When it comes to bourbon, all roads lead to Bardstown, Kentucky—the Bourbon Capital of the World!—a small town with movie set good looks and an astonishing 11 distillery experiences within 16 miles of downtown. It’s where people go to make their bourbon dreams come true. And Bardstown just keeps adding to the dream with more and more amazing experiences.
One is bourbon vacation wish-fulfillment: Dant Crossing is home to Log Still Distillery’s Tasting Room, pouring the outstanding Monk’s Road spirits; comfy places to overnight; state-of-the-art amphitheater for concerts under the stars; and outdoor havens such as the forested walking trails and peaceful fishing lake. Still to come are a farm-to-table restaurant and private railcar and train depot. Talk about making an entrance! The whole campus sits on 300 gorgeous country acres. Unforgettable bourbon getaway? Check!
Another is Lux Row, with its six-barrel warehouses, visitor center, and tasting room anchored by an impressive 43-foot custom copper still. It’s the new kid on the block when it comes to the famed Kentucky Bourbon Trail, but Lux Row has a very grown-up aesthetic. Its tours combine a one-of-a-kind perspective on the whiskey-making process and an educational bourbon tasting seminar. School was never this much fun!
Ever fantasize about stepping into a Master Distiller’s shoes? Heaven Hill Distillery makes it happen with its You Do Bourbon Experience. Sip and sample bourbons selected just for this tasting then purchase your fave. Afterward, it’s off to the bottling room for rinsing, manning the bottling station, and personalizing your own label. While the finished product is giftwrapped, test your sense of smell at the nosing station in the hands-on lab, catch the Heaven Hill story in the 1935 Distillery Theater, and check out the self-guided bourbon exhibits.
The thoroughly modern Bardstown Bourbon Company adds a touch of James Bond with its new Shaken & Stirred Cocktail Classes—starring bourbon, of course! Follow up a tour of this Napa Valley-style campus with a new curated cocktail class led by spirits specialists and devoted to two classic bourbon cocktails: The Sazerac and Kentucky Mule.
Because aficionados cannot live on bourbon alone (can they?), the James B. Beam Distilling Co., (aka Jim Beam) is rolling out a new whiskey-forward dining destination at its recently renovated campus. Inspired by the original Beam family’s traditions, The Kitchen Table invites you to pull up a chair and savor locally-sourced and seasonal dishes accompanied by showstopper cocktails. Each pairing helps tell the story of the family, its history, homestead, and land.
Being a brewery in a sea of bourbon may seem like a risky move, but the new Scout & Scholar Brewing Co. is up to the task with a gathering space for great beer, food, and memory making. The owners named it after the two brothers who founded Bardstown: William, “the Scout,” and David, “the Scholar,” Bard—pioneers like the duo behind this eclectic craft brewery built on the ideals of community and collaboration.
Besides new things to see and do, Bardstown has new places to spend the night. Choose a cozy guestroom in a farmhouse overlooking the lake at The Homestead; a lakefront suite at the Poplar Cottage with wraparound porch for luxuriating in the view; or an elegant room in the crystal-lit Georgian-style Mansion. All are located at Dant Crossing where you can walk to the Log Still Distillery Tasting Room. Because convenience is better.
Talk about convenience! Want to be right on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail? Check into the new Fairfield Inn & Suites Bardstown. That, along with plush bedding, indoor pool, free Wi-Fi and a free hot breakfast spell pure comfort.
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Bardstown looks on the bright side of everything, from its breakfast with options like waffles, eggs, and bagels to its onsite Bright Side Market. It’s also less than five minutes from several distilleries, including the Bardstown Bourbon Company and Lux Row Distillers.
For sleek and oh-so-contemporary, head to the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bardstown. You’ll find guestrooms with streamlined workspace and crisp bedding, a breakfast bar with healthy options, and an ultra-modern lobby with lots of elbow room. Perhaps best of all is the surprise with a blast from the past: The hotel offers trolley rides to downtown Bardstown aboard the vintage inspired “Spirit of Bardstown.”
Come check out what’s new in Bardstown and taste lots of bourbon right where it comes from!