FAQs

It is always a best practice to book your tours in advance, but if there are 10 or more people in your group, you will definitely need to make advance arrangements for tours at each distillery you plan to visit. Tours can sell out quickly and usually capped at a certain number of guests. We recommend exploring the services offered by our transportation partners as they specialize in hosting larger groups.

Individuals under 21 years of age are generally welcome on the standard distillery tours, but may not be permitted in the tastings areas. Each distillery reserves the right to prohibit minors from an experience that is deemed inappropriate or would inhibit the enjoyment of other guests. We recommend you check with the individual distilleries on their policies around minors.

The KDA maintains a robust licensing program in connection with its federally protected trademarks including KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL® and BOURBON TRAIL™.  The KDA licenses its trademarks for use in connection with high-quality, approved goods and services.  The KDA cannot permit use of its trademarks outside of its licensing program in order to preserve the legal protection afforded those marks and as required by its contractual obligations to existing licensees.  For the same reason, the KDA strictly polices third-party uses of all KDA trademarks. Please contact us at 502-875-9351 or ENJOY@KYBOURBON.COM for more information.

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association & Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Firearms Policy states that Kentucky state law prohibits firearms on distillery property (KRS 244.125 and 237.110).

With dozens of distilleries offering hundreds of experiences, the planning can certainly be overwhelming! Your Bourbon experience should be customized to create the experience that works best for you. We recommend focusing on a single region per trip, with no more than three distillery locations per day.  Can’t wrap it up in one trip? No worries! You can always come back and see us again.

Some are as close as a stone’s throw and others are as far as 100 miles. Check out the map on the Distilleries page of our website for a lay of the land. And remember—this is Kentucky. The scenery is beautiful so enjoy the journey.

Our distilleries welcome service animals as defined by the ADA in their facilities, and recognize the important role they play in many of our visitors’ lives. There may be some areas in which they are prohibited from entering, such as sensitive production areas for the health and safety of the animal and the product.

Pets may or may not be allowed on distillery property – please contact the distilleries you are interested in visiting to review their individual policies. Each distillery reserves the right to prohibit animals from an experience that is deemed inappropriate, would potentially violate food safety policies, or would inhibit the enjoyment of other guests.

Yes, our Bourbon Trail™ distilleries offer complimentary water and a variety of other non-alcoholic refreshments for purchase.

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® is a program that is owned and operated by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. A distillery must be a KDA member in order to participate in the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® program. KDA maintains an open membership policy for businesses and institutions engaged as a licensed manufacturer, distiller or rectifier of distilled beverage spirits in Kentucky. Learn More.

While our distilleries make every effort to comply with all legal building code requirements, visitors should contact each distillery individually with specific accessibility questions.

There is no beginning or end to the Trail™. Where you start and how you explore is up to you. Plan your trip around your favorite Bourbon brands. Or create an itinerary dedicated to discovering new brands. You can even explore the Trail™ by regions. 
The possibilities are limitless. We encourage you to Build Your Own Bourbon Trail® and construct the perfect adventure that’s unique to you.

Visit each distillery’s page on our website to find information on where each is located. You can also click the “Quickview” on each distillery’s card to find important information for each – including where they are located. Please keep in mind that sometimes cell service can get unreliable on the beautiful backroads of Kentucky.

It is highly recommended to book your distillery tastings, tours and other experiences online and in advance. A few distilleries have walk-in experiences, but planning a trip without booking your experiences ahead of time is highly discouraged. Most distilleries have online booking options, or you can book your experiences through one of our trusted transportation partners. Check out the distilleries in the section above for more information.

That depends. At this time, there are only a handful of reciprocal states that allow shipping from Kentucky distilleries. It also depends on whether common carriers like UPS, FedEx and others are shipping to that state. If you determine that your state does not allow shipping reciprocity for spirits, we strongly encourage you to contact lawmakers in your state and ask them to pass legislation allowing spirits to be shipped there. Visit the Ship My Spirits website to find out if you can ship spirits to your state.

However, there are other ways to get bottles back home:

You may pack distilled spirits under 140 proof (70% abv) in your checked baggage. Please ensure that the bottle is packed carefully so it doesn’t break.

The KDA also has worked with Kentucky’s three major airports (Louisville, Lexington and Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati) to create Bourbon bottle shops inside security. You can find most of our top brands there, which you can carry on the plane.

Some distilleries observe a summer shutdown to conduct essential maintenance. Full tours are still available during these times, but you may not see Bourbon being produced. Please visit each distillery’s website for full details.

All distilleries offer a complimentary tasting at the end of their standard tour. Some offer tasting-only experiences as well. But remember, slow down, savor your experiences and drink responsibly.

Under Kentucky law, visitors can purchase up to 9 liters per customer, per day at distillery gift shops. Options to ship product back to your home may be available. Please consult with each distillery and know that your state laws might prohibit shipping.

While each distillery tour is unique, plan on spending at least an hour and a half at each to tour, taste, and visit the gift shop. Many distilleries offer extended and abbreviated experiences in addition to a standard one hour tour. If you’re interested in times for a specific distillery tour, visit that distillery’s website for availability.

While there are no admission fees to visit your favorite distilleries, all distilleries charge a fee for their tours. Some distilleries have abbreviated or extended specialty tours that vary in cost. Please visit each distillery’s website to explore pricing. Be sure to plan ahead. Some distillery tours book up months in advance.

No. Please be sure the company you book with has the proper documentation and insurance to guarantee a safe experience. Official Kentucky Bourbon Trail® partners are all properly licensed and insured, so you know you are in good hands. These companies have deep relationships with the distilleries, which is one of the big advantages of choosing an experienced diver and guide for your trip.

While rideshare drivers are abundant in urban areas like Louisville and Lexington, service in rural areas can be unpredictable and sometimes unavailable. Using a rideshare service to get to more rural areas of Kentucky does not mean that rideshare service is available for a return trip – meaning you could find yourself without a ride at the end of the day. Visitors are encouraged to keep this in mind when using rideshare apps.