What Every Whiskey Connoisseur Should Know About The Kentucky Bourbon Trail

What do you associate with the state of Kentucky? For many, the annual Kentucky Derby might rank high on the list, while others associate the state with bluegrass. But perhaps its most acclaimed and well-known export is bourbon. Kentucky produces a huge amount of bourbon – about 95% of all bourbon comes from the fifteenth state – and, as such, Kentucky has earned its title as the bourbon capital of the United States. Another reason it is such an exciting destination for whiskey connoisseurs is the Kentucky Bourbon Trail (KBT).

Officially created in 1999, the KBT is not a physical trail. Rather, it is an officially recognized collection of some of Kentucky's preeminent distillers which offer tours and tastings, giving whiskey enthusiasts a peek behind the proverbial curtain of bourbon production. Featuring historic buildings and beautiful scenery, the KBT is a great way to experience bourbon at its source and might even prove to be an opportunity to snag a rare or allocated bottle of bourbon (which many super-fans covet) for yourself. So, if you'd like to discover more about bourbon manufacturing, or are simply interested in American history more broadly, visiting the Kentucky Bourbon Trail could be a unique and very pleasant experience.

Before you book that plane ticket to Louisville, it's important to learn what exactly you can anticipate on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, including how to navigate it and what to expect at the distilleries themselves. No two distilleries are created the same. Some will be more amenable to walk-in tours, for example, while others require visitors to have a reservation (especially in summer). As well, some distilleries will give you a very detailed tour of their buildings while some other locations may center their experience around tastings. Regardless of how you want to enjoy your time on the KBT, it'll be worth researching which distilleries best fit your interests.

There's also the matter of transportation. As convenient as it would be to have all of Kentucky's finest distilleries in one easy-to-reach location, you'll instead find that much of the KBT is spread out across the regions of Louisville, Lexington, and Bardstown, among others. If you have a preferred bourbon brand that offers tours on the KBT, look up its location and see what other distilleries are nearby. A car is your likeliest form of transport around here, but there are companies that provide shuttle services to different KBT locations. All in all, while you may have to travel to get from one distillery to the next, navigating the KBT isn't hard if you prepare.

The main attraction, and probably the reason why you'd find yourself on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in the first place, is the bourbon. On the KBT, you will find no shortage of this liquor. Many distilleries offer bourbon tastings as part of their tours, serving a selection of top-tier whiskeys from some of the most celebrated brands in the United States. From regular store stocks to harder-to-find bottles, there's something for every bourbon enthusiast to enjoy.

On top of tasting the bourbon, some locations also offer classes on working with bourbon too. This could include workshops on bottling the whiskey, or other hands-on activities such as cocktail crafting. Depending on the distillery, you could even have the chance to bottle some bourbon. And, if you can justify the cost, you might even be able to nab a barrel pick bourbon for yourself. You'll probably also have the chance to purchase some bourbon at the distillery's shop. Either way, as long as you enjoy yourself responsibly, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail can be not only a truly enjoyable experience, but also an educational and insightful one too.