The Kentucky Bourbon Trail®

Death & Glory TavernThe Blake Journal
Written By PixelFix Films

"If it ain’t Kentucky, it ain’t bourbon."
— Fred Minnick, bourbon historian and author

Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Visit

Bourbon Whiskey

Bourbon whiskey, America's native spirit, has deep roots in Kentucky, dating back to the late 1700s. As settlers moved westward, many brought distilling traditions from Scotland, Ireland, and Germany. The fertile soil, abundant limestone-filtered water, and corn crops made central Kentucky ideal for whiskey production.

By the 19th century, bourbon had become a major industry in the state. Despite challenges like Prohibition (1920–1933), Kentucky distillers preserved their craft, often by producing "medicinal whiskey" or reopening operations shortly after repeal.

Creation of the Bourbon Trail

In 1999, the Kentucky Distillers' Association (KDA) launched the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® as a way to promote bourbon tourism and celebrate the state’s legacy. Originally featuring seven distilleries, the Trail has grown dramatically in scope and prestige.

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a self-guided tour of both historic and modern bourbon distilleries throughout the state. It’s centered mostly around Louisville, Lexington, and Bardstown, and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.

There are now two main components:

  1. Kentucky Bourbon Trail® – Large, well-established distilleries.

  2. Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® – Smaller, artisanal producers.

KBT Regions

Click Map to Enlarge

Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Visit

Distilleries

KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL®

  1. Louisville Gateway Distilleries & Links

Louisville Gateway

  1. Michter’s Fort Nelson | Historic rebirth of one of America’s oldest whiskey brands with a focus on small-batch precision.

  2. Evan Williams Bourbon Experience | Immersive visitor center honoring Kentucky’s first commercial distiller.

  3. Old Forester Distilling Co. | Whiskey Row anchor and the first bourbon ever sold in sealed bottles.

  4. Angel’s Envy Distillery | Known for port barrel finishing and modern craftsmanship in a sleek urban space.

  5. Rabbit Hole Distillery | Architecturally striking, with bold bourbon recipes and innovative blends.

  6. Bulleit Distilling Co. – Shelbyville | Modern facility producing spicy high-rye bourbon in a state-of-the-art campus.

  7. Stitzel-Weller Experience (Bulleit) | A legendary site once home to Pappy Van Winkle, now operated by Bulleit.

  8. Green River Distilling Co. (Owensboro) | Revived historic distillery producing smooth, balanced Kentucky bourbon.

2. Bardstown Gateway Distilleries & Links

Heaven Hill Bourbon Pod Cast Page | VISIT

Bardstown Gateway

  1. Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience | Family-owned giant offering a deep dive into Elijah Craig, Larceny, and legacy.

  2. Lux Row Distillers | Produces Rebel, Ezra Brooks, and Blood Oath on a scenic Bardstown property.

  3. Bardstown Bourbon Company | Cutting-edge distillery known for collaboration, innovation, and transparency.

  4. Maker’s Mark Distillery | Iconic red wax-dipped bottles and handmade heritage on a picturesque campus.

  5. Jim Beam American Stillhouse | One of the largest bourbon producers in the world, steeped in family tradition.

3. Lexington Gateway Distilleries & Links

Lexington Gateway

  1. Wilderness Trail Distillery | Science-based, craft-focused operation with high-quality grain-to-glass whiskey.

  2. Four Roses Distillery | Unique for its 10 distinct recipes, producing smooth and floral bourbon.

  3. Wild Turkey Distillery | Home to Jimmy and Eddie Russell, with bold, high-proof expressions.

  4. Woodford Reserve Distillery | Elegant bourbon made in copper pot stills in scenic horse country.

  5. Town Branch Distillery | Lexington’s only downtown distillery, producing bourbon and beer.

KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL CRAFT TOUR®

4. Northern Region Distilleries & Links

Northern Region

  1. New Riff Distilling | Northern Kentucky’s bold, modern craft bourbon leader.

  2. Pensive Distilling Co. | Small-batch spirits in a quirky, lounge-style Newport setting.

  3. Second Sight Spirits | Mystically themed distillery known for copper stills and Caribbean-style rums.

  4. Augusta Distillery | Historic riverside facility making high-proof small-batch whiskey.

  5. Old Pogue Distillery | Ancestral family distillery with 19th-century roots in Maysville.

  6. Boone County Distilling Co. | Honors frontier distilling heritage with bold, aged bourbons.

  7. Neeley Family Distillery | Multi-generational moonshiners turned bourbon makers in Sparta.

4. Central Region Distilleries & Links

Central Region

  1. Kentucky Artisan Distillery | Home of Jefferson’s Bourbon and a hands-on small batch experience.

  2. Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. | Revived family brand crafting robust, uncut, and unfiltered spirits.

  3. Copper & Kings Distillery | Brandy-first distillery with a rebellious bourbon program in Butchertown.

  4. Jeptha Creed Distillery | Woman-owned, farm-to-bottle producer using heirloom Bloody Butcher corn.

  5. Willett Distillery | Revered boutique distillery known for limited-release and high-end whiskeys.

  6. Preservation Distillery | Produces bourbon slowly using pot stills and zero automation.

  7. Log Still Distillery | A family revival with deep Catholic bourbon roots in New Haven.

  8. Limestone Branch Distillery | Home to Yellowstone Bourbon and built on the Beam family legacy.

5. Western Region Distilleries & Links

Western Region

  1. Boundary Oak Distillery | Small distillery known for Lincoln-themed branding and spring-fed whiskey.

  2. The Bard Distillery | Veteran-owned and housed in a historic school building in Muhlenberg County.

  3. Casey Jones Distillery | Produces bourbon and moonshine using a family-built square still.

  4. MB Roland Distillery | Grain-to-glass, Christian County operation with strong military ties.

  5. Dueling Grounds Distillery | Named for a local dueling site, makes bourbon and apple brandy.

6. Bluegrass Region Distilleries & Links

Bluegrass Region

  1. Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. | Offers barrel thieving straight from the warehouse in a hands-on tour.

  2. Castle & Key Distillery | Restored Old Taylor Castle blending historic architecture with modern distilling.

  3. Barrel House Distilling Co. | Located in a historic Lexington rickhouse, producing small-batch spirits.

  4. RD1 Spirits | Revives Lexington’s first registered distillery with award-winning craft bourbon.

  5. Fresh Bourbon | Minority-owned, locally focused brand blending heritage with new ideas.

  6. James E. Pepper Distillery | Reborn Lexington distillery with Revolutionary-era roots and revived recipes.

  7. Bluegrass Distillers | Micro-distillery in Lexington using local grain for true Kentucky flavor.

  8. Hartfield & Co. | Bourbon revivalist in Paris, KY, producing pre-Prohibition style spirits.

Featured: James E. Pepper Distillery

The James E. Pepper Distillery, located in Lexington, Kentucky, traces its origins to 1780, making it one of the oldest bourbon brands in America. Founded by Elijah Pepper and later managed by his son Oscar Pepper, the distillery rose to prominence in the 19th century with the help of Dr. James C. Crow, a chemist who pioneered the sour mash process at the site—an innovation still used across the industry today. The brand reached national acclaim under the flamboyant leadership of Colonel James E. Pepper, a bourbon baron and racehorse owner who famously shipped his whiskey across the country by rail. The distillery operated continuously until it shuttered in 1958, falling into decades of disrepair. In the 2010s, the original site was meticulously restored as part of Lexington’s revitalized Distillery District, and in 2017, production resumed using historic recipes, yeast strains, and traditional copper stills. Today, the reborn Old Pepper Distillery honors its legacy by producing authentic bourbon and rye rooted in American whiskey history.

Visit: https://jamesepepper.com

Recipes

1. Old Fashioned

A minimalist classic that lets good bourbon shine.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz bourbon

  • 1 sugar cube (or ½ tsp simple syrup)

  • 2–3 dashes Angostura bitters

  • Orange peel (for garnish)

Instructions:

  1. Muddle sugar and bitters in a glass until dissolved.

  2. Add bourbon and a large ice cube.

  3. Stir gently to chill and dilute.

  4. Express orange peel over the drink and drop it in.

Best With: High-proof or rye-forward bourbons like Four Roses Single Barrel or Bulleit.

2. Whiskey Sour

Bright, balanced, and refreshing — a must-have bourbon citrus cocktail.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz bourbon

  • ¾ oz fresh lemon juice

  • ¾ oz simple syrup

  • Optional: ½ oz egg white (for a silky texture)

Instructions:

  1. Shake all ingredients without ice if using egg white (dry shake).

  2. Add ice and shake again until chilled.

  3. Strain into a rocks glass or coupe.

  4. Garnish with a cherry or lemon twist.

Best With: Smooth bourbons like Maker’s Mark or Elijah Craig Small Batch.

3. Manhattan

Bold, rich, and elegant — bourbon's answer to a martini.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz bourbon

  • 1 oz sweet vermouth

  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters

  • Cherry (for garnish)

Instructions:

  1. Stir all ingredients with ice until well-chilled.

  2. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.

  3. Garnish with a brandied cherry.

Best With: Rich, full-bodied bourbons like Woodford Reserve or Old Forester 100.

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