives to provide you with an educational, fun filled and safe tour. The Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company is aware of the severity of allergens and makes every attempt to identify ingredients that may cause allergic reactions to those individuals with food allergies.

The Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company has recently developed a new recipe containing Peanut Flour. Although the production staff attempts to schedule brewing this recipe during non-tour hours, sometimes production is inevitable, and the smell of peanuts will be in the brewery. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask the Visitors’ Center Staff. Thank you so much for your decision to come touring with us!

Visit our other award-winning craft distilleries

Pearse lyons.

Pearse Lyons Distillery at St. James, located in Dublin, Ireland , was born out of a personal passion for brewing and distilling, an entrepreneurial spirit and a deep-rooted family connection to The Liberties. St. James’ Church, in the center of Dublin’s historic whiskey district, was painstakingly restored to its former glory by the Lyons family, allowing visitors to discover and explore the site from past to present. The new glass steeple, which is now regularly referred to as the “Liberties Lantern,” is a beacon marking a new era for St. James’ Church.

Dueling Barrels Brewery & Distillery, located in Pikeville, KY , is where handcrafted beverages serve as a toast to the proud spirit of the mountains and the passionate people who shape the region. Stories that move mountains live here, including the legendary Hatfield and McCoy family feud, the dawn of Bluegrass music and starry nights spent making moonshine along the Tug Fork stream. Dueling Barrels welcomes you to explore this rich history and culture through the lens of brewing and distilling.

OUR STORY CONTINUES. FOLLOW US!

@lexingtonbrewingco       @townbranchbourbon.

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6 Lexington Bourbon Distilleries To Visit

Bourbon is America’s only native spirit. And almost all bourbon- 95% according to the Kentucky Distillers Association – is produced in Kentucky. Kentucky Bourbon is the largest export category of all U.S. spirits, shipping more than 28 million proof gallons to 126 countries in 2010.( Source )

By definition, bourbon is a whiskey made from a mash containing at least 51 percent corn.

In the early American colonies whiskey was made with rye and used as a medicine and a general aid to well-being. Kentucky settlers gave whiskey several new twists, beginning with corn, which was abundant since settlers could claim 400 acres if they built a cabin and grew a patch of corn.

Here are our top 6 picks for touring bourbon distilleries in Lexington, Kentucky :

• The Woodford Reserve.  This restored historic distillery in Woodford County, is a showplace of the distiller’s art and Kentucky bourbon heritage.
• Wild Turkey Distillery . Although the Wild Turkey brand of bourbon wasn’t introduced until 1952 (supposedly named because the hunting partners of then- company president Thomas McCarthy loved the bourbon he always brought along on their annual turkey shoot), the lineage of bourbon and bourbon making at this site at the Kentucky River near Lawrenceburg goes back to the mid 19th-century.
• Buffalo Trace   Chicken isn’t the only Kentucky product that has resulted from a Colonel’s secret recipe. At Buffalo Trace distillery, north of Frankfort, you’ll see a statue of Albert Bacon Blanton. The son of Benjamin Blanton, who began making whiskey at this location along the Kentucky River in the late 1860s.
• Four Roses Distilling Company.  Four Roses near Lawrenceburg, gives tours to individuals and small groups Mondays through Saturdays.
• Town Branch Distillery .  Alltech’s distillery is right downtown, steps away from Rupp Arena and the Lexington Center. It is the first distillery to be built in Lexington in nearly 100 years.
• James E. Pepper Distilling Co.    In Lexington’s popular Distillery District, this distillery occupies the same building as the one built in 1879. Flamboyant entrepreneur Colonel James E. Pepper (1850-1906) was a third generation distiller from a family that began producing Bourbon during the American Revolution.

To find out more about tours and where to stay in Lexington click here.

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Complimentary Tours & Tastings No trip along the bourbon trail is complete without a visit to Buffalo Trace Distillery, the world’s bourbon destination.

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An incredible introduction to the history and science of bourbon at Buffalo Trace Distillery.

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An insider’s look into the behind-the-scenes work that goes into crafting truly great bourbon.

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Take a walk through bourbon history alongside E.H. Taylor Jr., the man who revolutionized the industry.

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Lexington, Kentucky

Bourbonland

Bourbon in the heart of kentucky.

Beneath the rolling bluegrass hills of Lexington, Kentucky, a rare limestone formation filters natural spring water for the world’s finest bourbon, fueling a magical culture of creativity and innovation that’s far too wonderful to keep hidden away any longer.

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Buffalo Trace Distillery

One of America's oldest continuously operating distilleries, even staying open during Prohibition....

Castle & Key Distillery

Standing on the grounds of the Old Taylor Distillery built in 1887. Featuring a limestone castle,...

Four Roses Distillery

Located on the scenic Salt River in Lawrenceburg, Four Roses Distillery is headquartered in a unique...

Woodford Reserve Distillery

Woodford Reserve is the only facility in the state making bourbon using the original Scottish 'pot...

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New Lexington distillery makes Lynyrd Skynyrd whiskey; the band will be there to toast it

A new distillery is opening in Lexington with some pretty spectacular guests kicking off the welcome party.

Bespoken Spirits , new to the Greyline Station campus at Loudon Avenue and North Limestone, is holding a grand opening on March 27 that will feature Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Yes, THE Lynyrd Skynyrd, Southern rockers and whiskey aficionados, will be at the event, which will also feature a live acoustic music concert.

Why? Well, call it serendipity or maybe just great marketing. The band is in town to play a concert at Rupp Arena on March 28, with ZZ Top and Black Stone Cherry.

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And Bespoken Spirits just happens to be the company that produces Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Hell House whiskey, which will be available soon at the tasting room in Greyline. (Lynyrd Skynyrd’s band members also will sign bottles at Total Wine’s Hamburg location on March 28 from 1 to 3 p.m.)

The Bespoken tasting room will be opening for tours, which also will feature Bespoken’s other labels, beginning in April. Tours of their production facility on the other side of the parking lot will follow.

CEO Peter Iglesias said that the distillery hopes the event will be the first of many opportunities for new fans to discover Greyline Station and their unique distillery.

“Bespoken Spirits initially was a technology company, originally based in San Francisco,” Iglesias said. The company uses a patented rapid-aging process to create bourbons and other whiskeys to match the flavor and taste profiles that customers like Lynyrd Skynyrd want for their labels, he said.

Rapid aging in this case involves using 13 laser-cut oak staves that are mixed with distillate and then heated “sous vide-style” in a vat of rapidly circulating hot water until the desired flavor spikes are detected through mass spectrometry analysis, said Jared Bickel, Bespoken’s customer experience manager.

The distillery has an on-site lab that monitors different test batches and visitors to Greyline will be able to watch them work from inside the venue, Bickel said.

Once construction is completed, he said, tours of the distillery will include the manufacturing facility and bottling line as well, he said.

“We are all about transparency in our process,” he said.

Besides Hell House Canadian-style whiskey, Bespoken produces its own line of bourbon, rye and American whiskey as well as Uncle Chicken’s Bourbon with band Whiskey Myers.

The company, whose original investors included Baseball Hall of Famer Derek Jeter and former Cypress Semiconductor CEO T.J. Rodgers, in August 2023 announced plans to move to Lexington and invest $3.2 million .

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority on Thursday gave preliminary approval for up to $500,000 in tax incentives, provided the company creates at least 16 full-time jobs over the next 10 years and pays an average hourly wage of $70.77 including benefits.

The privately owned start-up distillery, founded in 2019, has focused on blending. According to a news release, Bespoken has received more than 150 medals in spirits competitions through spirit rectifying.

The distillery will begin operations later this year.

Bespoken Spirits Grand Opening

Who: Lynyrd Skynyrd, with tastings, signings and live music.

When: March 27, 6-8 p.m.

Where: Greyline Station 101 W. Loudon Ave.

Tickets: Free, eventbrite.com

ZZ Top concert at Rupp will be homecoming for one band member with Kentucky ties

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