#best bourbon distillery tour louisville | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

sunmarketing · 5 months

Text

Louisville, and the Kentucky Derby

FAQ: How do I make small talk when you are on the road with a stranger?

Destination: Louisville, Ky

Today’s Mistake-Getting lost in Louisville

Travel Advice: Pack half your suitcase with giveaways and gifts.

FAQ:

How do I make small talk with a stranger when you are on the road?

Start small with a question or comment about the weather, date, location, or event you are both at or have just attended. Do they seem to have something in common with you? You can gently ask how they are doing today.

Today’s destination: Louisville, KY

Derby is on the first Saturday of every year in May.

I’ve attended several of them with friends and always had fun. I miss those days, but still love the races. Churchill Downs is the place to visit when in town as that’s where the race takes place, the fastest two minutes in sports ever!

Even if you can’t make the early week races, get dressed up and place your best. Check out Thurby Oaks, which is an alternative to Churchill Downs.

On Derby weekend, you can go bourbon tasting or whatever. Be sure you get your big hat! Follow the rules regarding what you can bring.

My friend and I always celebrated with a Mint Julep, even if not at the race. What’s the recipe?

The four ingredients to taste are mint leaf, bourbon, simple syrup, and crushed ice. Once, I did not have a mint leaf, so I used oregano, which went over badly. It was a hoot!

https://www.churchilldowns.com/tickets/

https://www.letsgolouisville.com/kentucky-derby-tips

Visit the museums on Museum Row, including Louisville's own Muhammed Ali Museum, the Frazier Kentucky History Museum, 21C Museum Hotel, KMAC (the Kentucky Museum of Art & Crafts), and Roots 101 African American Museum, all within proximity. The Speed Art Museum is also a fantastic contemporary art museum in Old Louisville.

Stroll through beautiful Old Louisville, or take a guided history tour with Louisville Historic Tours to learn all about the local architecture and history.

Take a food tour with Louisville Food Tours and experience the story of Louisville one bite at a time in the most scenic neighborhoods in town. You'll learn all about the city's history while enjoying the sights, interspersed with stops at fantastic local eateries for food and drinks. With just 1.5 miles of walking spread out over 3 hours, it's the perfect balance of activity, history, and eating and drinking.

Louisville has a fantastic theatre scene! Check out what's playing at Actor's Theatre, or if you're visiting during the summer, check out the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, the longest-running free Shakespeare festival in the country. Another fantastic entertainment venue is PLAY, a gay nightclub hosting drag performances and Queer-owned theatre productions.

Take a sunset cruise on the beautiful Ohio River aboard Louisville's historic steamboat, the Belle of Louisville.

Explore NuLu and shop at the local boutiques and gift stores in the NuLu neighborhood. It's a small area, about 2 blocks, but full of locally owned businesses. My favorite is Revelry, a gift shop and art gallery featuring unique creations by Louisville artists. Right across the street is Women Owned Wallet, a shop featuring only women-owned and created products. There are also two bourbon distilleries, Angel's Envy and Rabbit Hole! If you're spending the day in NuLu, book a NuLu Food Tour with Louisville Food Tours. Their 3-hour daytime tour features food that represents the culinary heritage of Louisville and Kentucky, and they also offer an evening bourbon food tour in NuLu, which treats bourbon as if it were wine and explores pairings of food, bourbon, and bourbon cocktails.

Lia Garcia, Founder and CEO, Let’s Go Louisville

Today’s Mistake- Getting Lost in Louisville

It was the night of the Kentucky Derby, and my college friends were all there, staying near Churchill Downs. One friend drove their motor home out to a bar after the event, and they left me behind by mistake. I did not have the address of where I was staying before cell phones, so I found a policeman and told them what happened. They helped me get “home” for the night.

Just as I walked in the door, they noticed I was missing.

Today’s Travel Advice: Pack half your suitcase with giveaways and gifts. Then, you will have room for your extras and souvenirs when you go home.

Where are you going? Let me know if I helped you travel. The show notes have ways to connect.

Connect with Dr Travelbest

Drmarytravelbest.com

Dr. Mary Travelbest Twitter

Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Page

Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Group

Dr. Mary Travelbest Instagram

email: [email protected]

Dr. Mary Travelbest Podcast

Dr. Travelbest on TikTok

Dr.Travelbest onYouTube

Check out this Dr Travelbest episode!

#travel #women #dr travelbest #best travel

0 notes

hazeljack · 2 years

Text

Why a Handmade Barbecue Sauce Formula is an American Favorite

Called after the buffalo that when etched trails throughout the land, the Buffalo Track site has been house to an operating distillery since 1787, having its first contemporary distillery accomplished in 1857 by Daniel Swigert Property. Clement & Ashton Craig ordered the Distillery in 1859 and then in 1970, it had been acquired by Edmund Taylor, Jr., who dedicated to their modernization and named it O.F.C. Distillery, which stood for Old Fire Copper.George Stagg acquired O.F.C. in 1878 and extended the site. Further expansions, additions, buys, and renaming occurred over the years and the Distillery produced alcohol for both World Conflict efforts and medicinal whiskey all through Prohibition.

Right after making their five-millionth barrel following Prohibition, the Distillery was acquired with a New York investor class in 1982, and in 1984, it produced the world's first commercially sold Simple Barrel Bourbon named Blanton's. In 1992, the Distillery becomes a family group organization again following being ordered by the Goldrings. In 1999, following renovations, the Distillery was renamed the Buffalo Track Distillery and released Buffalo Track Kentucky Right Bourbon.

Today your website of the Buffalo Track Distillery rests on 119 miles and is house to 114 structures with three centuries of architectural styles. Extremely, it's the sole distillery to possess number pcs in the however house and to be named both "Distillery of the Year" by Malt Advocate Newspaper and "Distiller of the Year" by Whiskey Magazine.Since the first 1800's, Kentucky's popular distilleries have constructed the world's best bourbons, using secret dishes and a long-established method handed down from technology to generation.From Clermont to Bardstown, Lawrenceburg to Loretto, Louisville to Lexington, we have the down and filthy on the best way to play difficult and live well in Bourbon Walk Country.Looking for that perfect vacation place near Louisville or Lexington, Kentucky? Or searching for that perfect recreational experience to be on, whether it's touring distilleries, sipping Kentucky bourbon, or exploring regional horse facilities? Paper Plane Cocktail

If there's one thing that might explain the way in which Americans enjoy their meals, it's how they take their barbeque sauce very seriously. There are a variety of methods barbeque sauces are organized and it all hangs on what area of the place you belong to. Some will be quite content with the multitude bottled kinds for sale in groceries or niche stores while others demand on only good old house model barbeque sauce recipes.While many Americans choose a barbeque sauce menu that's red and sweet, a number of sauces do come in several flavors, varieties of preparation, foundation elements, and consistencies, and it all hangs on where in fact the sauce originated. Some would like their sauce heavy and sweet based on tomatoes or mustard while others have a desire for a significantly finer, vinegar centered sauce.

#Paper Plane Cocktail

0 notes

desiredtastes · 5 years

Text

When I went to Louisville for a long weekend, I knew I had to visit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Kentucky is the birthplace of bourbon and crafts 95% of the world’s supply. There are actually more barrels of bourbon than people in Kentucky!

I also made sure to pick up a free Kentucky Bourbon Trail Passport. You can grab one at the Welcome Center at the Frazier Museum, one of the many distilleries, or download it and print it out. I received mine at the Evan Williams Distillery downtown.

There are a total of 18 signature distilleries where you can collect a total of 16 passport stamps. Whether you’re a bourbon lover or not, it’s a fun experience for all! I decided to see a few distilleries by booking a morning tour with Mint Julep Tours.

Led by an expert guide, the tour is a great way to see a few of the world-famous distilleries with transportation, lunch, and tastings included. Our tour guide was Wendy. The bourbon tours cost between $149 to $169.

Our first stop was the Barton 1792 Distillery which is the oldest fully-operating Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Bardstown is considered the Bourbon Capital of the World and is the second oldest city in Kentucky.

We then had a brief stop at Heaven Hill Distillery. You do not have to do a tour or purchase anything to receive a passport stamp.

Then it was time to check out Lux Row Distillers, one of the newer additions to the Bourbon Trail that opened in 2018. There was a tour of the distillery site followed by a tasting. We also had the option to purchase a tasty bourbon cocktail.

We stopped by a local restaurant for lunch. I ordered a Chicken Salad Croissant and a Bourbon Barrel Ale.

Our final stop was Maker’s Mark Distillery. The small-batch bourbon whiskey produced in Loretto, Kentucky is one of the most well-known names out there.

The place was impressive! We also enjoyed a tasting after the tour.

Maker’s Mark is famous for their square bottles with its signature red wax seal. You even have an opportunity to dip your own bottle which makes a very cool souvenir.

I had my personally hand-dipped Maker’s 46 to take back home. That was our final stop and most of us couldn’t resist buying a refreshing Bourbon Slushie before heading back to Louisville.

What an awesome day seeing some of the historic distilleries as well as the new ones. Wendy was a wonderful guide. We sampled some of Kentucky’s best and transportation was comfortable and super convenient. I highly recommend a day with Mint Julep Tours!

Mint Julep Tours Louisville, Kentucky Website

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail with Mint Julep Tours When I went to Louisville for a long weekend, I knew I had to visit the…

#barton 1792 #best louisville tours #bourbon #bourbon trail #bourbon trail tours #bourbon whiskey #kentucky bourbon tour #kentucky bourbon trail #Louisville #louisville kentucky #louisville tours #lux row #lux row distillers #maker&039;s mark #maker&039;s mark tour #mint julep tours #solo travel #travel #whiskey

6 notes · View notes

greatdrams · 6 years

Text

The GreatDrams Bourbon Lover’s Guide to Whiskey Tourism in Kentucky

Here at GreatDrams we'll be focusing on Bourbon over the next two weeks. What better way to get started than with a whiskey holiday!

Now, I don’t know about you but I’ve wanted to visit Kentucky for years. To make the pilgrimage, to visit the distilleries, to meet the people and to enjoy fantastic bourbon… and finally this happened in September 2018. Here is The GreatDrams Bourbon Lover's Guide to Whiskey Tourism in Kentucky.

GETTING THERE

If you’re travelling from the UK, I found flying from Manchester to Heathrow to Chicago and on to Lexington the easiest way, although choosing to fly with British Airways was definitely not the best as they failed in pretty much every way both ways, across all five flights but the rant about that will stay to Facebook and their complaints email address.

There are other travel options when visiting Kentucky from the UK;

London Heathrow to Atlanta and on to Lexington

London Heathrow to Chicago and on to Cincinnati and getting a $110 cab to Lexington

London Heathrow to New York JFK and on to Lexington

And many more.

It will take time to get there, but like all good pilgrimages, you get out what effort you put in and I was truly rewarded with brilliance during my time whilst visiting Kentucky.

WHERE TO STAY

I stayed at the 21c Hotel in Downtown Lexington, a museum hotel that was somewhere between inspiring and mightily random - for example there were big, 4ft blue plastic penguins everywhere and in all the corridors, and the maid (I assume) even put one in my room one morning - but incredibly comfortable and with a great local beer and whiskey menu… and the food was fantastic, so well worth a stay if you’re in the area.

GETTING AROUND

Distilleries in Kentucky are, like Scotland and Ireland, relatively well spread out so you will need a car to get around and I would highly recommend hiring a driver or asking who you are with REALLY nicely to be the designated driver as, whilst not all distilleries let you sample their whiskeys, you might pick up a sample or pass a bar along the way you want to try some wonderful Bourbon, Rye, Wheated Bourbon or concept whiskeys in.

Two of the days I was in Kentucky I had meetings so was very fortunate that one of the people I was seeing, Brian, was awesome enough to drive me around to various distilleries, he then arranged a private tour for my final day with a company called Bottled in Bond Tours.

Bottled in Bond Tours is owned by a well-travelled chap named Nate who is one of the most fantastically enthusiastic people about all things Kentucky, Bourbon and whiskey that I’ve met. A really nice guy who tailors your time with him to exactly what you want to do, see and experience. Nate also has connections in most of the distilleries so can get you to access things you probably would not otherwise be able to on your own.

THE BARS

I did not have a lot of time to explore the bar scene due to my schedule but did enjoy a couple of fantastic bars in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Bluegrass Tavern

Address: 1303, 115 Cheapside, Lexington, KY 40507, United States

Website: http://www.thebluegrasstavern.com

Opening Time: 5:00 pm

What a bar! Owned by a great guy named Sean who, along with the previous owners of the bar, have amassed an 800+ bottle strong collection of Bourbon ranging from the classics to the rarest and the obscure.

Make sure you go to this bar, it is affectionately described by their bartenders as a 'bourbon-centric dive bar’ and man did it deliver not only the American bar experience I love, with good local beers and superb Bourbon, but the guys there are awesome. Bartender Austin in particular was great at showing me superb whiskeys they have in that I would not be able to try anywhere else and it was great just to spend hours chatting about Bourbon and Kentucky with him. Whilst there I tried some belters including:

Chicken Cock Bourbon (chosen for the name, chosen again for how great it tasted)

Weller 12 Year Old

Wild Turkey Decades

Wilderness Trail Single Barrel

Wilderness Trail 4 Year Old Rye

Russell’s Reserve Bluegrass Tavern Barrel Select ‘Gobble Gobble Gulp’ exclusive to the bar

Cathop

Not a Bourbon bar at all, in fact I’m not sure I saw a Bourbon on the bar whilst there, but they had around a hundred, maybe more craft beers on tap ranging from all different styles and flavours.

The food here was great too, I had the Vladimir Poutine - essentially chips, gravy and cheese curd with a bit of brisket on top… a Canadian delicacy that I had not had in a couple of years so fancied tucking in again.

Bourbon on Rye

Address: 115 W Main St, Lexington, KY 40507, USA

Website: https://www.facebook.com/bourbononrye/

Opening Time: 4:00 pm

Simply put; this is where great Bourbon lives. A must visit.

THE DISTILLERIES

In the three days I was in Kentucky I managed to visit nine distilleries in total, each and every one I would recommend that you all visit too. One thing that did annoy me about a bunch of them was how little you are able to sample and to try at the distilleries, apparently a few of them pulled back on samples as people turned up and drank loads then went away again - personally I think that is a bit of a smokescreen as you should want people to try your stuff as they are more than likely to then buy something from the store. Here they are, in the order I visited them as it would be rude to rank them:

Castle & Key

Address: 4445 McCracken Pike, Frankfort, KY 40601, USA

Website: https://castleandkey.com/

When I visited this distillery was not open to the public, fortunately I was able to walk around it for an hour and a half or so with one of their top dogs, Brett, who took me through the whole story, the history and the vision for the place. When open this will be one of the nicest distilleries on the planet. Make sure you also try, and buy, their gin - phenomenal.

Maker’s Mark

Address: 3350 Burks Spring Rd, Loretto, KY 40037, USA

Website: https://www.makersmark.com/

Opening Time: 9:30 am

An icon of the Bourbon world, this distillery was great to see in person and I loved the small design touches around the place including the bottle outline being built into the window shutters, the red accent detail from the wax being included tastefully throughout the site and ability to wax dip your own bottle… which I dutifully did.

Heaven Hill

Address: 528 West Main St. Louisville, KY 40202

Website: https://www.heavenhill.com

Opening Time: 9:00 am

I only popped into the ship at this one as my time was pressed, but managed to pick up a single barrel Old Fitzgerald 14 Year Old and a McKenna (won best American single barrel whiskey this year).

Willett

Address: 1869 Loretto Road Bardstown, Kentucky 40004

Website: https://www.kentuckybourbonwhiskey.com/

Opening Time: 9:30 am

Did the full tour here and it was great, a really small distillery given the amount of brands and product they churn out but the tasting here was lovely as was the walk around the site… their distillery cat was cute too, and enjoyed a little tickle between stops on the tour.

Wilderness Trail

Address: 4095 Lebanon Rd, Danville, KY 40422, USA

Website: http://wildernesstraildistillery.com/

Opening Time: 10:00 am

These guys are incredible, distillers Pat and Shane have created something special here - their background in yeast cultivation and process efficiency for others has set them and their distillery up to be über successful as they have done from filling just one barrel of spirit a day in 2013 using a single pot still to 220 barrels being filled a day in 2018 to become the 14th biggest Bourbon producer in the United States. Incredible how these guys have done it and what they are on the cusp of achieving. Definitely check them out - they sell a single barrel exclusive in the distillery shop too which is fantastic.

Buffalo Trace

Address: 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY 40601, USA

Website: https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/

Opening Time: 9:00 am

Like Maker’s, an icon of the Bourbon industry and one you just have to visit even if it is just for the photo in front of the iconic water tower. One of the best and most historic distilleries I visited, and the tour guide Lee had great stories and fascinating tales. A good guy too. The tasting at the end of the tour was basic but good. One let down here was that there were no distillery exclusive whiskies to buy - a HUGE missed opportunity in my opinion, as always - and no premium whiskies either. There was a bottle of Blanton’s, but I had seen it elsewhere too.

Wild Turkey

Address: 1417 Versailles Rd, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342, USA

Website: https://wildturkeybourbon.com

Opening Time: 9:00 am

Great distillery, a nice - and reasonably priced - tasting bar downstairs and lots of random things to buy in the store including a gobbler - see my instagram. Their main corridor includes a nice way of explaining their history too.

Woodford Reserve

Address: 7855 McCracken Pike, Versailles, KY 40383-9781

Website: https://www.woodfordreserve.com

Opening Time: 9:00 am

Like Buffalo Trace and Maker’s, an icon of the Bourbon industry and one of the quaintest and truly American-designed distilleries I’ve visited. A great tour too, albeit quite stage-managed and overly scripted, that finishes with a basic tasting.

Bluegrass Distillers

Address: 501 W 6th St #165, Lexington, KY 40508, USA

Website: https://www.bluegrassdistillers.com/

Opening Time: 10:00 am

An unexpected one this, and one that is within walking distance from the hotel I stayed in (roughly 25 minutes each way). This was the smallest distillery of all I visited, but one of the coolest as you get to bottle your own Bourbon (or rye) right there in the distillery shop - something none of the others offered at all, and was an instant sale. Well worth checking them out. They produce Wheated Bourbon too, which you can bottle, and is akin to Pappy and Weller in base flavour profile and character.

The post The GreatDrams Bourbon Lover’s Guide to Whiskey Tourism in Kentucky appeared first on GreatDrams.

from GreatDrams http://bit.ly/2UQAM7Z Greg

#whisky #GreatDrams

1 note · View note

gregkatepetegowest · 3 years

Text

The Last Stop (Kinda): Louisville, KY

Okay, we have been home for nearly a month now and life has caught up with me. BUT I need to give the people what they want so here come the final two blog posts.

We ended our grand adventure in Louisville, KY. We knew we didn’t really want to be back in Nashville for July 4. Lots of extra tourists here, crowded bars, girls screaming on pedal taverns, etc. I didn’t have to start work until July 6 but wanted to be home July 5 to give myself a day to try to adjust to becoming a functioning adult again. Pete had never been to Louisville before and it’s a short 2.5 hour drive to Nashville so we figured it would be a cool spot to be for the fourth and the end of our journey.

One of Pete’s buddies lives in Louisville and we had plans to see Greensky Bluegrass on the waterfront with them that evening (July 3). We left STL late morning with plans to arrive to downtown Louisville around 3 pm. UNTIL we realized Louisville is EST, whoops! The drive from STL was only about four hours and we high tailed it so we would have time to check-in, walk Greg, shower and meet up Pete’s friend before the show. We stayed at The Moxy, which is dog friendly, a little swanky, but relatively cheap because it’s a boutique hotel (AKA small). Personally, I love boutique hotels and other than the room being a little small for two adults and an adult sized dog it was totally perfect for us. At this point in the trip/year we were back to hot ass southern weather (ugh ugh ugh) so our dog walk was short and sweet.

We met Pete’s friend Dave and his wife Kathleen as a brewery just under a mile away so we were nice and sweaty from our walk by the time we arrived. We had a drink and dinner and met some of Dave’s friends all of whom were very cool. I found out later that one of them had been Cody Rigsby’s roommate in NY for years. So very upsetting that I didn’t know this when I was in her presence. Storing many questions in my brain to ask her when we are back in Louisville next.

After dinner, we headed down to the waterfront where the concert was being held. I used to visit Louisville for work four times and a year but hadn’t been there is years and a lot has changed. The waterfront area has been completely redone and is now a huge park with lots of open space for hanging out, concerts, etc. The city did an amazing job with this transformation. Greensky was really cool. Naturally, I had never heard their music before, like many of the concerts that Pete brings me to, but I love bluegrass and live music so I had a blast. After Greensky, we walked back to The Moxy to take Greg out. We ended up grabbing a drink from the hotel bar and sitting outside with Greg which was great.

Louisville day two started with a 9 am class at Shed 415. Dave’s wife, Kathleen, owns the gym (she is a badass, clearly) and naturally after having a couple beverages I told her I’d LOVE TO TRY IT OUT! The next morning I was not quite as excited to run on a treadmill and lift weights for an hour but I knew it’s what Pete and I both needed so we put our shades on, walked Greg, chugged water and headed over to the gym. The class was great! Similar format to Barry’s Bootcamp but way more mellow, inclusive, no bros with shirts off, etc. Really, really loved it and the class flew by. If you find yourself in Louisville, I recommend you go and support Kathleen by taking a class at one of her studios (Shed 415).

After class, Pete and I felt like brand new people, and it was time to refuel. We went back to The Moxy to grab Gregor and then met Kathleen and Dave for coffee and breakfast (lox on a bagel, so good).

After breakfast Pete, Greg and I headed to PG&J's Dog Park Bar. We wanted to hit it before it got any hotter and we were still dirty from our class. PG&J’s is just as the name states. An indoor/outdoor bar where you can bring your dog and let them off leash to peruse the entire indoor/outdoor facility. The sign in process took quite a while so we sweat some more while we stood outside waiting. Finally, it was our turn! We got Greg all signed in and I was feeling really happy to give him some time off leash after being in the hotel most of the evening the night before.

If you know Greg well, you know he likes to play rough. He also really loves to be chased by his dog friends. Off leash he is USUALLY well-mannered meaning he doesn’t fight with other dogs despite their breed (on leash he has a major problem with doodle breeds, which has been great since non-shedding dogs have been ALL THE RAGE for the last few years). I digress.

We enter the bar section, which is indoor, and I let Greg off his leash. Basically, from that moment onward he creates complete chaos. He starts by basically spinning out once he’s off leash. The floors were concrete with a finish so a tad slippery for dogs and as soon as he heard his leash being unclipped, he tried to sprint away towards all the other dogs as fast as he possibly could. Pete and I looked at each other and immediately headed to the bar for a drink. While waiting for our drink, we could see Greg psychotically running around the dog park, up to other dogs, peeing on numerous items including the leg of a chair SOMEONE WAS SITTING IN. We really didn’t know what to do. Technically, he wasn’t doing anything WRONG he was just causing a ruckus. We decided the best move was to pretend he wasn’t our dog. This was working out well until he pooped and I had to pick it up. We were outed.

After 20 minutes or so, he mellowed out a little but began pestering one dog in particular. He wants this dog, another GSD breed, to chase him but this dog really doesn’t want to and finds him annoying and is exhibiting all the signs dogs exhibit when they are annoyed. Growling, raising his hair up, etc. Greg doesn’t care. He wants him to chase him and continues to pester. The dog park has a “ranger” whose job is walk around with a water bottle full of rocks and shake it when the dogs start to fight or become aggressive with each other. Before long, I hear the bottle shaking noise and I know it must be Greg. Sure enough, it was, but since he wasn’t the one being aggressive he isn’t in any trouble! Long story short, Greg caused the other dog to have to go on a “five-minute leash break” and eventually the dog and his peeps just left all together. Ugh.

By now, Pete and I realized what we thought would be fun and relaxing was not either of those things. We had to finish our drink STAT and get out of there. We tried to drink fast but it wasn’t fast enough. Greg had found his next “friend” in an adorable Border Collie who he decided he had a crush on. SO EMBARSSING WHOSE CHILD IS THAT?! This poor dog just kept trying to run away, for good reason. As we were leaving, we met his person who was really cool and didn’t seem to be upset that our dog was trying to sexually assault his dog. I don’t think we will be back at PG&J’s anytime (ever again) soon. Now you know why there are no photos from this experience! However, the concept is really cool, was super clean and well maintained with lots of room for dogs and people so if you have a normal dog and you’re in Louisville I would definitely visit this establishment!

After our 45 minutes of fun at the dog park, we headed back to the hotel to shower up. We spent the rest of the day walking around downtown getting snacks and drinks. We stopped by Garage Bar, Feast, La Bodeguita de Mima and Angel's Envy distillery. Highly recommend all of these joints but Angel's Envy was definitely the highlight. We did a super basic tasting but learned a ton and Angel's Envy is very tasty bourbon (coming someone who typically DOES NOT like bourbon straight). From Angel's Envy we headed to the waterfront to secure a firework watching location. Greg was allowed at the waterfront and could care less about fireworks which worked out great. After fireworks, we headed back to The Moxy to relax before heading home to Nashville the next morning.

The next morning, we checked out and walked all along the river front. I couldn’t get over how much Louisville had changed (for the better) since I’d been there last and I truly cannot wait to go back and visit. Next time we visit Louisville, we plan to much more proactive about making tasting/tour reservations at the downtown bourbon distilleries.

I was starting to get majorly depressed about having to resume normal life the next day so we decided to delay that feeling just slightly by stop at Mammoth Cave National Park on our way home. Kudos to Pedro for finding this park for us! Had no idea such a cool spot was so close to home. This park is home to the longest cave system known in the world. Uh, cool! We learned many cool facts along our walk through the park which you can also find here if you’re interested: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammoth_Cave_National_Park

We didn’t go into Mammoth Cave itself because we had Greg with us but we did see some of the smaller caves which had bats hibernating in them right now! When we were there, the temperature outside with in the low 80 range but the temperature in the cave was in the high 50 range! When we walked by the entrance to Mammoth Cave it kept like standing in front of an open refrigerator door. So wild and a great way to take a break mid-hike and cool down. We have plans to head back to this park, sans dog, so we can really explore the caves more.

From here, we headed back to Nash-Vegas which was only an hour and a half drive. It was weird driving towards the city and seeing the Nashville skyline. Since we had absolutely no food at our house and we were not about to grocery shop our first hour back in town, we stopped at our favorite dive in our neighborhood for a late lunch/early dinner. Suddenly, it kind of felt like we never left!

I’ll wrap this thing up with a few of our trip highlights and lowlights for the last post. This has been the most asked question from friends/family since we returned!

#louisville #louisvillekentucky #kentucky #sabbatical #roadtrippin #roadtrip #lifeontheroad

0 notes

bike42 · 3 years

Text

Kentucky Derby Weekend April 29 – May 2, 2021

Wednesday evening, we took Sox the cat downtown to Bailey’s condo, then came home to pack (the cat hates to see suitcases). I can pack for a hiking trip with my eyes practically closed, but this kind of trip took some thinking! I had to match shoes, purses and jewelry to all of my outfits, and then of course there was my hat. Since we’d decided to drive the 6+ hours to Louisville, space wasn’t an issue and we were able to load our car with hat boxes, a large bag of snacks, yoga mat, pillows and suitcases!

We were up at 6am on Thursday, anxious to get going, and we were on the road just after 7am. As we were packing last night, Jeff wondered if our iPass was in the new Audi – I thought it was, but we didn’t check. We had decided to travel straight down through Illinois and skip the Chicago madness so I was thinking tolls wouldn’t be an issue anyway. But as we got to Janesville, we recalled we still had the one toll near Rockford, so I checked the glove box – the iPass was not there. It had been in our old Audi, so I thought it was odd that we’d have moved it to the other car – we haven’t travelled to Illinois since February 2020. Then Jeff said he thought he remembered that our new Audi has a built-in toll pass?! I got out the manual and sure enough! It led me through the steps to get it activated, and I was able to get it set up just moments before we hit the Illinois border.

We had rain through most of Illinois, but decent traffic and no major slowdowns even though there was a lot of road construction. We turned east at Bloomington toward Danville, IL which started us reminiscing about our 2013 cycling trip down the length of the state.

The trees were more leafed out than ours and it seemed to get greener with every mile we traveled. As we got south of Indianapolis, we saw our first Waffle House, so we stopped the Waffle House in Taylorsville for our favorite breakfast (regardless of the time of day) when we’re in the south (waffles, eggs over easy, split a side of bacon).

We arrived in Louisville and checked into the downtown Hilton Garden Inn just before 3pm. That left us ample downtime for yoga, naps, catching up email from the day, and showers before our 7pm dinner reservation at Vincenzo’s.

So many experiences already on the trip feel novel, packing last night, a six-hour road trip, and now checking into the nicest hotel we’ve stayed in since February 2020. Once upside to the pandemic and its quarantine is the pure appreciation I have for the ability to travel again!

The restaurant was an easy walk from the hotel, and even though we’d checked the weather app before we headed down from our room, we were surprised to have sprinkles on our faces when we stepped out onto the sidewalk. No worries, Jeff had his rain coat and I had my beautiful poncho that I’d bought in Paris two years ago on a rainy April day.

We had a great leisurely dinner, four courses and a bottle of wine. It was nice to be dressed up and out together again. The staff and service were amazing, and we tried to chat a bit with the gentleman we thought was the proprietor (Vincenzo?), but he seemed to have limited English (or hearing). We’d heard on the local news before going out that that town of Louisville was so excited about this week-end – several hotels and restaurants were booked full – and that’s news!

After dinner, we walked through the Fourth street party area, which was fairly subdued at 6:30pm but we expected it’d be hopping later. There was a friendly guy on the street having a cigarette, he was a beer salesman named Scott from Appleton, WI. He was excited to tell us all about what to expect at the derby, how crowded this area should be right now (in a normal year), all the famous people he’d previously partied with here, etc. He’d have gone on all night, but his wife was calling him from a nearby table telling him his dinner was getting cold!

We had a lazy Friday morning, then we were out on the street at 9am to walk to waterfront park. Our hotel was a great location, and we found it was a beautiful day. It wasn’t long before we were peeling off layers. We walked along the Ohio river, east to the converted railroad bridge called the Big Four Bridge, the headed back. The river itself is muddy and filled with debris, but the Waterfront Park was fabulous. All of the people we encountered were so friendly – many greeting us with “Happy Derby!”

We had tickets to tour the Louisville Slugger factory and museum at 11am, so we walked back along the waterfront and found it in a funky part of old town (Main Street) – the area that had been known as Whiskey Row at the turn of the century. We really enjoyed the tour. Since I’d booked it last week, I had this song lyric with “Louisville Slugger” trying to work its was to the front of my brain. I took to google when we were having lunch later and figured out its from Mary Chapin Carpenter’s song “The Bug.” It goes: “sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug … sometimes you’re the Louisville Slugger, baby, sometimes you the ball … “

After lunch we wandered into the Evan Williams Experience, where we sampled Peach Mint Juleps – yum. Back to the hotel, we had a nap, then showers – ready for our next event at 3:30pm. This was an event booked by the group where we got our tickets: Princeton Sports Group. It was billed as “Derby Eve at Buffalo Trace,” but we weren’t sure what to expect. We got to the lobby and found we were a busload of people, and we were headed to the Buffalo Trace Distillery, about an hour away in Frankfort! Our guide and driver were great, they plied us with cocktails and information about bourbon and the trip went fast.

When we arrived at the distillery, there were three other packed busses, so we had a wait a bit to get through the temperature screening and get assigned to a guide. The distillery had a policy that everyone wear masks (except when seated in the tasting room), even outside, and some in our group were pretty vocal about thinking that requirement was ridiculous (especially the group from Texas!).

While I enjoyed the tour of the rickhouses (3-4 floor buildings where whiskey is aged after its barreled), and the room where the empty barrels were stored, I was disappointed that we didn’t get to tour the actual distillery – I wanted to see the chemistry! None-the-less, we had an enthusiastic tour guide and it continued to be a beautiful day and we enjoyed the beauty and the history of the property while we waited our turn to enter the tasting room. There we were socially distanced at spots with 5 shots laid out for each of us – a vodka (too strong for me just straight), and three bourbons with progressively better quality: Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, and Blanton’s Single Barrel (we’d been introduced to that last month by our nephew Calvin, a far superior bourbon). We thought the tasting finished with their Bourbon Cream (like a Bailey’s) which was yummy on its own, but they served it with a shot glass of root beer and when we combined the two – we found heaven! Since it was Derby time, they finished the tasting with a demonstration of making Mint Juleps, and we each were served a large portion of that!

After the tasting, we had some time to shop, so we headed to the store and bought a bottle of their Bourbon Cream (they sell out of Blanton’s as soon as its bottled, or we’d have bought that too). By then we were mildly buzzed and in need of food.

Back on the bus, we travelled about 20 minutes before stopping at Jeptha Creek – an event center where we had dinner, more drinks, dancing to a bluegrass band and playing a little corn-hole in the yard. During dinner, we sat with two couples that had arrived on another bus – also their first Derby experience and we enjoyed trading stories with them.

On our bus back to Louisville, our guide decided it was time for bus Karaoke (using the music on his phone and holding it up to the microphone). One guy, who didn’t seem particularly gregarious, got up to sing, and sang very well as the bus lurched along the interstate. We sang all the way to the hotel, a fun night.

We awoke Saturday morning to another beautiful day, and had a leisurely morning with a hotel room workout and breakfast. We had the local NBC affiliate that had full time coverage from Churchill Downs and we watched the first two races on TV before heading out. The gates opened at 10am, but that felt too early to go, yet there were plenty of partiers already there.

We headed out of the hotel about noon. It was a bright sunny day and neither of us were prepared with sunscreen, so we walked around the corner to the CVS drugstore. As we walked down the street, we were greeted with shouts of “Happy Derby Day,” and nearly every vehicle driving by stopped as asked if we wanted a “shuttle” to the track. Our hotel offered a shuttle for $40 per person (which I thought was excessive), we could have driven our car and parked at the University lot and walked from there, but we’d decided we were going to take an Uber (I really want to think the best of people, but it seemed like a bad idea to jump into a car with someone who’s just taped a “Derby Shuttle” sign to his car for the day).

As we walked into CVS, a confrontation broke out between a store employee and a young black man who was accused of having stashed something inside his coat. You could feel the tension in the store, and it put me on edge too. Other employees were suggesting the manager hold the guy until the police arrived. We grabbed a bottle of sunscreen and went to the checkout, where the clerk was almost too distracted to check us out.

As we walked out the door, the managers had wrestled the man outside and the police had arrived. The scene quickly was surrounded by others that were taking videos on their cell phones. We moved around the corner, and didn’t see how it resolved, but it went quietly. Perhaps the manager was wrong?

Last month, we both got new iPhones, and are still struggling with having to sign into apps we haven’t used!? Ugh. We both really struggle trying to recall passwords that our phones have been so diligent about remembering, or allowing us to use face recognition. After a bit, Jeff succeeded in getting into his Uber app, but then his credit card had changed since we last used Uber, probably in NYC in 2019. My nerves were still on edge, and I was a bit panicked about standing here outside CVS with both of us focused on the phone, Jeff with his wallet in his hand and his credit card out. I pulled out my phone and was able to log into my Uber and my credit card was still active, so I said “I’ll order the Uber and you can work on your account another time!”

We had a great Uber driver, Onfraus. He had a Green Bay Packer emblem on the front of his Jeep. His girlfriend is from Wausau and he knew a lot about Madison. He asked if State Street was still the place to be, and was shocked when we told him of the devastation after “protests” turned violent last year when windows were smashed and businesses looted after the George Floyd killing in Minneapolis. We all agreed it didn’t make sense - the wrong people in the wrong place, with a demonstration of anti-police effort. His calm wonderful manner helped calm my frayed nerves. A lifelong Louisville resident, he was helpful in explaining where he had to drop us, and how to walk to the track from where he dropped us, and also where to find the Uber pickup lot to get our ride back to the hotel after the Derby. It was just over three miles - $45 with tip (surge pricing).

It was easy to figure out the way to the track, we followed the colorful crowd. Lots of young adults - many of them quite drunk already. I was surprised that many people had chairs, headed for the infield lawn which is where the party really happens, we’d heard. We followed the crowd to the gates, went through security, but our tickets wouldn’t read in the scanner - oh no. Our panic was relieved when a supervisor told us we had Clubhouse tickets, and we were at the infield gate, the wrong gate. They led us out and we worked our way against the crowd for a bit, and felt like was walked all the way around the outside of the track until we found our gate. I’d worn shoes for comfort and was glad to be walking before sitting for the next six hours or so.

At the Clubhouse entrance, things were more civilized and the crowd was scarce. In fact, due to COVID, they’re operating at about 40% capacity - so for someone like me that likes my personal space, this was perfect!

We found our seats - the first two seats in a box that was set up for just four, but could accommodate six. Every other box was blocked out with a tarp to maintain physical distance, so we had perfect sight lines to the finish like right in front of us. We were in the covered section, so no need for that sunscreen after all (but we saw quite a few people who could have used it).

There was a race roughly every hour, so we fell into an easy pattern of watching a race, then exploring the grounds in between races. This year for the first time, all food and drink were included in the ticket price, so we grazed on food and I sampled most of the specialty cocktails: Mint Julep, Whiskey Spire (cranberry) and the Lily (vodka and grapefruit).

For me, the neatest part about being onsite was standing at the edge of the paddock. Not only was the people watching amazing, but it gave us a close look at the horses. They’d be led around the circle, some seemed proud to be on display, some were fighting being led around, then they’d pull them into a cubicle where magically the tiny saddle would be strapped to the horse, then another lap or two, photos with the owners / VIP and one last parade past with the jockey onboard. How cool it was to see that up close. I’d never noticed their lightweight boots, and the small stirrups that seemed strung up too high. From the paddock, the procession would move under the grandstand and out onto the track where they’d parade by, before heading around the track to the starting gate (which was out of our view, but we could see it on the large video screen). The only downside to being there in person is the race happens so fast and with the crown noise and the garbled speakers, we couldn’t really tell how the horses we’d selected we’re doing!

We were joined in our box by a dapper young man, Jackson and his girlfriend, Danni, from Miami. Jackson split his time growing up between Middleton WI with his dad (attended Edgewood High School), and Louisville with his mom. He’d been to the derby many times before, but this could have been his first time trying to impress a girl with his knowledge. They were cute.

In the box kitty-corner to our front right, there were Louisville police officers. They primarily spent their time scrolling through their social media feeds on their phones. Later in the evening, two started smoking cigars and snapping photos of themselves. It seemed inappropriate and was noxious to be around, but the smell of cigar smoke was pervasive throughout the day regardless. As we were heading out to explore between races, we stopped to ask them if it’d be safe to walk the three miles back to our hotel after the race. They looked at us like we had two heads!

The actual “Derby” the twelfth of fourteen races during the day. It was the only race we actually bet us, choosing Hot Road Charlie (Jeff pick which finished third), and my pick, Rock Your World, finished in seventeenth place. We’d added the favorite pick of the day, Essential Quality to our trifecta bet (it came in fourth). Almost, but that doesn’t count in horse racing, so we lost our $200 but had fun doing so!

We hung around for a bit, enjoying some last-minute people watching, then joined the stream of people heading out of the main gate. We turned right, towards the Uber lot, which meant we were once again walking against the crowd leaving the infield – many were now very drunk, most were sunburned, and some were being carried. It seemed to be a zoo at the Uber lot, and the app showed our same driver, but it’d oscillate between 20-30 minutes away. The crowd and the noise of the Jesus Freaks yelling at the crowd through bad speakers was making me crazy, so I lobbied to start walking.

We walked with a smaller crowd, but many of them pealed off as we strolled through the U of L campus. We walked past large house parties, still going strong. After a mile, there were only a handful of us still walking towards downtown, but it felt good to move and the neighborhood felt ok. Several people that we’d pass would shout out friendly greetings, and we just kept moving, only slightly creeped out by the recommendation from the police that we don’t try to walk back to the hotel.

It started getting dark as we got close, but by then, it felt like a normal evening stroll. It felt great to get to the room though and jump into the shower to wash away the dirt and cigar smoke from the day! We were probably both sleeping by 9pm!

On Sunday, we were up before our alarm, so we got dressed and finished packing up and we were crossing the Ohio back into Indiana before 7am. An uneventful drive, and great to be home in the early afternoon and still enjoy the day.

#KentuckyDerby

0 notes

horsesnbourbon · 2 months

Text

What To Know The First Time You Hit The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Post-Covid

Oh, it's such a lovely day! For the first time since the pandemic halted most of our favorite activities, you're headed for an adventure along the best Bourbon tours in Lexington, KY.

And a lot of the distilleries along the route greet guests with great enthusiasm. The bright side is that we now value experiences we may have taken for granted in the past, like exploring rich houses, enjoying a nice glass of Bourbon with friends, and finding new favorite whiskies. Plan Ahead, then Plan Some More Planning for Lexington, Kentucky Bourbon tours is crucial for a successful post-pandemic tour. It used to be harder to go into distilleries without warning and take a tour, even before the popularity of our local spirit increased. We are past those times. Currently? Planning will need to be done as long in ahead as feasible. The best duration is a few weeks or possibly a few months. The Key to Success is Flexibility Our experts advised bringing an open mind in addition to planning. You may be unable to attend the distillery tour you have your heart set on, or it is not available at all. And what about it? You might discover a new favorite! Why not take advantage of some of the close-up opportunities? This Need not be a Once-in-a-Lifetime Event Have a look. There is no stopping the Bourbon Trail tour. Both new and established craft producers and distilleries have the long-term view in mind. Nothing limits the number of times you can do this. You'll find it much simpler to unwind and have fun if you approach the trip with the mindset that this is just one and there will be more. Rely on Local Partners Yes, of course, you can plan and execute your travel. But trust me when I say that having someone else do the legwork makes it much more enjoyable. Someone with expertise! Furthermore, these people are well-versed in both the distilleries and the industry. They are even knowledgeable about the best eateries, back roads, and pretty much everything else. Pace Yourself In addition, remember that we haven't gone out for almost a year. You should indeed hydrate. We have the opportunity to form new habits in this new reality. Above all, enjoy yourself and this much-needed return to one of life's greatest pleasures: the best Bourbon tours in Lexington, KY.

#Bourbon Tours Lexington KY #Bourbon Distillery Tours Louisville KY #Best Bourbon Distillery Tour Louisville #Bourbon Tour Transportation Lexington KY #Bourbon Tours Near Louisville

0 notes

thebourbontruth · 7 years

Text

Doing the Bourbon Trail 2017

A lot has changed since my last Bourbon Trail post so it’s time. http://kybourbontrail.com What I’ve noticed is people tour under very different time constraints and whom your accompanied by. Solo vs a family trip with the kids and grandparents has much different needs and results. First off do the trail sober. The Kentucky Bourbon Distillers has been enlisting the help of Uber and Lyft. There are taxis and private and public tour groups. Plan ahead for not driving when you shouldn’t be or have a DD.

Logistics As of 2016 there are over a million visits a year visiting Kentucky for “ bourbon tourism” and growing. In 10 years the number has tripled to where it is. That’s a lot. During peak days or times you will NOT be able to get a tour unless you preplan and reserve well in advance. http://kybourbontrail.com/kentucky-bourbon-trail-barrels-past-1-million-visits-2016/

The unofficial and official trail extends well north starting in Newport Kentucky (outside Cincinnati) where New Riff (craft) is to Bowling Green (almost the Tennessee boarder) where Corsair (craft) is over a 3 hour drive so limits are usually present. Most other Distilleries average a 45-60 minute drive apart but Buffalo Trace, Woodford, Wild Turkey, and Four Roses are within half an hour of each other. Regardless of the distance your not getting to them all, possibly not even all the major ones. Secondly, (I’ll say it again) during peak days and times you might not be able to tour at all or need to wait without reservations so make reservations. Another General recommendation is that you and certainly kids have a three distillery attention limit. Things will start blending in and looking the same after that. Pick carefully because if Beam is at the top of your list, do it first. If you put favorite or must see’s at the end you may never make it. If you do more than 3, make that a daily limit. If you don’t want to drive, Mint Julep Tours has some great private and public options http://mintjuleptours.com https://mintjuleptours.com/public-bourbon-tours/

Weather The summer is hot and steamy, sometimes too hot. Bring lots of water in a cooler if you can. The summer may also have distilleries that are closed or not distilling so if you really want to see a special distillery make sure they are operating the days your planning to be there. Winter has ice and when roads are icy the distilleries have been known to close completely. Pets in the car don’t mix well if hot or cold.

Where to sleep? The nicest national hotel chain in Bardstown is the Hampton Inn. There are a few bed and breakfasts but if you want central location, choice and some luxury, Louisville is your best bet (about an hour from most things). Use this as your central hub. Places like the Marriott East (Eastern suburb to downtown Louisville) are a bit cheaper than the regular high end places in downtown and a bit closer to Frankfort area Buffalo Trace, Woodford and Lawrenceburg for Wild Turkey and Four Roses. If your going to be further South, besides Bardstown, Elizabethtown is another option.

If you’re a couple or buddies or a couple touring, I’d recommend Louisville for the bars, Resturant’s and Whiskey Row attractions. Night life is practically non existent other than Louisville. I have regretted Lexington stays as its too far from most places. If your willing to switch hotels in/from other cities/towns that’s a different matter. I personally stay at the Marriott Residence Inn in downtown Louisville when staying downtown. It’s a 50 foot walk/stumble to the best Whiskey bar in Kentucky (Haymarket, a fun dive bar open late). Wandering the streets of Louisville at night, potentially drunk, when not in a group isn’t recommended.

Family trips You better pick just Three-Four distilleries or your going to hear whining. Mix things in like Mammoth Caves, Underground Zip lines, Lincoln Boyhood home, museums, rides on the river in Louisville etc.. The Beam Urban Stillhouse and Evan Williams Experience http://evanwilliams.com/visit.php in Louisville are good for kids so I don’t count those as part of your 3. If you only have two days stick to those close to the Bluegrass Parkway. Buffalo Trace to Bardstown.

Solo or Couples Pick 5 places unless you have more than two days. At five you’ll also start to get the “distillery burnout” and a potentially unhappy spouse. If your going to do more than 5 anyway try to split it up maybe with Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Nashville touring. Visit the races, horse farm etc. you’ll need a break.

Smaller Distilleries Craft and lesser known names I wouldn’t try too hard to get to unless its Willett or on the way with burnout considered.

Cost Plan on about $5-20 per adult per Distillery. Buffalo Trace has the only free tours that I recall. I’ve even heard that Makers Mark is currently charging to get in even with no tour. Don’t know if this is temporary. Other Visitor Centers/Gift Shops at this point are still free to get in but tours are the extra charge. Some might offer Discounts for DD’s, Military, Seniors, Law Enforcement and First responders so ask. Children are usually free to a certain age.

The Distilleries By rough geography. If I miss or skip a distillery it’s not necessarily a skip, I personally haven’t been or not enough there to warrant the extra time to get there. Some distilleries may have a distillery exclusive bottle. I’ll try to note these. Keep in mind that by law any Kentucky retailer can carry these also but they rarely do or can get them before the gift shop gets them all from distribution. They are part of the three tier system so even the distillery exclusives technically need to go through a third party distributer.

Louisville Angels Envy The newest tour in Downtown Louisville across from Slugger Baseball Stadium. A beautiful great tour. If you can’t see the rest of the Bourbon Trail this is a great option. Nothing I could see in the Gift shop different than what you can get at home but I’d go back again. They did have their Rye which is often sold out back home. Note that tours do get sold out on weekdays off peak as they were when I was there.

Bulleit Experience If your not a Stitzel Weller geek skip it. If you don’t know what Stitzel Weller is, again, skip it. More or less a Diageo ad for Bulleit that has never had or has a current real Distillery there although one is due to open soon in Shelbyville that might have public tours.

Copper and Kings is a Brandy distillery in Louisville if your into that and have time.

Evan Williams Experience A mini distillery and showcase of distilling and history. A fun time. They have a few exclusives like a 12 year and 23 year Evan Williams.

Frankfort area

Buffalo Trace http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/visit-us/our-tours Not an official part of or member of the Bourbon Trail. Free tours and you should reserve Hard Hat Tours as opposed to the regular hourly tours. They split production and maturation into roughly two tours so you could end up there most of the day to get tour bookend Hard Hat type tours in. This is a whiskey factory. Not much for kids but a not to be missed option. Don’t expect any bottles you can’t get at home of Whiskey, nothing special.

Woodford Reserve https://www.woodfordreserve.com/distillery/tours/ Very pretty and fairly quick tours. Drive through horse county to the nicest Distillery in Ky. A couple releases you can only find at the distillery. Real nice gift shop packed full. Usually two unique Whiskeys in .375 size avail each only there. A must stop.

Castle and Key Beginning tours soon. Read up on Old Taylor History (what used to be here) and check it out. Down the street from Woodford. If and when tastings are offered in the near future it will be new booze and young aka not too good. Keep this in mind for any newer distillery only bottling their own make.

Four Roses http://fourrosesbourbon.com Another great stop but no bottling or maturation is done here (see below). That is a separate facility near Beam that you can tour. A whiskey factory that’s a great stop for a Four Roses lover. Bottles selected by Brent Elliott the Master Distiller in the nice large gift shop usually.

Wild Turkey http://wildturkeybourbon.com/visit-us/ New distillery, visitor center and bottling. Feels a bit sterile. Tours stop at lots of windows you can only look through like the distillery. A nice stop and Master Distillers Eddie or Jimmy Russell are often hanging out signing things. Usually no special bottlings are for sale there but a good fun stop.

Bardstown They are adding lots of distilleries but the ones there are Willett and Barton. Don’t stop at Barton if you’ve been/going to one of the whisky factories. Ugly, nothing you’ll want in the giftshop.

Willett https://www.kentuckybourbonwhiskey.com/visit-willett-distillery/# You MUST get a reservation early at Willett to be safe. Its small and very very popular. A recent Saturday out of season had 500 people and they stopped counting. Willett often has private bottling you can’t get elsewhere of advanced age. They are fleeting though. A 14 year old bottling could show up without notice then be sold out within an hour. Don’t expect it will be while you are there but and a big but- If you are on the tour and ask nice you never know. Willett Family Reserve is one of the hardest to get due to the value on the secondary market. They do have their other retail brands and sometimes Rye there regularly. Great people. Expanding Giftshop about to have a bed and breakfast onsite summer/fall 2017 most likely. Periodically will have things you can’t get elsewhere at random. Still have bottles of allocated things from back home you might not see.

Makers Mark If you want to make the trip on Loretto Rd that passes Willett, Makers Mark is ½ hour each way. A cool nice Distillery if you have time. Pretty and complete tours. Can get real busy. Usually one or two things in a large gift shop you can’t get back home.

There is practically nothing but windy roads and little or no cellular coverage. It’s worth the trip but consider it’s a half day excursion. Great Giftshop. The most educational tasting of different stages of maturation, big Giftshop with some private things you can’t get elsewhere and chance to wax dip your own bottle.

If your out this way consider stopping at Independent Stave in Lebanon where they make new Whiskey barrels. Two tours a day, reservations a must. Worth a stop if you have time. http://www.iscbarrels.com/tours/

Wilderness Trace also (see below)

Heaven Hill’s maturation and bottling are here in Bardstown. If you’ve seen or will be seeing these at other places no real draw for me to recommend the tour. The Louisville distillery is not open to the public but the Evan Williams Experience fills in with a mini distillery and nice facility. http://heavenhilldistillery.com/bourbon-heritage-center.php?utm_source=BHC&utm_medium=Redirect&utm_campaign=BHCRedirect&bhc=1

The Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center and Giftshop is a great stop however with frequently special bottlings you can’t get at home or tightly allocated.

Four Roses Maturation and Bottling is near Beam and Bardstown. If you’re a fan of Four Roses or want to see these production pieces in depth, stop. It’s 5 minutes from Beam but hours are a bit more limited. Navigation will often send you to the wrong Four Roses address so make sure you enter the address so don’t trust your navigation to suggest an address. Tour cost are Interchangeable so a receipt for the distillery gets you into the other. The last tour of the day departs the Visitor Center at 3:00 p.m. 624 Lotus Road Cox’s Creek, KY 40013

Beam http://www.jimbeam.com/en-us/visit-us/book-a-tour They did a good job here setting up a complete experience. Maybe one of the best. I will say this is the tour from the Barrel picking experience so the regular tour may include other parts of the real distillery operation. You should check. Good for kids and has micro tastes of products and a couple whiskeys unique to the huge American Still House gift shop.

Wilderness Trail This is another extreme distance but worth the trip if you have lots of time and want to see a nice craft place.

Craft distilleries Remember burnout. If you want to indulge check out http://kybourbontrail.com/craft-tour/

I want more If you want even more or more on-depth experience Moonshine University runs courses from a day to 5 day Distiller classes. Also a Stave and Thief Whisky Society Certification. They are in Louisville. If you arrange your trips around their schedules it gives you this extra option. https://moonshineuniversity.com/courses/

Lastly, in the next couple years many new attractions and distilleries will be opening in downtown Louisville and it’s Whiskey Row so check to see what they have opened. Here are some suggested driving times and map http://kybourbontrail.com/map/

Enjoy your trip and be safe.

15 notes · View notes

eatbaketravel · 5 years

Text

Maker’s Mark Bourbon

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE 21 TO READ THIS POST. But you do to enter the distiller sites linked in this post.

Two trips and two years in the making but we did it. We finally filled out our Kentucky Bourbon trail passport. Now we can claim our prize for our effort. The best part is having “family” living amongst the distillers, so it was not a hard decision to visit!

THE BIRTH OF BOURBON

You could say the birth of bourbon is due to the Federal Government. Many of the settlers were making rye whiskey in Pennsylvania with family recipes. Enter the Federal government, they offered incentives to grow corn and move to the western region of Virginia, also known as the Kentucky region. Many settlers moved to this area and one of those farmers was Jacob Beam. Jacob Beam who, like others, used his father’s whiskey recipe to distill his excess corn into a new, sweeter kind of whiskey-voilà bourbon was born. His bourbon became a local favorite. By the early 1800s, Kentucky was home to about 2,000 distillers. According to the website, he sold his first barrel of Old Jake Beam Sour mash in 1795.

Our very first stop was to the Four Roses Distillery and our first stamp in the passport. Wild Turkey tastings overlook the rolling hills. Woodford rounded out the first trip. Your tasting at Woodford Reserve is amongst the barrels in candle light. With tastings of the double oaked and single barrel. With a bit of chocolate to cleanse the pallet.

#gallery-0-26 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-26 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-0-26 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-26 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Very first stop, sip and stamp

Silver julep cups

#gallery-0-27 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-27 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-0-27 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-27 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Not a bad view to sip

History of Wild Turkey

#gallery-0-28 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-28 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-0-28 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-28 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Sipping by candle light

Bourbon barrels

Marker’s Mark and Chihuly glass

The first trip included a trip to Makers Mark, a special dinner, and evening stroll around the grounds but with a twist, a Chihuly glass exhibit. What a treat. All the buildings were open and the glass was a lit up as the sun went down. You could even taste the sour mash if you wanted to. Yuck.

Jim Beam, Evan Williams, Town Branch, Angels Envy, Haven Hill Elijah Craig rounded out the second trip. I guess you could say we were determined to finish getting our stamps.

Town Branch

In a city once rich with distilleries, Town Branch Distillery is the first new distillery built in Lexington, Kentucky in over 100 years. Town Branch, named after the river that runs through Lexington, is unique to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail as it is the only combination distillery and brewery – If you prefer beer to bourbon this is the stop for you as it is the only stop on the trail in which you will get to sample beer as well as bourbon! Try the stout, and yes, it has bourbon in it. Town Branch not only distills bourbon, but an excellent Caribbean rum, and gin. I do not really like gin but I would by theirs. Sundown is also produced there, and well it is hard to describe. It is a thick syrupy concoction, but with a Kentucky spin, it is infused with Kentucky bourbon and sugar. The Bluegrass Sundowner is made by adding boiling water to the liqueur to release the flavors and aromas. Topped with a dollop of whipped cream and there you have it.

#gallery-0-29 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-29 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-0-29 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-29 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Jim Beam

While we were walking the grounds at Jim Beam, you cannot help but notice the black mold on the buildings and trees. It is called by the common name distillery fungus, distilleries’ shadow, whiskey fungus, angels’ share fungus, and warehouse staining fungus. It really Baudoinia compniacensis is a fungus that resides near the distilleries. Spirits maturation facilities, bonded warehouses, and large bakeries. It may look gross but it is not harmful to animals for people. What its presence really means is that nature is working as it should and that close-by, our spirit of choice is in the making. THEREFORE, if you happen to come across black mold you just might just be in the vicinity of some bourbon.

#gallery-0-30 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-30 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-0-30 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-30 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Jim Beam

EVANS WILLIAMS

Evan Williams opened Kentucky’s first distillery in 1783, along the banks of the Ohio River. They still make bourbon the same way. It is a pretty good interactive tour. You finish with a sample tasting in a re-creation of an old saloon.

I would never let my bourbon overflow

ANGELS ENVY

Angel’s Envy is a family run distillery. Grandpa started it and brought his son along to create a bourbon that is finished in port barrels. Chocolate is an added bonus to the tasting. It is from a local chocolate shop. This sample was infused with orange. It was so good we had to hunt down the chocolate shop. This is the distillery I really learned how to sip and taste bourbon. So, next time you order your bourbon ask for two ice cubes on the side. You take your fist sip then add a ice cube and enjoy the rest!

Bourbon and chocolates

BULLEIT

Bulleit is actually distilled on the grounds of the STITZEL-WELLER DISTILLERY. From their website: Originally opened on Derby Day in 1935 and reopened to the public in 2014, the historic Stitzel-Weller Distillery is one of the true cathedrals of the American whiskey industry. Located only five miles from downtown Louisville, the Stitzel Weller Experience is one of the most convenient and impressive stops along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. We are proud to invite guests to step foot on this hallowed ground and gain a unique perspective on the dichotomy of the historic contrasted with the innovations of tomorrow that include Bulleit Bourbon, Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and I.W. Harper Bourbon. Bulleit is still distilled according to Bulleit family tradition. It is a high rye content bourbon and has a spicy flavor. The bourbon is aged in charred oak barrels and uses the limestone-filleted water, Kentucky is famous for.

Ring the bell if you like bourbon

Recipe for a Manhattan and a my favorite fall bourbon cocktail the Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail

Recipe for a Manhattan

Ingredients:

2 parts Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon

1 part sweet vermouth

2 dashes aromatic bitters

Cherry for garnish

Instructions:

Combine ingredients over ice in a mixing glass.

Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass neat or on the rocks.

Garnish with a cherry.

Bourbon Apple Cider (My favorite in the fall)

Ingredients:

1 part Bourbon

3 part Apple Cider (fresh pressed preferable)

A splash of ginger beer

Garnish with cherries and apples

Instructions:

In a cocktail glass with ice, stir the bourbon and apple cider. Top with cold ginger beer. Garnish with cherries and a slice of apple.

Sippin’ Bourbon on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE 21 TO READ THIS POST. But you do to enter the distiller sites linked in this post.

#Angel&039;s Envy Bourbon #Bourbon #Bourbon country #Bourbon Trail #Bulliet Bourbon #corn mash #Distillery fungus #Evan Williams Bourbon #Four Roses Bourbon #Jim Beam Bourbon #Kentucky Bourbon #Kentucky Bourbon Trail #Makers Mark Bourbon #Town Branch Bourbon #Woodford Reserve

0 notes

gilwarner-blog · 5 years

Text

Kentucky’s Top 12 Distilleries along the Bourbon Trail

If you are considering touring the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky, let me encourage you to do so, it's worth the trip, and it might be beneficial for you to understand just a little bit about each of the distilleries along the trail, the following is my overview of each of the main distilleries.

Each distillery offers different tours at different times and cost, you need to know what your choices are and what a specific distillery offers before you make a choice so it is always a good idea to visit each distillery web site for current tour times and cost. Some tours you will need a reservation so check before hand. For instance, most distillery tours last about an hour cost around ten bucks and end with a bourbon tasting.

If you are looking for a tour that offers more information about the distilling process or if you are looking for the perfect bourbon gift for that someone, or you just want to taste some good bourbon, Kentucky's Bourbon Trail won't disappoint and don't forget your camera you'r going to want to take lots of pictures.

You should plan on 3 to 4 days in order to take in everything along the trail. Here are the most popular distilleries that you will find along the Bourbon Trail between Louisville and Lexington, this is the suggested order if you start in Louisville.

Day One: Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience, Titzel-Weller Distillery. 3860 Fitzgerald Road, Louisville. 502-810-3800 www.bulleitexperience.com

First opened on Derby Day in 1935 then reopened to the public in 2014, the Stitzel-Weller Distillery is one of the true icons of the American whiskey industry. Located just five miles from downtown Louisville, the Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience is convenient and a most impressive stop along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Tours and whiskey tastings are $14 for adults over 21. Free for those under 21.

Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse. 404 South 4th Street, Louisville. 502-855-8392 www.jimbeam.com

Located in downtown Louisville, the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse is not their main working distillery but it is complete with a small working distillery and bottling line, it's a good place to learn about bourbon, grab a handcrafted cocktail or a pick up a nice gift or two. They welcome all bourbon fans (aged 21+) to stop by for a taste of the Jim Beam distillery experience. If you are just beginning your whiskey journey or are a more seasoned bourbon drinker, this educational experience will enable you to explore the rich history of the Beam family through a guided tasting flight. Each tasting features four ¼ oz pours of whiskey or bourbon, three of their selects and one of your choosing. Plus, while you taste, you will hear the history behind Jim Beam, the differences between bourbon and whiskey and how to taste bourbon using their signature Kentucky Chew.

Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. 528 West Main Street, Louisville. 502-272-2611 www.evanwilliamsbourbonexperience.com

Touring this distillery is inexpensive and you can do it from Monday to Sunday. The tours are usually one hour and they include a bourbon tasting. The distillery also allows you to bring your kids at a cost less than 10 bucks.

Day Two: Maker's Mark Distillery. 3350 Burkes Spring road, Loretto. 270-865-2099 www.makersmark.com

This is among the best distillerys along the Kentucky trail because you can take a one-hour tour for just nine bucks. In addition, it's a great tour. You get to watch the bottling process and see them hand dip each bottle in their signature red wax. And, if you are looking to buy merchandise, they have a very nice gift shop and the prices are reasonable.

Heaven Hill Distillery Bourbon Heritage Center. 1311 Gilkey Run Road, Bardstown. 502-337-1000 www.bourbonheritagecenter.com

Heaven Hill is the maker of Evan Williams and Elijah Craig. They dedicated their Bourbon Heritage center in 2004 and it has since become a destination to many people. The tours are quite affordable and they include a bourbon tasting. If you are looking to get more bourbon when you visit, Whiskey Connoisseur Experience is the ideal choice.

Jim Beam Distillery. 526 Happy Hollow Road, Clermont. 502-543-9877 www.jimbeam.com

Get an up close look at Jim Beam Bourbon and how it's made. On this tour, you'll walk in the shadow of seven generations of Beam Family Master Distillers as they walk you through the entire process of their bourbon, from its pure beginning in their own natural limestone water well, then through the mashing, distilling, barreling, aging and bottling processes. This distillery offers one-hour tours from 9:30 to 3:30 Monday to Saturday and 12:30 to 3:00 on Sunday. Tours are $14.00

Four Roses Warehouse & Bottling. 624 Lotus Road, Cox's Creek, 502-543-2264 www.fourrosesbourbon.com

Take a trip to this historic distillery on the scenic Salt River in Lawrenceburg, or visit their single-story rack warehouse and bottling facility located in the quiet Kentucky countryside at Cox's Creek, and you'll start to understand how our Bourbon has come to be so smooth and mellow. Of course, sampling a taste of their award-winning Bourbons at either location makes this trip to these relaxing places all that more rewarding. Reservations are recommended, but guests are welcome to drop by for first come, first serve availability. Tours available on the hour, every hour. The last tour of the day departs at 3:00 p.m. A tour is offered every half an hour until 3:30 p.m.

Day Three: Four Roses Distillery. 1224 Bonds Mill Road, Lawrenceburg, 502-839-2655 www.fourrosesbourbon.com

According to the National Register, this distillery is a historic place. It has a Spanish Mission Style architecture that makes it unique and very beautiful. When you visit, you can tour either the distillery or the warehouse that is located in Cox's Creek. Nevertheless, you will get a taste of bourbon regardless of the tour you choose or, do both.

Wild Turkey Distillery. 1417 Versailles Road, Lawrenceburg, 502-839-2182 www.wildturkeybourbon.com

A tour costs ten dollars and you get to visit a number of places in the distillery. You will start the tour from the visitor's center to a tasting center. The distillery has a modern looking visitor's center making it appealing and quite attractive.

WoodFord Reserve. 7855 McCracken Pike, Versailles, 859-879-1812 www.woodfordreserve.com

The prettiest distillery of them all offers a number of tours from the basic bourbon tour to 'Corn to Cork' tour that outlays the entire process. Therefore, when you visit WoodFord Reserve, you will have several choices of tours you can take. In addition, there is a National Landmark tour that makes WoodFord Reserve a historic landmark.

Town Branch Distillery. 401 Cross Street, Lexington, 859-255-2337 www.townbranchdistillery.com

Named after the river that runs through Lexington, Town Branch has a combination of a distillery and a brewery. The hourly tours are from Monday to Saturday only so it's easy to choose a convenient time to visit.

Day Four: Buffalo Trace. 113 Great Buffalo Trce, Frankfort, 502-696-5926

I saved my favorite for last and you may want to spend all day here, this distillery is amazing, home of Blantons, Willit, Eagle Rare and yes, Pappy Van Winkle. There are 7 different tours available here and reservations are recommended for all but The Trace Tour. The Trace Tour begins with an engaging video of the history of Buffalo Trace Distillery. You will then walk along the path of aging bourbon barrels. You will be spellbound by the alluring smell and atmosphere of bourbon sleeping inside the aging warehouses. Then you will enter the Blanton's Bottling Hall where you will see signature bourbons being filled, sealed, labeled, and packaged, all by hand. All tours are complimentary and include a tasting of some of their award-winning products. All visitors are welcome to walk in as there is no need for a reservation. Groups of 8 or more are encouraged to contact the Visitor Center, [email protected], to let us know you are coming so that we can better plan our Trace Tour schedule.

Gil Warner is a bourbon connoisseur that loves sharing his passion for all things bourbon. Gil owns a website that specializes in Fine Bourbon Gifts

<p>Gil Warner is a bourbon connoisseur that loves sharing his passion for all things bourbon. Gil owns a website that specializes in <a href="https://finebourbongifts.com/">Fine Bourbon Gifts</a></p>

0 notes

themusicenthusiast · 5 years

Text

Slipknot, Guns N’ Roses, Disturbed and Rob Zombie Among Headliners for the World’s Largest Rock ‘N’ Roll Whiskey Festival: Louder Than Life; Danny Wimmer Presents Produced Festival to Take Over Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center in Louisville, KY September 27-29, 2019

Louder Than Life, the world’s largest rock ‘n’ roll whiskey festival, returns to Louisville, KY even bigger and better in its fifth year, with festival producers delivering the most spectacular music lineup since the festival began in 2014. Louder Than Life will feature the Danny Wimmer Presents debut of quintessential rock band Guns N’ Roses(in their first appearance since performing in Hawaii in December 2018), the return of chart-topping, festival favorites Slipknotand, Disturbed,a reunited Staind(in their first public performance in 5 years),Godsmack, Rob Zombie, A Day To Remember, Ice Cube, Marilyn Manson, Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, Halestorm, and many more. Produced by premier independent festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents, Louder Than Life will be held at its new home at Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center on Friday, September 27, Saturday, September 28 andSunday, September 29.

Louder Than Life will feature more than 50 music acts, with performances on three stages, along with award-winning bourbons, whiskey, spirits, craft beer, and the best foodLouisvillehas to offer. Festival attendees will also enjoy a variety of onsite food and beverage experiences, as well as sponsor activations that celebrate the bourbon culture and culinary heritage of this unique American city. "We wouldn't be living up to the name Louder Than Lifeif we didn't come back bigger and badder than ever, giving fans something they can't see anywhere else,” says festival producer Danny Wimmer. “Getting Staindback together and plugged in on the main stage is something that I've been working on for years. These are songs that need to be heard, that fans have been dying to hear --Staindhas been one of the most requested bands on our socials, and it's an honor to be bringing their music back for the fans at Louder Than Life.” Wimmer continues, “Slipknot has always had some of the most loyal, rabid fans in rock, but now they are at that pivotal moment when they’ve crossed over into iconic status; Disturbed has had their best touring numbers to date this year; then top it off with one of the biggest rock bands of all time in Guns N' Roses...this year is our most massive lineup yet." Louder Than Life exclusive VIP packages, General Admission tickets, camping and hotel packages go on sale today, Monday, April 8 at9:00 AM ET. Fans interested in attending all three DWP weekends at KY Expo Center, also including Hometown Rising Country Music & Bourbon Festival (September 14-15)and Bourbon & Beyond (September 20-22), can purchase a special Trifesta Pass, which allows General Admission weekend access for the discounted rate of only $229.00 plus fees. The current music lineup for Louder Than Life is as follows (subject to change): Friday, September 27: Slipknot, Staind, A Day to Remember, Chevelle, I Prevail, Architects, Beartooth, Motionless In White, Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals, GWAR, The Crystal Method, Graveyard, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, New Years Day, All Them Witches, Crown Lands, Joyous Wolf, Dead Posey, Santa Cruz and more Saturday, September 28: Guns N’Roses, Godsmack, Ice Cube, Halestorm, Dropkick Murphys, Stone Temple Pilots, Suicidal Tendencies, Melvins, Andrew W.K., Badflower, Knocked Loose, Anti-Flag,Redd Kross, Parlor Mob, Like A Storm, Jelly Roll, Dirty Honey, DED, JunkBunny and more Sunday, September 29: Disturbed, Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Breaking Benjamin, Die Antwoord, Three Days Grace,Sum 41, [artist TBA],Deadland Ritual, White Reaper, Demon Hunter, Ho99o9, Angel Du$t, Sick Puppies, Amigo The Devil, Fire From The Gods, Broken Hands, Anemic Royalty and more Danny Wimmer Presents is proud to announce a collaboration with Metallica’s Blackened Whiskey and Enter Night Pilsner. Blackened, a super-premium American whiskey blend crafted by the late Master Distiller Dave Pickerelland finished in the earth shattering music of Metallica, and Enter Night Pilsner, a collaboration with the rockstars of craft brewing Stone Brewing Company, will come together under one roof to offer guests a one-of-kind musical festival experience. The massive Boiler Maker pop-up will feature a Blackened & Enter Night Boilermaker, as well as craft cocktails and ice-cold Enter Night Pilsner. This exciting collaboration marks the latest in a long line of amplified guest experiences only available through Danny Wimmer Presents music festivals. More info to come... The festival’s centerpiece, Kroger’s Big Bourbon Bar presented by Louisville Courier Journal,will feature more than two dozen hand-selected bourbons from top distilleries, and a unique opportunity to enjoy bourbons and exclusive one-time specialty cocktails from 1792, Angel’s Envy, Barrell Bourbon,Coopers’ Craft,Elijah Craig,Four Roses,Jeptha Creed Four Grain Bourbon, Kentucky Peerless, Michter’s,Old Forester, Rebel Yell, StoneHammer,Wild Turkey andmore to be announced. Fred Minnick’s Mini Bar--hosted by the Louder Than Life bourbon curator, bourbon author/expert,and Amazon Prime host (Bourbon Up)--will showcase craft selections from Louisville’s world-renowned distilleries.Acclaimed Louisville whiskey bar The Silver Dollar will operate The Hunter’s Club, where attendees can find vintage bourbons dating as far back as the 1930s, as well as contemporary collectibles. The initial list of participating bourbon brands at Louder Than Lifeincludes 1792, Angel’s Envy, Barrell Bourbon,Coopers’ Craft, Elijah Craig, Evan Williams,Four Roses, Jeptha Creed Four Grain Bourbon, Jim Beam, Kentucky Peerless,Larceny, Maker’s Mark, Michter’s, Old Forester, Rebel Yell, StoneHammer, Wild Turkey,Willett, and Woodford Reserve. Whiskey sponsors also include Jack Daniel’s, Southern Comfort and Uncle Nearest. Ticket prices for Louder Than Life will be as follows: ●3-Day Weekend General Admission: starting at $149.50 + fees ●3-DayMint Experience VIP: starting at $449.50 + fees ●3-Day Top ShelfVIP: $1,399.50 + fees ●Single Day GeneralAdmission: starting at $69.50 + fees ●Single Day VIP: starting at $199.50 + fees Louder Than Life sponsors include Kentucky Tourism, Louisville Tourism, Monster Energy, Jack Daniel’s, Kroger, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Southern Comfort, Uncle Nearest Whiskey, f.y.e., The Music Experience, Fxck Cancer, Take Me Home, Against The Grain, and Zyn. The Highland Festival Grounds At KY Expo Center are located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, Kentucky. Festival doors open at 11:00 AM daily. Louder Than Life is produced by Los Angeles-based Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America. Additional DWP events include Aftershock Festival, Bourbon & Beyond, Chicago Open Air, Epicenter Festival, Hometown Rising, Rock Allegiance, Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival, and Welcome To Rockville.

0 notes

horsesnbourbon · 5 months

Text

Discover the Spirit of Bourbon at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky

Experience the rich history and exquisite flavors of bourbon with a visit to Buffalo Trace Distillery, renowned as one of the best bourbon distillery tours in Louisville, Kentucky. At Horses-n-Bourbon, we invite you to embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of Kentucky bourbon country and explore the timeless traditions and craftsmanship behind America's native spirit.

Why Choose Buffalo Trace Distillery?

Legacy of Excellence: With over two centuries of distilling heritage, Buffalo Trace Distillery has earned its place as a true icon of the bourbon industry. As the oldest continuously operating distillery in America, Buffalo Trace is steeped in history and craftsmanship, producing award-winning bourbons cherished by enthusiasts around the world.

Immersive Distillery Tours: Step inside the historic distillery gates and immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and aromas of bourbon production. Our guided tours offer an up-close look at the distilling process, from mash fermentation and barrel aging to bottling and labeling. Learn about the artistry and science behind bourbon-making as you explore our state-of-the-art facilities and aging warehouses.

World-Class Bourbon Tastings: No visit to Buffalo Trace Distillery is complete without a tasting of our exceptional bourbons. Sample a selection of our finest spirits, from smooth and mellow bourbons to bold and flavorful expressions, guided by our knowledgeable tour guides. Discover the unique characteristics and flavor profiles that make Buffalo Trace bourbons truly special.

Your Bourbon Distillery Tour Experience

Guided Distillery Tours: Choose from a variety of tour options, including our popular Trace Tour, Hard Hat Tour, and Bourbon Barrel Tour, each offering a unique perspective on bourbon production at Buffalo Trace Distillery.

Barrelhouse Bar: Relax and unwind at our Barrelhouse Bar, where you can savor handcrafted cocktails featuring Buffalo Trace bourbons, along with a selection of curated spirits, craft beers, and local wines.

Gift Shop: Browse our onsite gift shop and take home a piece of bourbon history with a selection of branded merchandise, specialty bourbons, and unique souvenirs to commemorate your visit.

Plan Your Visit to Buffalo Trace Distillery Ready to experience the magic of bourbon at Buffalo Trace Distillery? Book your distillery tour today with Horses-n-Bourbon and discover why Buffalo Trace is considered one of the best bourbon distilleries in Louisville, Kentucky. Whether you're a bourbon aficionado or a curious newcomer, we invite you to join us for an unforgettable journey through the world of Kentucky bourbon. Cheers to the spirit of bourbon!

#best bourbon distillery tour louisville #bourbon tour transportation lexington ky #best bourbon tours in louisville #downtown louisville bourbon tours #buffalo trace distillery louisville kentucky #best bourbon tours lexington ky

1 note · View note

mikemortgage · 6 years

Text

Long wait for Michter’s ending with new Kentucky distillery

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Whiskey makers are used to long waits, but restoring a 19th century building took a Kentucky distillery longer than most bourbons need to mature.

The wait ends Thursday at Michter’s, when the small producer of premium and ultra-premium spirits opens its new Fort Nelson Distillery in downtown Louisville.

“I would guess that probably 90 per cent of the American whiskey volume doesn’t age as long as it took us to do this building,” Michter’s President Joseph J. Magliocco said during a pre-opening tour.

Michter’s bought the four-story, cast iron and stone building with its distinctive corner turret in 2012, leading the bourbon sector’s comeback along Louisville’s Whiskey Row.

But as years passed, a handful of nearby distilleries opened while Michter’s struggled with renovation setbacks. When restoration began, the building had been vacant for decades. A staircase had collapsed and there were no floors. One section of wall was bowed about 23 inches (58 centimetres) out of place, leading to a massive restabilization effort. Shoring up the building required 400,000 pounds (181,400 kilograms) of structural steel.

Executives at the privately owned spirits company won’t disclose renovation costs but acknowledge it was more than they meant to spend. But they say the stately result will justify the expense.

“This isn’t just a story about another distillery opening,” Magliocco said. “It’s a restoration story. It’s an architecture story. It’s saving a building. It’s a once-abandoned brand going into this once-abandoned building. And now they’re both pretty cool.”

Michter’s new public face will showcase a brand best known for its 10-, 20- and 25-year-old whiskeys that sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars per bottle. Last year, a bottle of Michter’s bourbon sold at a charity auction for more than $17,000.

Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey, a blend of extra-aged bourbon and rye, is especially hard to find because of its limited releases — the last was in late 2016. Bottles sell for thousands of dollars apiece and Kentucky Distillers’ Association President Eric Gregory said he’s had just one taste.

The flagship Michter’s brand ages for about six years and retails at about $50 per bottle.

Public tours are scheduled to begin Saturday at the new distillery. Bourbon distilled in the restored building will take six years or more to be ready, but whiskey drinkers can sample other Michter’s products on the tour. Visitors can sip cocktails at a bar on the second floor.

The distillery has a prime spot across the street from one of Louisville’s most popular destinations — the museum and factory where Louisville Slugger bats are made. It’s on the same block as the Frazier History Museum, which is home to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcome Center. The Fort Nelson Distillery will join the trail once it opens to the public.

Kentucky produces about 95 per cent of the world’s bourbon, and whiskey tourism has become big business. Tourists make more than a million stops each year at distilleries along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail — which includes Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, Woodford Reserve and other venerable distilleries — and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour, which showcases smaller, up-and-coming distilleries.

The Michter’s distillery will become “an instant anchor” for one end of Whiskey Row, Gregory said.

“It seems like they had everything thrown at them, but they persevered,” he said.

The Fort Nelson Distillery can produce up to 20,000 proof gallons (75,700 proof litres) of spirits a year — enough to fill several thousand 12-bottle cases. But the bulk of Michter’s production will remain at its nearby Shively distillery, which isn’t open for public tours.

The new distillery adds to Louisville’s lineup of bourbon attractions. For years, bourbon fans wanting to see where their favourite whiskeys were crafted had to venture into rural Kentucky — where the most famed distilleries are located. But several distilleries and bourbon attractions have sprung up in recent years, including the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Angel’s Envy, Kentucky Peerless, Old Forester and Rabbit Hole.

from Financial Post http://bit.ly/2RsJ6IW via IFTTT Blogger Mortgage Tumblr Mortgage Evernote Mortgage Wordpress Mortgage href="https://www.diigo.com/user/gelsi11">Diigo Mortgage

#IFTTT #Financial Post

0 notes

lalalalori · 6 years

Text

#Xanga4Lyfe Couples Retreat in Louisville Recap

1. Road trip. Thanks for driving, Mike. Can I connect my bluetooth? Dollar Tree’s finest snacks. Hawk stories. Starbucks is what’s wrong with America. Marco Polos on the way. What is a Dunkin Donuts Express?

2. Welcome to the Lou Roost. Shotgun style. Set up surprises for the Nashvillians. Check your email!!

3. Nick & Ceej arrive! Get your row on. Sophie is so shy. I thought all dogs loved me? I’m on to you, LUTHER. Against the Grain for lunch. Best soft pretzel of my young life. Everything tastes amazing.

4. Garage Bar. The lemonade is good. Jerome actually did an oyster shot. Can you believe Michael broke up with Mary in high school? Hamburger Helper for all. Grass couch furniture shopping.

5. Haymarket Whiskey Bar. It’s her first day. Old Fashioneds and Manhattans. Lake Erie High Ball for Mary. Pinball. You were meant for me.

6. Big Bar. Worst brainfreezes ever. Mary has given birth, she wins. So many motorcycles. That guy has the same purse as me. Can we go into some AC?

7. Chill Bar. CJ’s friend used to live there. Happy Hour on the Centrome’s tab. Who knows how to floss? Disco balls and sweaty balls. More chex mix, please. How is Jerome so good at cornhole? Millennials. Straight people PDA.

8. DiOrio’s. Carol, you crazy. Tiny pizzas. Do you guys have Yuengling? Too full to eat our entrees. Let’s just go home. No time for Steel City Pops. :(

9. Everyone is asleep by 10:30pm. Is this what happens when you grow up?

10. Coffee run. What is a vint julep? Nick cut off by an old. Cheers and apologies for the straws.

11. This is the wrong Taco Luchador. Christmas time Lyft. This Taco Luchador is closed. Basic Mexican at Los Aztecas. Chips, no bueno.

12. Evan Williams Distillery Tour. Awesome, interactive tour. Tammy Brown. Who’s this clown? That’s called a Kentucky Chew. Bourbon, not so good. Bourbon balls? Phenomenal. That was an expensive shot. Souvenirs. Group pics.

13. WorldFest. New shades. Gucci gucci gucci. Too hot and humid. River and bridges. We need to get back into temperature control.

14. We couldn’t even pay the troll toll. Models on a stroll. Impellizari’s. Tom Collins plus soda. I’m a glazed donut. Should we take Birds?

15. Is it Gravel-ys? Or Grave-lys? Bob’s here. Jerome eats beetles and meal worms. So what? Everyone looks good in my shades. Describe your lover in one word. Are we being crop-dusted? Bad girl with secret shots. CJ picks a purple shirt. That Lyft is too small. Cassata cake?

16. Royal’s Hot Chicken. Ceej is a skeptical foodie. He knows Nashville chicken. Warm beers. Bourbon & Cheerwine Adult Slushys with a y. Everything delicious. Best wedge ever. That was Mary’s last bite of cheese and shells.

17. Naps? How about Ron & Tammy x2. STEEL CITY POPS DELIVERY! None of these are labeled. Her name was etched in sorrow and now it’s blasted in light. Wel Come? What?

18. Back Door Bar. IT’S ABSOLUT VANILLA. Murder, Marry, Make out. Match the faces. That does not look like Nick. I’m dying.

19. Play. This is a talent show. What’s going on? Who is screaming? What is that fan? This is odd. Let’s go home.

20. Everyone is asleep again.

21. Time to check out. Stair pics. Miss you already.

22. Happy Survey Day. You know who you sound like? What does side to side mean? Dick bicycle. This murder is making me tired. This is really vulgar. Popeye’s! Time to pick up our dogs and children.

23. Nap time.

24. Sorry you forgot your $13 comb, Jerome.

#lousiville #xanga4lyfe #pals #chipdipping

0 notes

janerchambers88 · 6 years

Text

9 Great Southern Vacations For The Summer (Hold For Apple News)

With countless places to choose from in the region, we’re highlighting the best Southern vacation spots for renting a summer house. Travelers have spoken, and these destinations have the top-rated review scores for their rental accommodations on FlipKey.

Summer is a fabulous time to visit the South. Warm temperatures linger long into the evenings, allowing plenty of time for exploration, and the region’s cities buzz with activity. Not to mention, the area exudes Southern hospitality, making it a popular place to visit—any time of year.

Whether summer is just beginning or inching to a close, it’s never a bad time to plan that getaway down South! To help you choose your destination, we looked at the average vacation rental review scores for summer stays. The result? Nine of the best vacation spots down South receiving top praise from fellow FlipKey rental guests. From Tennessee to Texas, these Southern vacations (and their top attraction!) come highly recommended by travelers like you.

Consider booking a vacation home for your trip and you’ll be right in the middle of all the action. Not only do rentals provide an affordable home base during your stay, they let you experience the city like a local!

Ratings are based on the lifetime average vacation rental review score for that destination (for stays during summer months), according to reviewers on TripAdvisor. FlipKey is a TripAdvisor company.

9 Decatur, Georgia

Average Vacation Rental Rating: 4.50/5.00

“Lots of heart and soul went into preserving this very special home—if you appreciate craftsmanship and cool old houses, it is worth a visit for that alone!” – FlipKey Traveler

A trip to Decatur reveals what makes this destination so special: beautiful historic homes, a range of unique attractions, and a friendly, small-town atmosphere that is truly one-of-a-kind. At just six miles east of Atlanta, getting to this city—which offers a variety of attractions for foodies, fashionistas, fun-lovers and beyond—is a breeze. Grab a bite to eat on-the-go at Your Dekalb Farmers Market, take a walking tour of the area, or perch yourself on a park bench in Decatur Square. Described as “four square miles of hometown hippiness,” this vibrant city is a hot spot for Southern vacations that can’t be missed.

Our Top Activity Pick: Michael C. Carlos Museum

See all Decatur vacation rentals on FlipKey!

8 Chattanooga, Tennessee

Average Vacation Rental Rating: 4.56/5.00

“We spent the majority of our time on one of the two decks when we weren’t out hiking. We watched birds fly, the clouds float by, and the hang gliders soar. What a wonderful, relaxing place to enjoy!” – FlipKey Traveler

Nicknamed the Scenic City, Chattanooga lives up to that claim with soaring mountains, extraordinary rock formations, roaring waterfalls, and lots of outdoor activities that let you enjoy it all. Explore the mysterious caverns of Ruby Falls, hike Lookout Mountain for jaw-dropping views, or familiarize yourself with the area on a train ride through the countryside. For an even more memorable stay, rent a cabin amidst towering trees or a private vacation home just steps from the river and make Chattanooga your home, if only for a weekend getaway.

Our Top Activity Pick: Hunter Museum of American Art

See all Chattanooga vacation rentals on FlipKey!

7 New Orleans, Louisiana

Average Vacation Rental Rating: 4.60/5.00

“Perfect spot in the Marigny!! We could walk easily everywhere we wanted to go and experienced lots of great music and restaurants.” – FlipKey Traveler

Whether your plan is to soak up the local history or dance your way down Bourbon Street, New Orleans is no doubt one of the best vacation spots in the South. It’sa hub of activity from sunrise to sundown. Tour the Garden District—an elegant neighborhood full of Southern charm—where you’ll find pristine gardens and opulent, antebellum mansions. When you’re ready to party, head to Bourbon Street. You’ll find this carnival of sights and sounds in the historic French Quarter. Add to your New Orleans experience by booking a traditional, shotgun-style vacation home just blocks from your favorite attractions.

Our Top Activity Pick: New Orleans Museum of Art

See all New Orleans vacation rentals on FlipKey!

6 Nashville, Tennessee

Average Vacation Rental Rating: 4.60/5.00

“Absolutely LOVED this home away from home!! We actually stayed in Friday night instead of going to downtown Nashville just because we loved the house so much!!” – FlipKey Traveler

If you’re looking for world-class music venues, hearty Southern fare, and the chance to spot celebrities both on the stage and in the street, then Nashville is the Southern vacation for you. Take a stroll along the Music City Walk of Fame, check out the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, or attend a show at the iconic Grand Ole Opry. At the end of a music-filled day, retreat to the quiet of your beautiful Victorian home rental in Germantown, Nashville’s oldest neighborhood.

Our Top Activity Pick: Adventure Science Center

See all Nashville vacation rentals on FlipKey!

5 Fredericksburg, Texas

Average Vacation Rental Rating: 4.63/5.00

“This was a great location right in the middle of everything in historic Fredericksburg. A wonderful place to stay with hosts that make you feel like friends.” – FlipKey Traveler

Southern charm will sweep you off your feet in Fredericksburg. It’s located deep in the heart of Texas and is known for its hospitality, rich history, and thriving German traditions. A visit during August lends itself to lazy afternoons watching the grape harvest at a vineyard and warm evenings strolling at the county fair. If you can’t squeeze a trip to Fredericksburg in this summer, don’t fret! With bluebonnets blooming in the spring and Oktoberfest celebrations during the fall, this city is one of the best Southern vacations to take, no matter what time of year it is.

Our Top Activity Pick: National Museum of the Pacific War

See all Fredericksburg vacation rentals on FlipKey!

4 Louisville, Kentucky

Average Vacation Rental Rating: 4.74/5.00

“All the comforts of home. This was much better than a hotel. It was great to have easy access to our events, then drive back into a quiet neighborhood (with deer) in the evenings.” – FlipKey Traveler

With the annual Kentucky Derby spectacle, tasty mint juleps, and a variety of exciting attractions, it’s no surprise that Louisville makes our list of top-rated Southern vacations. Follow the city-wide “Urban Bourbon Trail” to award-winning micro-distilleries, each with its own unique offering of the city’s signature spirit. If you’re a baseball fan, check out the Louisville Slugger Museum, a celebration of the sport’s legends. Choose an historic home within walking distance of downtown, and you’ll never want to leave Louisville!

Our Top Activity Pick: KMAC Museum

See all Louisville vacation rentals on FlipKey!

3 St. Petersburg, Florida

Average Vacation Rental Rating: 4.84/5.00

“Paradise. This is the first time I ever stayed in a vacation rental—and I think I’ll never go back to hotels again. I felt the most not like a tourist on this vacation compared to others in the past.” – FlipKey Traveler

Known as the “Sunshine City,” St. Petersburg boasts an average of 361 days of sunny skies a year, making it a safe choice if you’re looking to spend your vacation days outdoors. Walk the waterfront for stunning views of Tampa Bay (and even a leaping dolphin or two!) or explore the century-old Sunken Gardens in the midst of this bustling city. One walk along the sugary-sand beaches, one dip in the crystal-clear waters, one stop at the Saturday Morning Market—that’s all it will take to fall in love with St. Petersburg.

Our Top Activity Pick: Great Explorations Children’s Museum

See all St. Petersburg vacation rentals on FlipKey!

2 Hot Springs, Arkansas

Average Vacation Rental Rating: 4.85/5.00

“It was the most gorgeous scenic retreat I could’ve asked for. A beautiful hidden gem, just like Arkansas itself!” – FlipKey Traveler

Set among an array of naturally heated springs, Hot Springs bubbles with adventure. From hiking and biking to fishing and kayaking, this Southern city speaks to outdoor enthusiasts. Climb to the top of Hot Springs Mountain to take in the majestic views, discover the beauty of Lake Catherine State Park, or spend a relaxing day at the lake. Book a Hot Springs vacation rental as your base to make exploring even easier during your stay.

Our Top Activity Pick: A Narrow Escape

See all Hot Springs vacation rentals on FlipKey!

1 Greenville, South Carolina

Average Vacation Rental Rating: 5.00/5.00

“Cozy place, perfect for two. Perfect for peace and quiet and restful relaxation.” – FlipKey Traveler

When it comes to Southern charm, Greenville offers an unforgettable dose. From outdoor concerts to annual street festivals, the city hosts more than 300 events annually, guaranteeing a good time is had by all. Saunter around downtown Greenville—ranked among “America’s Ten Best” by Forbes magazine—taking in the sights and tasting a variety of palate-pleasing cuisines from the more than 600 restaurants in town. This charming destination gets FlipKey travelers’ vote as one of the best vacation spots in the South to rent a summer house. Book a vacation rental here and enjoy all the city has to offer with the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains as your backdrop.

Our Top Activity Pick: Roper Mountain Science Center

See all Greenville vacation rentals on FlipKey!

The post 9 Great Southern Vacations For The Summer (Hold For Apple News) appeared first on The FlipKey Blog.

0 notes