If you’ve never had the joy of touring and tasting bourbon at the local Bardstown distilleries, this is the time! Spring is the perfect season before the busier travel times set in, and you’ll love the mild temperature days with beautiful blooms and lush green bringing the area to life. If it’s your first time visiting the nearby Bardstown distilleries, we guarantee you’ll be in awe of the size of these establishments. There’s really no way to describe the scope of these rick houses—giant warehouses holding millions of barrels of aging bourbons—you need to see them in person!
Bardstown is known as the birthplace of American bourbon as we know it. On these tours and tastings, it’s as much a look back into history as it is a delight for your palate. Kentucky is home to more than 70 bourbon distilleries, and an impressive list of those fine establishments are in the Bardstown area. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is an excellent resource for bourbon enthusiasts and one of the best ways to plan your itinerary. Additionally, Bardstown has a great selection of outstanding restaurants, museums, and local artisan shops.
You’ll also find many lodging properties in our area, but none compares to our location, level of hospitality, and guest accommodations of our luxury Bed and Breakfast in Kentucky. We’re located in the heart of our charming small town and within ten minutes of some of the most popular Bardstown distilleries. Each of our beautifully appointed guest rooms is named for a favorite bourbon cocktail, which you can enjoy in our lobby bar during your stay! Check out our upcoming availability and book your room today!
Hit These Bardstown Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
The best vacations have a diverse itinerary, from dining out at new restaurants, exploring historical areas, and booking interesting tours. And the tours at these local Bardstown distilleries are informative, engaging, and delicious.
Here’s a list of the best Bardstown distilleries and more along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail:
- Heaven Hill Distillery: As Whisky Magazine’s 2023 winner of “Distiller of the Year,” this award-winning distillery, with brands like Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, and Larceny, has been educating guests on whisky 101 since 1935. The Bourbon Heritage Center is a great place to start, with beautiful tasting rooms, informative tours, whisky-related exhibits, and bourbon-themed souvenirs from the gift shop.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company: This is one of the Bardstown distilleries that puts you right behind the scenes. These tours are immersive and informative. Be sure to enjoy the bourbon blends in the on-site Kitchen & Bar in cocktail form, along with a full menu of appetizers, mains, and desserts.
- Lux Row: With big names like Rebel Yell and Ezra Brooks, this 18,000-square-foot distillery produces a diverse lineup of bourbons. They have three tours to choose from, but go for the in-depth top-shelf tasting: the Lux Row Premium Experience.
- Willett Distillery: This is one of the Bardstown distilleries you must visit, and it’s about ten minutes away from our Bed and Breakfast in Kentucky. While Thompson Willett began distilling in 1936, the family’s involvement in bourbon dates back to the late 1600s. Make a reservation at the sleek Bar at Willett for a spruced-up bourbon craft cocktail and appetizers.
- Preservation Distillery: The 40-acre farm surrounding this distillery is in true Kentucky bluegrass country with panoramic views of the full-working farm. They make their bourbon in small batches here, using a pot-distilling method, which produces big and rich whiskeys.
- Old Steelhouse Distillery: This distillery sits on 45 rolling acres just ten miles outside of Bardstown. What was once an abandoned warehouse is now a remarkable space for tasting bourbon and enjoying a tour.
These Kentucky distilleries are a bit further out of Bardstown but well worth the visit:
- Maker’s Mark Distillery: The iconic red wax-topped bourbon bottle is recognizable worldwide, and this distillery is a big one to add to your list. It’s a bit further out in the country but only about a half hour from our Bed and Breakfast in Kentucky. The stunning grounds and rich history are well worth the trip and don’t miss the opportunity to dip your own bottle in hot wax.
- Jim Beam American Stillhouse: This business is family-operated to its roots, as it’s been passed down in the Beam family for seven generations spanning 200 years. Last year, the Jim Beam campus revealed a massive makeover, creating an even more exciting place to have the bourbon experience.
- Four Roses Bourbon: Just about ten miles out of Bardstown in Cox Creek is the Four Roses Bottling Facility, where they offer guided tastings and informative tours.
Stay at the Best Bed and Breakfast in Kentucky
Whether you plan to visit one of these Bardstown distilleries or all ten, you’ll quickly see that the bourbon community is celebrated here. So why not embrace that mood and stay in the world’s first bourbon-themed Bed and Breakfast in Kentucky? That’s precisely what you’ll find at the Bourbon Manor, where each of our ten guest rooms in the main house is named after a different bourbon cocktail. Beyond our creative play on the area’s top attraction, you’ll find a welcoming ambiance and exceptional hospitality far exceeding what you’d find at any chain hotel.
During your stay with us, we serve a lovely breakfast in our elegant dining area each morning. We prepare creative dishes with local and seasonal ingredients whenever possible. If you’re heading out for a day of bourbon tastings at the local Bardstown distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, you’ll want a hearty meal to start you off on the right foot. Upon your return, the coffee is always on, and beverages and snacks are available throughout the day. Your guest room will be a welcome reprieve!
While tasting along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail might be your main activity while visiting Bardstown, don’t forget to schedule some downtime at our on-site spa for a massage. Ease your stress away, relax, and fully embrace your time away! Our goal is that you leave feeling as renewed as possible and ready to come to visit again. We’ve thought of everything so you don’t have to; that’s one of the many perks of staying at a small, boutique property like ours! Book your room at our Bed and Breakfast in Kentucky today!
I know. It’s corny. It’s cliché. But…it’s the holiday season! When you get a shot to incorporate Christmas Vacation, you kinda have to take it, right? At this week’s “rose cutting” ceremony for the brand new Visitor Center Experience at Four Roses Distillery (Lawrenceburg, KY), nothing could capture the profound joy, glory, and essence of […]
