Bardstown – Gateway Itinerary

KBT Distilleries |

KBTCT Distilleries |

Attractions |

Events |

Outdoor Activities |

Eat & Drink |

Stay

Nestled in the rolling Kentucky hills lies the Bourbon Capital of the World^® and an Official Gateway to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail^® journey. The tradition of distilling runs deep in historic Bardstown, a vibrant community with all the small-town charm you’d expect in any Southern city. Bourbon, history, and mouth watering meals are calling – what are you waiting for?

Want to leave the driving and planning to someone else? Book your tours and transportation in advance with Pegasus Distillery Experiences, Mint Julep Experiences, or Kentucky Bourbon Boys and all you have to do is enjoy your time Kentucky!

We have overhauled the passport you know and love and turned it into a beautiful, 150+ page booklet that will help you on your journey! The new Bourbon Trail^™ Passport & Field Guide includes all 18 KBT^® distilleries as well as all 23 KBT Craft Tour distilleries. Books can be purchased at all participating distilleries or in advance here (all proceeds go towards furthering responsibility and sustainability efforts across the Commonwealth). Click here to learn more about the Bourbon Trail^™ Passport & Field Guide.

When planning your trip, keep in mind that Bardstown is more rural than Louisville and Lexington, and on-demand ride services may not be available. Click here to see your transportation options in and around Bardstown…planning ahead is key!

KBT Distilleries

Heaven Hill is the nation’s largest family-owned spirits producer, making brands such as Elijah Craig, Larceny, Henry McKenna and many others. The Shapira’s have been operating in Bardstown since 1935, and they love having visitors. At the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, you can choose from their tour options and even bottle your own Bourbon!

Take a distillery tour, book a cocktail class, eat your heart out…you can do it all at Bardstown Bourbon Company. Don’t miss a chance to dine at their onsite Kitchen & Bar. Enjoy a delicious meal and cocktail in this gorgeous ultra-modern distillery, and make sure to peek at the vintage whiskey offerings in their extended menu (don’t forget to order a boozy milkshake). Click here for reservations.

With a perfect blend of timeless craft and innovation, Lux Row Distillers calls home some of Kentucky’s most iconic Bourbon brands such as Ezra Brooks and Rebel. Enjoy their chocolate and whiskey tastings and try to see their famous peacocks roaming the grounds.

One of Kentucky’s most remote and charming distillery properties is well-worth the trek. While at Maker’s Mark see the barrels aging sweetly beneath the Chihuly blown-glass installment, and don’t forget to dip your own bottle in the gift shop. Settle in for a delicious, southern meal at Star Hill Provisions, and get a cocktail or alcoholic Ale-8-One slushy – trust us.

Head north of Bardstown to the home of one of the world’s most noted whiskeys – the James B. Beam Distilling Co. After seeing every step of the process, you’ll have the chance to dip your own bottle of Knob Creek right off the bottling line. After the interactive, multi-sensory tour, make sure to grab some a delicious meal and sip a cocktail at The Kitchen Table Restaurant. Stay tuned to their events calendar for any special happenings throughout the year.

On your way back into town, stop by the Four Roses Warehouse & Bottling Facility in Cox’s Creek. Four Roses is one of the few distilleries that ages their barrels in single story warehouses. Save on admission fees if you tour both the Distillery and Bottling Facility within 60 days. (You may choose to get your passport stamped at either location.)

KBTCT Distilleries

Start your experience in Bardstown at another historic distillery rich in family history. Tour the grounds at Willett Distillery and make reservations at The Bar at Willett for an unforgettable cocktail and dining experience.

Less than 2 miles from the center of enchanting Bardstown on an old tobacco farm you’ll find Preservation Distillery + Farm, a small operating farm and distillery making 100% pot distilled Bourbon and whiskey in 1-3 barrel batches. Longhorn cattle roam the property, and with itty bitty releases of their Olde St Nick, Wattie Boone, Cowboy Little Barrel and Preservation you’re sure to have a worthwhile visit.

Head out to the county for this stunner of a destination, Log Still Distillery. Founded by three members of the Joseph Washington Dant family, these are distillery grounds like you’ve never seen before. Complete with an amphitheatre that draws artists like the Gin Blossoms and Little Big Town, The Legacy a gorgeous wedding and events venue inspired by rickhouses, a full-service farm to table restaurant, working train depot and beautiful onsite lodging, you’ll never want to leave.

Attractions

There is no shortage of Things To Do in Bardstown and the surrounding areas. Start your day right with a steaming cup of coffee at Fresh, and take a quick jaunt to Hadorn’s for the local’s secret doughnut spot. Stock your home bar at Toddy’s Liquors and find unique gifts at the Blind Pig Bourbon Market. Did someone say “shopping?” You know we did. Don’t feel like walking? Take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the historic streets of Bardstown. Speaking of history, Bardstown has it in spades! Take a stroll through Kentucky Bourbon’s past at the newly renovated Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History. Tour the mansion at My Old Kentucky Home State Historic Site, and catch a showing of the Stephen Foster Story in the summer months (ask about their group culinary/cocktail tours!). Since 1848, the monks at the Abbey of Gethsemani have been welcoming visitors to learn about their lives and enjoy their fine, handmade treats such as fudge, fruitcake and preserves. Feeling adventurous? Book an excursion on My Old Kentucky Dinner Train for a meal, a drink and even a murder mystery in a 1940’s dining car as it rolls through the Bluegrass.

You’ve seen how the whiskey is made. You’ve learned how to mix it in a cocktail. But have you ever seen the skilled craftsmen bending the staves to make the barrels, hammering on the rings, and charring the insides with a big burst of flame? Now you can! Book a Kentucky Cooperage Tour at the Independent Stave Company and leave smelling like our favorite perfume – charred oak. (close-toed shoes required)

Outdoor Activities

If you’re feeling outdoorsy, spend some time at the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. Extensive hiking trails, the canopy tree walk, multiple public art displays, and an edible garden are just some of our many must-sees at Bernheim. Grab a bite in their cafe before hitting the road.

Bardstown is home to three golf courses and several cozy campgrounds, if you have an rv in tow.

Events

Kentucky’s ultimate Bourbon celebration happens every year in September – Bourbon Heritage month! Join us at the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival for special events, bottle auctions, facetime with Master Distillers and even a barrel rolling competition. Check here for other local events.

Eat & Drink

Wind down in Bardstown as you peruse the shops and start planning your nightcap destination. Between the hometown diners, BBQ joint, pizzeria, soda fountain, upscale cafes and all the other dining offerings, there will be no shortage of options to fill your belly. Don’t miss an opportunity to dine on classic Kentucky fare in the Old Talbott Tavern (try the fried green tomatoes). Bardstown Bourbon Co.’s Kitchen & Bar is topnotch for lunch, dinner, cocktails and vintage pours. There’s a seat (and a cocktail) with your name on it at The Bar at Willett – I bet you didn’t know you liked egg salad until you try this! If you wind up at Maker’s Mark, we definitely recommend sticking around for a meal at Star Hill Provisions, and make sure to visit their adjacent bar. No visit to Jim Beam is complete without a big plate of BBQ and a crisp Ale-8-One at Fred’s Smokehouse. One of our favorite grab-n-go stops is On the Go Foods – a non-profit serving people with developmental disabilities through job training, community employment, and more. For southern food at its finest, plan an exquisite private dinner for your group at the Harrison-Smith House (only open for private events). Have a nightcap in the “world’s oldest Bourbon bar” or ask the locals for directions to the speakeasy (shh).

Stay

You must be tired! Rest your head in one of the many historic B&B’s and cottages that Bardstown has to offer. Click here for a complete list of Bardstown accommodations. Need another unique and storied lodging option? Immerse yourself in Bourbon and American history when you stay at The Samuels House. This 250 year old home to eight generations of the family behind the iconic Maker’s Mark brand is packed with their personal collection of amazing whiskey memorabilia and is just waiting for you. Or you may opt to stay on the distillery grounds at Log Still distillery in one of their beautiful lodges, cottages and suites.

You’re Done!

Now that you’ve tackled Bardstown, explore Kentucky’s other communities as outlined in our full Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Trip Planner, and keep workin’ on that passport. Click here for more info on the Bourbon Trail™ Passport & Field Guide.

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