A quick road sip trip to Frankfort, then Versailles, and back to Louisville.
Frankfort, KY. Buffalo Trace.
I’ve taken the Buffalo Trace distillery tour many times and it’s always a delight. The experience feels authentic but different every time. The tour guides are knowledgeable and friendly. You feel the palpable weight of the decades of history that a distillery like this has. And you’ll definitely get your money’s worth with the tasting at the end of the tour.
Book your tour online, especially if you’re going on the weekend — spots fill up fast — available dates/times vary, but generally they have tours between approx 10AM/11AM and 3:30PM, 7 days a week.
Versailles, KY. Woodford Reserve.
This was my first time touring Woodford Reserve distillery, despite living in Kentucky for more than a decade. If you’re like me, you’ll enjoy the journey of getting to Woodford as you drive through the serene farmland around Versailles. While Woodford Reserve is not one of the oldest distilleries around Kentucky, the buildings on the property are storied.
You’ll enjoy the tour guide’s rundown of the ground’s multi-decade history. I especially loved getting up close to some of the old wooden fermentation tanks. And you’ll love the bourbon tasting at the end of the tour, the chance to try the infamous Doubled Oaked and a bourbon ball.
Book your tour online, available Tues – Saturday, from 9:30AM – 3:30PM.
Tip to the out-of-state folks, Versailles is pronounced “Verr-Sales”
Louisville, KY. Rabbit Hole.
Founded in 2012, Rabbit Hole distillery has found a way to stand out by learning from the successes of established distilleries, while innovating and trying new things to find their own path. Smarter people than me have covered this before, but Rabbit Hole finds a way to be distinct, even in a very crowded bourbon market.
Firstly, the location is the East Market (Nulu) part of Downtown Louisville. Most bourbon distilleries can be found on historic farmlands with decades-old rickhouses. Rabbit Hole chose an urban area. For travelers staying in Louisville, this is extremely convenient, as you don’t need to hire a driver or rent a car to experience this distillery. (If you’re doing a day trip, I highly recommend you find a sober driver or use a transportation company)
Secondly, Rabbit Hole is proud to take some large swings with their innovative bourbon. They know the well-worn paths and they want to forge their own.
One standout (and innovative!) aspect to this tour that (in my experience) is rare; they give you a bourbon at the beginning of the tour to enjoy as you walk. There is still a tasting at the end, of course, but this practice had me wondering; why doesn’t every distillery tour start with a walk+sip bourbon?
Book your tour online, available Tues-Saturday, from approx 10AM – 4PM.
