Searching for the perfect weekend getaway itinerary on the Kentucky Bourbon Path?
The Kentucky Bourbon Path is an official designation of the bourbon distilleries within the areas of Frankfort, Lexington, and Louisville, Kentucky.
There are at present 45+ distilleries on the path, so it could simply take 2 weeks to expertise all of them, so I’ve compiled a listing of the perfect ones to go to if you happen to’re brief on time.
My foremost standards included model reputation, historical past, and aesthetics of the property and tasting.
I’ve additionally included some further actions, eating places, and locations to remain when having fun with your time on the Kentucky Bourbon Path.
Kentucky Bourbon Path 2 Day Itinerary
I’ll begin by saying that I’m not at all a bourbon knowledgeable or connoisseur.
I’ve actually solely had it when my husband orders an Previous Long-established for dinner and I drink the previous few sips which have been watered down.
So I created this itinerary primarily based off of manufacturers that I’ve heard of earlier than, distilleries that truly had excursions out there on the times we had been visiting, crowdsourcing suggestions from associates, and ensuring to incorporate the aesthetically pleasing distilleries purely as a result of I simply take pleasure in locations that look good.
Moreover, distilleries with distinctive experiences or components to their excursions or tastings had been additionally factored in.
I confirmed with my husband which distilleries I had narrowed down our record to, so it’s authorised by an precise bourbon drinker.
Right here is the precise itinerary we adopted once we spent 2 days on the Kentucky Bourbon Path.
The evening earlier than, we drove down from Dayton, Ohio and stayed in Simpsonville, Kentucky, which is about midway between Louisville and Frankfort, so we could possibly be near our first tasting the subsequent morning.
On day one, we toured Bulleit, Fortress & Key, and Woodford Reserve.
Then we had dinner in Frankfort, visited Daniel Boone’s grave because it was proper there, and did a pirate themed escape room on the town.
We additionally stayed at a lodge in Frankfort that evening.
On day two, we toured 4 Roses, Maker’s Mark, and Previous Forester.
We completed the day with dinner in Louisville, strolling round city, after which driving again house to Dayton, Ohio.
Beneath are the small print about every distillery’s tour and tasting expertise, the meals we suggest within the space, and the perfect locations to remain on the Kentucky Bourbon Path.
Kentucky Bourbon Path Day 1: Frankfort
Since we had been driving ourselves your complete time, we restricted ourselves to three tastings a day, although you could possibly probably slot in 4 if you happen to choose locations which are shut to one another.
You may see within the picture beneath that we began within the West, then progressively made our manner towards Frankfort by the tip of the day.
Bulleit Distilling Co. Bourbon Tasting
Our very first tasting was at Bulleit.
We did the Unlocking The Senses tasting at 11:30 am, which is a 30 minute expertise.
They’ve an choice that features a tour for simply $5 extra, however due to the instances out there for the distilleries we had been visiting, we wouldn’t have had the time.
On the time of our go to, it was $20 per individual for our tasting.
What was distinctive about this tasting is that they actually used all of the senses – sight, sound, style, contact, and odor.
All through the tasting, every bourbon had a scent field that was paired with it and the lights and sounds would change all through the expertise.
You’ll get to style 4 totally different types of whiskey that they produce and my private favourite right here was the rye whiskey.
Fortress & Key
Fortress & Secret is one which I hadn’t heard of earlier than, however after I noticed the property, I knew we’d simply must go, and my husband agreed.
This one is about half-hour away from Bulleit, so we booked our tour and tasting for 1 pm to offer us sufficient buffer time in-between experiences.
We booked The Distillery Expertise, which is a 1 hour tour adopted by a tasting.
On the time that we visited, it was $30 per individual.
The distinctive component right here is clearly the historical past and great thing about this property.
However in addition they supplied a gin cocktail throughout their tasting that I loved and I really purchased the bottle of gin from the reward store afterwards – it’s referred to as the Rise Seasonal Gin.
Additionally they provide you with a chunk of chocolate to have along with your tasting!
I do know that is speculated to be the Kentucky Bourbon Path, however as soon as once more, my favourite whiskey of theirs was the rye whiskey.
Woodford Reserve
Woodford Reserve was our subsequent distillery, lower than 10 minutes away from Fortress & Key, so we had been in a position to ebook a tour for two:30 pm and have sufficient time in-between to get there.
I picked this one as a result of it’s the foremost one which my husband drinks, however that’s principally as a result of that’s what most eating places that we go to supply of their Previous Long-established cocktail.
We did the Path To Taste tour and tasting, which is a 70 minute expertise, that additionally features a shuttle bus to take you across the property.
What I preferred about this tour and tasting is that it was $32 per individual, however solely $25 for the designated driver that wouldn’t be ingesting.
The spotlight of the tour was their historic Nonetheless Room and the barrel storage warehouses.
This tasting had 5 totally different types of whiskey and it additionally got here with a chunk of chocolate.
One other distinctive component of this tasting is that there are tasting playing cards for every whiskey that you just’re in a position to take house with you.
As soon as once more, my favourite was the rye whiskey, however I really additionally loved the double oaked whiskey.
Dinner: Bourbon On Primary
From Woodford Reserve, downtown Frankfort is a couple of 20 minute drive.
We didn’t have a selected place in thoughts, however figured we’d simply drive downtown and park and see what caught our eye.
I additionally tried to do some analysis on-line on the best way to see if any locations stood out.
We in the end determined to have an early dinner at Bourbon on Primary due to the historic component of the restaurant.
There have been 3 of us on this journey, so we ordered fairly a little bit of meals.
For our first appetizer, we shared a pretzel with beer cheese dip and celery.
Then we shared deviled eggs with pork stomach and pickled onions.
For our meal, my husband had the home burger, which got here with bacon preserves, a fried egg, gouda, lettuce, onion, tomato, and pickles.
Then I had a facet of mac n cheese, which I don’t at present see on their menu, nevertheless it might need been one in all their day by day specials.
Within the background of the photograph, you’ll additionally see that the third individual with us had a taco quesadilla.
For dessert, we shared a chocolate chip bread pudding.
Daniel Boone’s Gravesite
This may increasingly seem to be an excellent random factor so as to add to this itinerary, however the cemetery is correct in downtown Frankfort and also you’ll possible see indicators for it throughout.
However the purpose we determined to cease is that Daniel Boone is precise my great-uncle, via my grandad’s facet of the household!
9 generations again, Daniel Boone’s sister, Sara, is my great-grandmother.
If for no different purpose, no less than test it out as a result of it sits on a hilltop with an outstanding view beneath.
It’s fully free and takes possibly 10-Quarter-hour of your day.
Capital Escape & Axe Throwing
On the opposite facet of city is an escape room, which is one in all my favourite actions to do after I journey.
Particularly when they’re domestically owned and never a part of a nationwide model that I might expertise anyplace.
We did a pirate themed room and we had been in a position to escape with simply 4 minutes to spare!
This one had a whole lot of distinctive components we hadn’t skilled in different escape rooms earlier than.
Kentucky Bourbon Path Day 2: Louisville
After day 1, we stayed at a lodge in Frankfort, the place our day ended.
Day 2 requires a bit extra driving, however as a result of we might solely go to 6 distilleries on this journey, we needed to choose those on the very prime of our record.
4 Roses Distillery
Our first tasting for day 2 was 4 Roses Distillery, which was about half-hour from Frankfort.
We did the Style of Historical past expertise, which was a 30 minute tasting with no tour.
It was one of many least expensive tastings at simply $16 per individual.
This one I had picked primarily based off of the look of the label, the recognition of the whiskey’s themselves, and the structure of the property.
It appears to be like like a Spanish villa.
This tasting included 4 totally different whiskeys.
We bought a bottle of their Single Barrel Bourbon as a result of it was our favourite AND as a result of it was awarded the World’s Greatest Single Barrel Bourbon by the World Whiskies Awards.
Maker’s Mark
Our subsequent bourbon cease was Maker’s Mark, which is about an hour away from 4 Roses.
I picked this one as a result of it’s simply one of the crucial well-known, hottest, and most recognizable.
We booked the Shutdown Maker’s Mark Tour for 12:30 pm.
On the time of our go to, it was $24 per individual and it’s a 1 hour tour and tasting.
I used to be pleasantly shocked by the aesthetics of the property.
It jogged my memory of Norway at Epcot greater than anything.
My least favourite a part of this expertise was that this was the one distillery the place we weren’t allowed to share our tastings.
As a result of I used to be the driving force, I might simply have a small sip of every one, then my husband would drink the remaining.
However Maker’s Mark mentioned that it wasn’t allowed and there have been really a number of different {couples} that had been irritated by that too as a result of it’s simply wasteful.
Our tour information, to be trustworthy, was sort of on the grumpy facet the entire time, and simply rubbed lots of people the improper manner.
However, a spotlight of this tour is seeing the meeting line the place the whiskey is bottled and seeing the enduring purple seal being dipped onto the bottles.
You may add on to your expertise and dip your personal bottle to take house, however we didn’t splurge for it on this journey.
Previous Forester Distilling Co.
Our closing cease was Previous Forester Distilling Co. in downtown Louisville.
It’s about an hour and Quarter-hour from Maker’s Mark, so it’s fairly an extended drive.
We booked the Previous Forester Tour for 3:45 pm, which mixes a tour with a tasting.
It’s a 75 minute expertise for $32 per individual.
I booked this one due to the title recognition and due to its location on Whiskey Row in Louisville.
A singular component of this tour is having the ability to set a whiskey barrel on hearth!
Previous Forester was one other tasting expertise that included a chunk of chocolate, which might be my favourite perk of all of those tastings.
Our favourite was the 1910 Previous Superb Whisky 93 Proof, so we bought a bottle of that one to convey house.
Dinner: Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen
It was about 5 pm once we completed our final distillery tour and tasting, so we determined to take a stroll down Whiskey Row to discover a place to eat dinner.
Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen caught out to us essentially the most as being a well-liked, native place, at an inexpensive worth.
We tried just a little little bit of the whole lot from fried hen to mac n cheese to cornbread to inexperienced beans to mashed potatoes and gravy.
In A Personal Kentucky Bourbon Path Tour? Guide One At the moment On Viator!
The place To Keep On The Kentucky Bourbon Path
Our itinerary was just a little little bit of a street journey across the whole Kentucky Bourbon Path.
Relying on how a lot you’re desirous to drive, chances are you’ll wish to keep in a single lodge the entire time or transfer round.
These are all of the accommodations we’ve stayed in once we’ve visited the realm and suggest to your go to.
Hampton Inn Simpsonville
Hampton Inn Simpsonville is in-between Frankfort and Louisville.
We stayed right here the evening earlier than our first day of whiskey tastings as a result of we had been driving down from Dayton, Ohio and needed to remain someplace inexpensive, however as shut as attainable to our first vacation spot.
We love Hampton Inn as a result of they’ve free parking and free breakfast.
Click on Right here To Guide Your Hampton Inn Simpsonville Keep At the moment!
Home2 Suites By Hilton Frankfort
Home2 Suites By Hilton Frankfort is clearly in Frankfort.
We stayed right here after the primary day of our whiskey tastings.
It’s not within the heart of downtown, however nonetheless close by.
Home2 Suites additionally presents free parking and free breakfast.
It’s a more recent model for Hilton that caters to a youthful crowd, however the rooms are arrange for work-stays and longer stays.
Click on Right here To Guide Your Home2 Suites By Hilton Frankfort Keep At the moment!
Doubletree Suites By Hilton Resort Lexington
Doubletree Suites By Hilton Resort Lexington is my favourite of all of the accommodations within the space, nevertheless it wasn’t close to any of the locations we had been visiting on this explicit journey, nevertheless it could possibly be a very good beginning or ending level for you relying on the place you’re touring from or to.
It’s designed within the type of the native distilleries but additionally for the Kentucky Derby.
You simply have to look at the video to get an thought of simply how good this lodge is!
Click on Right here To Guide Your Doubletree Suites By Hilton Resort Lexington Keep At the moment!
Conclusion: Kentucky Bourbon Path 2 Day Itinerary
There are many different distilleries to go to on the Kentucky Bourbon Path and undoubtedly some excessive profile ones that we missed, however whenever you’re restricted on time, you need to prioritize!
I loved each single place that we visited.
They every had distinctive components to their excursions and tastings and I particularly beloved the aesthetics of every one.
We’ll undoubtedly be again sooner or later to go to much more!
It’ll take 6 extra weekend getaways to tour all of them, lol.
Pin This For Later!
