A Bourbon Beginner’s Guide to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®

One of the most surprising elements of my experience was the acknowledgment that there’s not just one way to enjoy Bourbon; we were encouraged to enjoy Bourbon however we liked – whether neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail. My most valuable takeaway from the Trail™ was knowing how the mash bill, or recipe, affects the flavor. I’ve learned that I prefer wheated Bourbon over rye, and now my family has a shortlist of brands they’ll prefer to order when drinking at restaurants and bars.

What to Expect as a Non-Expert

As someone who doesn’t regularly drink Bourbon, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Trail™ dedicated to the spirit. I knew that it had to be made from mostly corn, and it had to be made in America. I didn’t know anything about tasting or mixing it! I was worried I wouldn’t keep up with the experience since I didn’t consider myself passionate about Bourbon. To my surprise, however, the Trail™ truly does have something for everyone (as long as you’re over 21)!

All of the distilleries on the Trail™ were open and ready to share their passion with me. In fact, everyone was just as excited to share and teach a beginner like me as they were to teach Bourbon fanatics! I half-expected dark, dusty rooms filled with aloof experts sneering if I couldn’t identify the tasting notes. Instead, I was met with bartenders, barrel coordinators, and tour guides who were welcoming and eager to share the heritage of Kentucky Bourbon.

I was also surprised by the sustainability efforts that the distillers on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® are committed to expanding. In several locations, the fermented mash is used as feed for livestock, which, according to our tour guides, results in Kentucky having “the happiest cows in the world.” Lux Row was even constructing a building specifically for dehydrating the mash to make it easier for farmers to transport and feed!

Many of the experiences we scheduled were much more modern and elevated than I expected, with beautiful buildings that honored the past and future. I think the locations’ designs mirror the attitude distillers hold toward visitors – open and authentic, with plenty of seating to encourage conversation and community.

One of the tastings provided water, palate cleansers, and chocolates to help expand our understanding of flavors and mash bills. The addition of water opened up the Bourbon for me, and I could begin to taste the notes described – and chocolate doesn’t hurt either!

“I loved that each tour was so unique and different from each other. I didn’t need to know anything about the Bourbon-making process before the tours, but after each experience, I felt like I had more context and could ask more pointed questions at the next opportunity.”

Caroline McVay

The Website is Your Friend

We started our planning with the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® website and used it several times throughout our trip. Rather than searching and scouring individual tabs on a browser, we used the site’s library of distilleries, experiences, and regions to help narrow down our options. It was our first resource when deciding which tours we wanted to take or how to maximize our time between scheduled activities. The distillery filter options, in particular, allowed us to find the experiences we were most interested in pursuing, like specialty tours and tastings. It’s important to book these in advance, though, as some tours can fill up quickly. After we arrived, we also used the website to find nearby walk-in distillery experiences and determine if food was served on location – you know, the important things.

I would recommend only scheduling two to three tours a day, giving yourself ample time to savor the experience as well as grab a bite to eat between tours and tastings. There are plenty of opportunities to simply walk in and visit distilleries (even if you can’t book a tour) if you find there’s more room in your day

While I still can’t call myself a Bourbon connoisseur, I’ve grown exponentially in my appreciation for the craftsmanship it takes to create something so special. Learning the history, culture, and work behind Bourbon has opened my eyes to an incredible world just a few hours away. Everyone involved on the Trail™ takes so much pride in what they do, and they should! Kentucky Bourbon Trail® celebrates the true American spirit – yes, the Bourbon, but also the idea that this is a place where there can be endless opportunities to create something special – and it’s meant to be shared with all.