Sip, Explore, Repeat: A Q&A with Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Enthusiasts

Seasoned Bourbon Trail™ travelers Kimberly and Antonio Marsh share how their adventure began, how their appreciation for Bourbon evolved, and what it took to visit 46 distilleries.

Q: How many distilleries have you visited?

We’ve done 46 distilleries! Our first trip, we woke up at about 3 A.M., flew into Louisville, got the rental, and went straight to Jim Beam. In total, we’ve driven 1,644 miles.

Q: What first inspired you to take on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® experience?

We were building a home, and one of our builders was very into Bourbon. We were building a study at the front of our house, and he kept calling it the “cognac room.” But when we moved in, we decided to fill it with Bourbon instead. We started with about five bottles, and now we have 178 the last time we counted. We were trying to decide what 50th birthday trip we should take and said, “Hey, why don’t we go and do a Bourbon Trail™ adventure?”

Q: How has your appreciation for Bourbon evolved since visiting the distilleries?

We knew Bourbon, but we didn’t know Bourbon. Learning about the distillation process, barrel charring, and the history behind each distillery really deepened our appreciation for the craft. For example, some distilleries had engineers who designed the layout of buildings on the property, ensuring that certain areas received a specific amount of sunlight. Places like Maker’s Mark even experiment with cold storage methods inspired by California winemakers.

Q: Were there any specific experiences or stops that stand out as your favorites?

It’s definitely a tie between Maker’s Mark and Heaven Hill. Maker’s Mark had an incredible VIP experience with Trevor, who made us feel like royalty, and Heaven Hill’s Herb was amazing on the tour—we even got to make our own bottles. Evan Williams’ “ideal bartender” experience was also unforgettable—George Harrison was the bartender down there in the speakeasy, and when we tell you he goes into character from the moment you step in, he is like that until the tasting is over.

At Bluegrass Distillers, we loved the mash. They use blue corn. They let us taste it as well, and that was amazing.

Q: Any unexpected surprises or hidden gems along the way?

Copper & Kings uses sonic aging, which reminded us of a sci-fi movie. We wanted to visit Pensive Distilling Company when we came up for the Kentucky Derby, but they were closing early that day. When we explained it to Scott, the owner, he said, “Hey, take your time, we’re not going anywhere. They stayed late just for us. When we got there, Scott had pours already lined up for us. We said, “Okay, Scott, you’re the man, that’s A1 service right there.” That made me really appreciate the Bourbon Trail™ experience that much more, because he didn’t have to do that for us.

We had a funny moment during our tasting at Barrel House Distilling Co. We asked our guide, Marshall, “Are you really pouring Bourbon in communion cups?”

Q: How has your enjoyment of Bourbon changed?

At first, we were just drinking Bourbon, but then we started the tastings and learned about the different techniques of smelling, swirling, and sipping so that it doesn’t shock your taste buds. Our tastes have changed. Some of the Bourbons we liked at the beginning are not our favorites anymore.

Q: Do you know what your dominant nostril is?

The left. We have friends who come to our Bourbon tastings, and we’ll have them test it out, and they’re like, “What?” and were like, “Just do it,” and all of a sudden they’re like, “I did not know I had a dominant nostril.”

Q: Did you enjoy any meals along the way?

As for the distilleries, we would say Jim Beam was one of our favorites. The duck poppers, deviled eggs, and brisket pizza. Hands down.

Q: Any tips for first-time visitors?

Go to all of the outer distilleries first, then come back in. Save yourself some time. Don’t be afraid to fly into Lexington and leave out of Louisville or vice versa. Do not try to do a tasting at every distillery; sip it. It’s okay to leave a little in the glass.

Pack bubble wrap if you’re flying. It may sound crazy, but what we learned on that first trip was when you go to these distilleries, you are going to find bottles that you are probably never going to see again. Find something, wrap it, and put it in your checked suitcase. Also, depending on the time of year, it never hurts to pack an extra pair of jeans and a rain jacket.

And even if you don’t drink, go for the history and food—they’re just as rewarding. They have more than just Bourbon, as well. They have gin and creams—it’s not just Bourbon.

Q: If you could go back and do your entire experience again, what would you do differently?

We wouldn’t change a thing.