Why This Itinerary Works
There are over 60 distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, scattered across the entire state. Trying to see too many in one trip is the most common mistake people make — and it turns what should be a great experience into an exhausting slog of tasting rooms and highway driving.
This 3-day itinerary is designed around a simple principle: fewer stops, better experiences, less driving. You'll hit 7 distilleries across three geographic clusters (Louisville, Bardstown, and Frankfort), with built-in time for meals, exploring, and actually enjoying the bourbon you're tasting — not just rushing to the next tour.
I've done variations of this route multiple times. What I'm sharing here is the version I'd recommend to a friend making their first trip — the one that balances the bucket-list names (Buffalo Trace, Maker's Mark, Woodford Reserve) with a couple of standouts that most visitors miss.
Most of the distilleries on this itinerary require advance reservations. Buffalo Trace and Maker's Mark tours can sell out 6–8 weeks ahead, especially on Saturdays. Don't wait. See our complete booking guide for exact timelines and strategies.
Day 1: Louisville — Whiskey Row
Start your trip in Louisville. Whiskey Row on Main Street puts three excellent distillery experiences within walking distance of each other — no driving required on Day 1. This is the easiest day logistically and a great warm-up for the deeper trail days ahead.
Louisville — Whiskey Row
3 distilleries • Walking distance • Downtown Louisville
Evan Williams Bourbon Experience
Start here. It's the most affordable tour on Whiskey Row and gives a solid overview of bourbon history and the distilling process. The underground artisan still is a nice touch, and the guided tasting at the end is well-paced for early in the day. The cocktail lounge downstairs is worth lingering in if your next tour isn't until noon.
Lunch: Feast BBQ or Doc Crow's
Both are right on Whiskey Row. Feast BBQ is casual with excellent smoked meats. Doc Crow's has a deeper bourbon list and Southern-style dishes — their hot brown is worth trying. Either way, eat before your afternoon tours. You'll appreciate it.
Old Forester Distillery
This is the must-do on Whiskey Row. Old Forester has one of the best-designed modern distilleries in the country, and the tour takes you through the entire production process in a beautiful multi-story building. The "Bottle Your Own" experience is the standout if you're willing to spend more — you hand-fill and label a bottle straight from a barrel they've selected.
Angel's Envy Distillery
End your day at Angel's Envy. Their distillery is stunning — a restored industrial building with a rooftop bar that overlooks the Louisville skyline. The tour itself is polished and the port-finished bourbon tasting is a highlight. Book the "Finishing Touch" tasting if you want a deeper experience without the full tour.
Dinner: Proof on Main or Repeal
Proof on Main at 21c Museum Hotel is an experience in itself — contemporary Southern cuisine surrounded by rotating art installations. Repeal is the more bourbon-focused option with an outstanding cocktail program and an elevated bar food menu. Both have deep Kentucky bourbon lists. Make a reservation for either.
If you're staying in Louisville, book a hotel downtown within walking distance of Whiskey Row. The Omni Louisville and Hotel Distil are both solid choices and keep Day 1 completely car-free. This matters because you'll be tasting bourbon at three stops — and pacing matters more than people realize on Day 1.
Day 2: Bardstown — The Bourbon Capital
Day 2 takes you south to Bardstown, the self-proclaimed "Bourbon Capital of the World." It's about an hour from Louisville and is home to some of the trail's most iconic distillery experiences. This is the day most people remember the best — the scenery is beautiful, the distilleries are spread across rolling Kentucky countryside, and the experiences feel more immersive than the urban stops in Louisville.
You'll hit two distilleries today — which might sound light, but both involve longer experiences and more driving between stops. Trust the pacing.
Bardstown — The Bourbon Capital
2 distilleries • ~1 hr from Louisville • Rural Kentucky
Drive: Louisville → Maker's Mark (1 hr)
Head out early. The drive to Maker's Mark in Loretto takes about an hour and is one of the most scenic drives on the entire trail — winding roads through horse country. Stop for coffee at Quills in Louisville before you leave, or grab something on the way.
Maker's Mark Distillery
This is the postcard stop of the Bourbon Trail. The National Historic Landmark campus is genuinely beautiful — black and red buildings against rolling green hills, and a creek running through the property. The standard tour covers the full production process, but the real draw is the hand-dipping experience where you dip your own bottle in Maker's signature red wax. Worth every penny. Allow 2+ hours here.
Lunch: The Old Talbott Tavern, Bardstown
Drive 25 minutes to Bardstown and grab lunch at the Old Talbott Tavern — one of the oldest western stagecoach stops in America, operating since 1779. The bourbon menu is deep and the food is classic Kentucky comfort. Sit on the patio if the weather cooperates.
Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience
Heaven Hill's Bardstown visitor center is a newer facility and one of the best-designed experiences on the trail. The "You Do Bourbon" tasting is excellent — you taste through different grains, mashbills, and aging profiles to understand how bourbon gets its flavor. They also have the Evan Williams Single Barrel hand-bottling experience, which is a step up from the standard tour. Their gift shop has some of the best distillery-exclusive bottles on the trail.
Bardstown's town square is worth a walk — there are bourbon bars, shops, and the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History (free, small, but interesting). If you want a craft stop, Lux Row Distillers is minutes from downtown and does a great job with smaller-batch bourbons.
Afternoon Bonus: Log Still Distillery
If you still have energy after Heaven Hill, Log Still Distillery in nearby New Hope is one of the best craft additions to a Bardstown day. It's about 15 minutes south of town in the rolling countryside, and the vibe is completely different from the big-name stops — relaxed, uncrowded, and genuinely craft-focused. Their Monk's Road bourbon is excellent, and the property itself (a restored historic distillery site with a campus feel) is worth the short drive. It's also a smart pairing if you're staying in the New Hope area for the night.
Where to Stay Night 2
My recommendation: stay in the New Hope area, about 15–20 minutes south of Bardstown. You get countryside quiet, better value than downtown Bardstown hotels, and you're right next to Log Still if you want to visit in the late afternoon. It also sets you up for a clean drive to Frankfort in the morning.
The New Hope Bourbon Stop (Airbnb)
A bourbon-country Airbnb in New Hope — right in the heart of the trail, about a mile from Log Still Distillery and 15 minutes from downtown Bardstown. Great for groups, with the kind of countryside setting you came to Kentucky for. One of the better-located stays on the entire trail.
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Hampton Inn Bardstown
If you prefer a hotel, this is the reliable pick. Right off the main drag, free breakfast, and an easy launch point for Day 3. Not glamorous, but you're here for bourbon, not the hotel.
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Day 3: Frankfort — The Grand Finale
Day 3 sends you north to Frankfort, where the trail's most legendary distillery lives: Buffalo Trace. You'll also visit Woodford Reserve (technically between Bardstown and Frankfort) and finish with Castle & Key, a gorgeous craft distillery that's become one of the trail's best-kept secrets.
This is the day where your advance booking pays off. If you only pre-book one tour for your entire trip, make it the Buffalo Trace Hard Hat Tour.
Frankfort — The Grand Finale
2 distilleries • ~1 hr from Bardstown • Capital region
Drive: Bardstown → Woodford Reserve (45 min)
Another beautiful drive through Versailles (pronounced "ver-SALES" in Kentucky — locals will correct you). Woodford Reserve sits on a stunning creek-side property in the heart of horse country. The approach alone is worth the drive.
Woodford Reserve Distillery (optional)
Woodford is beautiful and the tour is well done — copper pot stills, stone aging warehouses, the whole picture-perfect package. However, it can feel similar to Maker's Mark if you did both. If you're short on time or toured-out, skip the full tour and just do the gift shop and tasting bar. They often have distillery-exclusive bottles. If you have the time, the "Corn to Cork" experience is their deepest offering.
Lunch: Serafini or Rick House (Frankfort)
Quick 25-minute drive into Frankfort. Serafini is an excellent Italian spot in downtown Frankfort — not what you'd expect in bourbon country, which is exactly why it works after two days of Southern food. Rick House is the bourbon-focused option if you're not ready to leave the theme behind.
Buffalo Trace Distillery
The crown jewel. Buffalo Trace is a National Historic Landmark and produces some of the most coveted bourbons in America — Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, Blanton's, and their namesake Buffalo Trace. The Hard Hat Tour is the one to get. It takes you into parts of the distillery most people never see, including the fermenting room and barrel warehouses. If you can't get the Hard Hat, the Trace Tour is the standard and still excellent. Ghost tours run seasonally and are a fun wild card. Budget 2+ hours minimum.
Buffalo Trace's gift shop sometimes has allocated bottles behind the counter that aren't on the shelves. It's always worth asking what they have available. Don't expect Pappy — but you might find Blanton's, Eagle Rare, or E.H. Taylor on a good day. Arrive early for the best selection.
Bonus Stop: Preservation Distillery
If you have time before heading home, Preservation Distillery in Bardstown is absolutely worth a visit. It's a craft distillery doing some of the best bourbon in the region — better, frankly, than what you'll find at several of the bigger names. The operation is smaller and more personal, so you're likely to meet the people actually making the whiskey. It's conveniently located on the route between Bardstown and Frankfort, so it doesn't add backtracking to your day. If you're staying in the New Hope/Bardstown area, you can easily hit this on your way out of town in the morning before heading to Frankfort.
Booking Strategy
This itinerary lives or dies on how well you book your tours. Here's the timing you need to know:
| Distillery | Book How Far Ahead | Difficulty | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Trace (Hard Hat) | 6–8 weeks | Hard — sells out fast | Free |
| Angel's Envy | 4–6 weeks | Hard on weekends | $25–$50 |
| Maker's Mark | 4–6 weeks | Moderate | $18–$75 |
| Old Forester | 2–4 weeks | Moderate | $20–$75 |
| Woodford Reserve | 2–4 weeks | Moderate | $20–$80 |
| Evan Williams | 1–2 weeks | Easy | $18 |
| Heaven Hill | 1–2 weeks | Easy | $20–$50 |
Booking order matters. Book Buffalo Trace first — the moment their calendar opens, grab your slot. Then Angel's Envy and Maker's Mark. The rest are easier to get. For a detailed breakdown of every booking window and calendar strategy, read our Complete Bourbon Trail Booking Guide.
What This Trip Costs
Here's a realistic breakdown for two people on this 3-day itinerary. I'm giving you two scenarios: budget-conscious and comfortable. Both assume you're driving your own car or a rental.
💵 Budget Trip (per person)
🏆 Premium Trip (per person)
Most people land somewhere in the middle — around $600–$800 per person for the full 3 days. The biggest variable is lodging (hotels vs. Airbnb) and how much you spend in gift shops. Those distillery-exclusive bottles add up faster than you'd think.
Transportation & Designated Driver
Let's address the elephant in the room: you will be tasting bourbon at multiple stops each day. You need a plan for this.
Option 1: Designated driver in your group. The simplest and cheapest approach. Rotate who drives each day (Day 1 is walking-only in Louisville, so everyone can taste). Most distilleries offer non-alcoholic options for the DD, and some give them a discount or free merchandise.
Option 2: Hire a driving service. Companies like Mint Julep Experiences and Louisville Bourbon Tours offer private driver services where they drive your car (or theirs) while you taste. Expect $400–$600/day for a private driver. Expensive, but it's the premium play for groups of 4+.
Option 3: Uber/Lyft — with caveats. Ride-sharing works in Louisville (Day 1). It does not reliably work in Bardstown or the rural stretches between distilleries. Don't plan around it for Days 2 and 3.
Kentucky takes DUI seriously, and the winding rural roads between distilleries are not forgiving. Pace your tastings (you don't have to finish every pour) and have a clear plan before you start the day. Your trip will be much better when nobody's stressing about driving.
Best Time to Go
September through November is the sweet spot. The weather is comfortable, the Kentucky countryside is gorgeous with fall foliage, and the bourbon festival season adds energy to the area. October in particular brings the Kentucky Bourbon Festival to Bardstown, though availability tightens and prices rise during that week.
April through June is the second-best window. Spring in Kentucky is beautiful, crowds are lighter than fall, and booking is slightly easier. Avoid Derby weekend in early May — Louisville hotels quadruple in price and everything is booked.
Winter (December–February) is the budget play. Fewer crowds, easier bookings, lower hotel rates. The tradeoff is shorter daylight hours and some outdoor elements of tours being less enjoyable. Some distilleries reduce their tour schedule in winter.
Summer (July–August) works but it's hot. Kentucky humidity is real, and some warehouses aren't air-conditioned. Bring water and dress light.
What to Pack
A few things people forget: comfortable walking shoes (distillery tours involve standing and walking on uneven ground, especially the Hard Hat tours), a light jacket or flannel (barrel warehouses can be cool even in summer), and a cooler for the car if you're planning to buy bottles — Kentucky gets hot and bourbon doesn't love sitting in a hot trunk. Closed-toe shoes are required for most behind-the-scenes tours.
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A printable step-by-step checklist with booking timelines, packing list, and daily schedules for this exact itinerary.
Get the Checklist →How to Customize This Itinerary
Have 4+ days? Add a day in Lexington — it puts Woodford Reserve and Buffalo Trace closer together and gives you access to the Urban Bourbon Trail bars plus horse country attractions. You could also expand the Bardstown day into two days, adding Log Still, Preservation Distillery, Lux Row, and Bardstown Bourbon Company for a deep craft distillery experience.
Only have 2 days? Cut Day 1 to one Whiskey Row stop (Old Forester) and combine it with the Bardstown day. Do Frankfort on Day 2. You lose some breathing room but still hit the highlights.
Traveling with non-bourbon-drinkers? Castle & Key makes excellent gin. Bardstown has shopping and history. Louisville has world-class restaurants and the Louisville Slugger Museum. Horse country tours near Versailles pair perfectly with the Woodford Reserve stop. This trip doesn't have to be bourbon-or-nothing.