If you are into bourbon, there is a chance you have heard of Bardstown, Kentucky. If you haven’t heard of this small bourbon town, you are in for a treat. It’s actually known as the Bourbon Capitol of the World. I took my wife down for a visit in 2018 and I want to spend some time reviewing my trip and provide some travel tips for anyone who is heading to that area. I know things might have changed over the years, so please take some time do some additional research before you pack your bags and head down into the heart of bourbon country.

What Is There To Do In Bardstown, Kentucky?

Well – first and foremost, there are quite a few distilleries in the Bardstown area. And since you are reading this on Bourbon Master, I assume you are mostly interested that. I go into detail on the distilleries in the Bardstown, Kentucky area below, but know you can spend your entire trip visiting, touring, and enjoying bourbon (which is my recommendation).

If you are a history buff, there is the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History. Again – It’s bourbon/whiskey themed, but it’s more history focused. I haven’t been, but it looks like it has some cool artifacts if you are into that kind of thing.

If you want to see inside the barrel, there is a neat little tour nearby in Lebanon, Kentucky where you can see a Cooperage in action. What’s a cooperage you might ask? It’s the place that makes the oak barrels that your favorite bourbons age in. You can see the process of the barrels being made and charred. The cooperage is about 40 minutes outside of Bardstown, but you can make a loop and hit Maker’s Mark if you plan it right (hint, hint). You can find out more information here.

If shopping is your thing, there are a quite a few little shops in the area. Here’s a list in case you are interested. I’m not usually the shopping type of guy, I did really like the Blind Pig Bourbon Market. Quick tip – Make sure the stores are open if you plan on spending time shopping. When I was there, a lot of the stores had different hours and we didn’t find a ton open. A little research and planning can fix this.

Outside of that, there are a lot of other little things you can find to do (inside and outside). I would highlight that there are a few wineries in the area (for those non-bourbon loving folks) and there is a dinner train that looks interesting. You can find this and more at the Bardstown visitors bureau website.

What Distilleries Are In Bardstown, Kentucky?

When you look at Bardstown, you will see that you have several distilleries in the city and a few on the outskirts (30 minutes or so away). To say you’ll have your choice of distilleries is an understatement. Here is the list of the distilleries you can visit while in Bardstown:

1. Bardstown Bourbon Company – I haven’t been here yet, but I like their stuff. This is on my list for next time.
2. Barton 1792 Distillery – Been here and remember having a bourbon chocolate during the tasting. And remember a pretty cool little tour.
3. Heaven Hill Distillery – My wife and I have been here, but weren’t able to do the tasting or the tour (both sold out). I think it would be worth another stop.
4. Jim Beam Distillery Company – I’ve been here quite a few times. This is a very commercial tour, but still good. If you haven’t been, you need to stop at least once in your life.
5. Lux Row Distillers – Haven’t been and don’t know much about them.
6. Log Still Distillery – Haven’t been and don’t know much about them.
7. Four Roses Distillery – Possibly got drunk with two older ladies at 9AM on my way to a golf trip. Might be one of my favorite tastings of all time. The ladies took me and the 3 other guys to the bar for a private tasting and history lesson.
8. Maker’s Mark – Haven’t been, but really want to go. Maker’s Mark was my first bourbon love and I have still not made it down to visit.
9. Preservation Distillery and Farm – Haven’t been and don’t know much about them.
10. Old Steelhouse Distillery – Haven’t been and don’t know much about them.
11. Willett – One of my all time favorite stops. I haven’t been since the restaurant/bar has been opened, but I’ve heard good things from my friends who have stopped.

And this isn’t including any of the distilleries you might pass on your way down (or up) to Bardstown. There are some great stops in Louisville and Lexington as well if you are coming down from the north or east. I have linked to each of the distilleries so you can take a look at their products, tours, tastings, and hours.

Where I Can I Stay In Bardstown, Kentucky?

Bourbon Manor

This is where my wife and I stayed back in 2018 and we really enjoyed it! It would be on the top of my recommendation list for everyone heading down to the Bardstown area. It’s located just off the main road and is actually pretty centrally located to all of the main attractions in Bardstown. The bed and breakfast has really large rooms and a great breakfast. It had that old Kentucky feeling, but had all of the amenities you would need for a stay. My only disappointment was that the Bunghole Bar wasn’t open during our stay (it was their private bourbon bar located on site – Not sure if it’s still there or not). And my wife packs too much luggage and we happen to pick a room on the top floor, so it was quite the haul.

I know I received an email some time ago that the property had been sold and new owners had taken over. I would assume the building and the lodging is just as good, if not better.

Talbott Tavern and Inn

One of other places I looked into for our trip was the Talbott Tavern and Inn. We actually drank and ate at the tavern and I’ll have more on that below. The reason I didn’t end up booking here was threefold:

1. The rooms didn’t look as nice as the Bourbon Manner. The looked like it was out of the 1900’s and the Bourbon Manner looked more up to date.
2. The rooms are above an active tavern. I didn’t want some drunk to wake me up at 1AM.
3. The website says it’s haunted. I’m not into having the ghost of bourbon past watch me as I sleep.

If you are into those kind of things, it might be the place for you. One perk is you could literally stumble up the stairs after a long night of drinking. Or you might fall on the stairs and end up being one of the ghosts. I’m not sure that’s a bad thing either (haunting the old bourbon bar in the USA for eternity)

Blind Pig Bed & Breakfast

I’m not sure this place was an option when I went down to Bardstown. I remember stopping at the Blind Pig Bourbon Market, but I don’t remember seeing the bed and breakfast during my searches. From the initial look, I think this might be a really nice place. It has a man cave, breakfast, and up-to-date amenities. This is on my list for my next trip.

Hampton Inn

If I’m going to immerse myself in bourbon culture, I don’t really want to stay in a chain hotel. That being said, if I was trying to go on a budget, this might be an option. I usually have a good amount of Hilton points laying around, so I looked at this as an option. Since I was with my wife, I chose the bed and breakfast. If I was going with a group of guys, we most likely would have stayed in a place like this. Nothing wrong with it, but it wasn’t what I was going for while I was there.

My Suggested Trip To Bardstown

If I was planning another trip to Bardstown, here is what I would do. First off, I would make it a two day trip (at least). Most of the distillery tours take an hour and you need to be there early to get your ticket and register. If you add that into the drive between locations and stop for food (or cocktails), you won’t get to as many distilleries as you would like.

I would also recommend staying at the Bourbon Manner or the Blind Pig Bed & Breakfast if you are taking your significant other. If not, pick your own poison on the lodging locations nearby (looks like there is the Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn and Suites, and a Holiday Inn nearby.)

Day 1

As you take off for Bardstown, go ahead and set a course to the Jim Beam Distillery. You should start with this tour/tasting because it has the most “production” to it. It’s honestly well done and as a marketing guy, I like what they do with it. I also think that once you see this, you will value the smaller distillery tours a lot more (just my opinion). Plus it’s a little out of the way compared to the rest of the distilleries. Once you are done there, I would head into Bardstown and hit either Bardstown Bourbon Company or Lux Row Distillers (in either order). Bardstown Bourbon Company has some food, so it’s going to be my pick for lunch over in that area, so you might want to do that one first. Once you are done with those two tours/tastings, I would head to Barton 1792 for your last tour/tasting of the day. I would then take your stuff and go visit a local liquor store (for a night cap bottle) and then drop your stuff off at your lodging location. After that, I would head to the Talbott Tavern to check out the world’s oldest bourbon bar for a drink or two. You might want to get dinner there or I would recommend Scout and Scholar (always trust breweries for good food) or Mammy’s Kitchen and Bar. Then enjoy a great night of sleep and get ready for another busy day.

Day 2

As much as I would like for you to stay in Bardstown, I think there are a few things you need to see that are a 30-40 minute drive away. So I would start my morning by heading off to the Cooperage down in Lebanon and then follow it up with a tour at Maker’s Mark (or vice versa). Once you get that done, I would get back to town and schedule a few other tours (plus lunch). I would start by going to Willett and doing lunch first with the Bar at Willett (reservations required). Then I would go on a tour or tasting at Willett. Once that is done, I would head over to the Heaven Hill Distillery (not that far away) and do a tasting/tour there as well. They have quite the facility. Once you are done with that, I would finish with the Preservation Distillery tour/tasting (if time allows – 4 tours might be a lot in a day). Then I would head back to the downtown Bardstown area to finish you day with dinner at a location of your choice (or if you are like me, get a pizza delivered or something else delivered).

Day 3

I know you are heading home, but I would try to squeeze in one more tour (or at least a stop along the way home). Look at the distilleries in the area or possibly on your way home. There are some great stops if you are heading through the Lexington or Louisville area. You also might want to stop by some liquor stores along the way and check out their barrel picks and selection. You never know what you might find!

Conclusion

There you have it! My ultimate guide to staying and visiting Bardstown, Kentucky. Having been there myself, I know that you will enjoy your trip no matter what your stops end up being. For being a small town in the middle of Kentucky, Bardstown sure has a lot of character and a lot of activities for the a bourbon lover.

No wonder they call it the Bourbon Capital of the World.

For years, I have been heading to a golf trip in Kentucky with a local group of guys. On our way down to the golf course, we always make a stop at a new distillery and try some great bourbon along the way. Add in my trips with the wife and other friends and I’ve been to a lot of different distilleries over the years. In this post, I’m going to share my personal favorite stops and give you a short rationale on why I love it.

Best Kentucky Bourbon Tours

1 – Willett Distillery

This place is one of my absolute favorite distilleries out there. Family owned and you feel like family once you walk on to the property. My wife loved the fact that there were two cats on the property (Rowan and Noah) and I loved the fact that my tour included a total of 4 people. I got to learn about the history of the brand and the way they ensure all of their products hit a certain level of quality. After I was done, we headed to the tasting room and I got to try a few different variations of bourbon and rye.

What sets this apart from the other tours out there is:

1 – It’s small and personal. I didn’t feel like I was going into some corporate marketing ploy. I felt like I was having someone show me the real bourbon industry.

2 – The property is beautiful. I really wish I could just stay the night and drink bourbon right out of a barrel. And the pot still they use (like the bottle of Willett) is breathtaking.

2. Glenn’s Creek Distillery

If you want an off the beaten path stop, look no further than Glenn’s Creek Distillery. I promise it’s most likely not haunted (on the site of the old Old Crow Distillery), but the backdrop could be that of a horror movie. A narrow one-lane road running down by a creek. Old rickhouses that are crumbling. And some good old boys making some pretty amazing liquor (especially bourbon).

The tour is awesome because it’s so personal. The guys at Glenn’s Creek are not going to be wearing company polos or waiting around to tell you the 100 year history of a company. They are going to be distilling and you are going to be a part of that process. Only once in my life have I seen an old soy sauce fermentation tank that has been turned into a still. You also get to help make bourbon by pouring white dog into a freshly charred oak barrel. Then you get to sign the barrel. Once it is ready to be bottled, you can see a Facebook post and order a bottle from them (to be picked up at your next visit).

You won’t be disappointed if you make a stop at Glenn’s Creek (and you can make a quick stop at Castle and Key right after you are done.

3 – Kentucky Peerless Distillery

If you haven’t caught on, I’m a big fan of visiting smaller distilleries. I hadn’t personally heard of Peerless until I was doing a quick Google search after I couldn’t get into a tour at Angel’s Envy. So I walked into Peerless and I was not disappointed.

This tour has a lot of history and it was a story I hadn’t heard at the other distilleries. I learned about the medicinal purposes of bourbon (from prohibition) and heard about the story of Kentucky Peerless restarting itself from the ground up.

The tour itself wasn’t a long walking tour, but the tasting at the end was amazing! I got to try the typical Peerless Rye, but then I got to try some single barrel variations. That was amazing. I wish I would have bought a few of these because I can’t believe how yummy they were.

4 – Whiskey Thief Distillery (Formerly Three Boys)

Have you ever wanted to taste bourbon straight from the barrel?

I would assume any honest bourbon drinker would love to taste a spirit just like the master distillers of a company.

That’s why the tour at Whiskey Thief is so amazing!

For this tour, you head right down to the distillery barn and you get to taste 5 different barrels. The whiskey thief goes into the barrel and then you get to taste it in a glass as you hear about the distilling process. Personally – It might be the highlight of my bourbon tasting career!

Conclusion

The big name distilleries are always worth a stop when down on the Bourbon Trail, but I think these small distilleries are a stop worth making. I think you will get a personal experience that will draw you closer to the companies and the people behind the bourbon.

What are your thoughts? What are the distilleries that you can’t miss on the Bourbon Trail?