About the Kentucky Bourbon Trail^®

First Settlers, First Stills

Nearly every American story is an immigrant story, and Bourbon’s tale is just that. When the first European settlers arrived in Harrodsburg some 250 years ago, they came with something crucial in tow: the first rugged stills and the knowledge from their homelands to use them.

Further settlement of Virginia’s Kentucky County was incentivized by the Corn Patch & Cabin Rights Act in 1776 which offered 400 acres to any settlers who built cabins and planted corn. This led to the wholesale cultivation of corn and thus provided the foundation for the classic Bourbon mashbill.

Rollin’ on the River

The Louisiana Purchase opened markets for trade in Southern states along the Mississippi River. This meant that whiskey could now be shipped downstream from Kentucky and sold further South, all the way to the bustling Port of New Orleans. Kentucky’s 1,000+ miles of commercially navigable waterways played an important role in the growth and distribution of Kentucky Bourbon.

What’s in a Name?

Few things are shrouded in as much mystery as the origins of how Bourbon got its name. The name “Bourbon” originated from a long lineage of French royalty. In fact, Bourbon County was named in honor of the French royal family who had provided military and financial assistance to the colonies during the Revolutionary War. Some believe that Jacob Spears – distiller and Bourbon County resident – may have been the first to label his product as “Bourbon whiskey” in 1840.

Protect Bourbon, At All Costs

To protect America’s spirit from “needless and obstructive laws and regulations,” Bourbon distillers met in Louisville to effectively form the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) – one of the most powerful lobbies in the Commonwealth and one of the oldest trade associations in the US. For decades, the group has fought tirelessly to reduce whiskey taxes, shrink insurance fees and address other important measures of the time. Ironically, it was Prohibition that catalyzed the KDA’s rebirth in 1935.

America’s Native Spirit, Officially

When Congress recognized “Bourbon whiskey a distinctive product of the United States” by Congressional Resolution on May 4, 1964, it became official: No other country in the world can produce Bourbon. It’s our native spirit, and ours alone. But we’ll share it with anyone, of course.

Hitting The Trail™

After years of informal tours, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) created the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour as a destination experience, where Bourbon lovers can go behind the scenes at Kentucky’s signature distilleries. For the very first time, people from all over the world were invited to get a glimpse of our world, from grain to glass.

Crafting a New Trail

As the world’s fascination with Bourbon continued to grow, so did people’s interest in small craft distillers. And so in 2012, the KDA founded the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour®, the nation’s first tourism program to highlight small producers. From flavored moonshine with local ingredients to barrel aged vodka, brandy, gin and – you guessed it – Bourbon, these craft distillers have changed the game in local spirits and the stories behind them.

A Million Annual Tours (and Counting)

For the first time ever, Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® distilleries gave visitors more than 1 million tours in a year, confirming that it’s not just what’s inside the bottle that draws people to Kentucky Bourbon. The makers, the iconic brand homes and the Commonwealth’s legendary hospitality are all part of a culture that welcomes everyone and invites you to stay just a bit longer.

Raise a Glass…Our Glass

The KDA collected Master Distillers, Master Tasters, and the best palates in Kentucky to design the first-ever glass specifically tailored for enjoying Kentucky Bourbon. They chose a glass with a wider rim so the nose from high-proof Bourbons doesn’t overwhelm the sampler, and it allows for an ice cube (or two) to demonstrate how a little bit of water changes the taste.

For Every Kentuckian, Three Barrels

The Bourbon boom doesn’t seem to be slowing down, and the numbers are proof. With over 12.6 million barrels of Bourbon aging in warehouses across the state (3 barrels for every resident), 46 distillery stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Craft Tour™ experiences, and over 2 million annual visits to distilleries – it was a record-breaking year all around.

A Toast to 25 Years

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® celebrates its 25th Anniversary with fresh branding and an all-new digital experience. The previous Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® was merged into the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® to create a single visitor experience, with endless possibilities.