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Kentucky Bourbon Trail Distilleries

The complete guide to every distillery worth visiting on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Filter by region, booking difficulty, and type — each with honest ratings and insider tips from someone who's been.

Region
Type
Booking Difficulty
Showing 14 distilleries
Buffalo Trace Distillery
9.2
Frankfort, KY
The most iconic distillery on the trail. Home to Pappy Van Winkle, Blanton's, and Eagle Rare. Free tours, National Historic Landmark, and the hardest booking to get.
Free tours Hard booking Official Trail
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Maker's Mark Distillery
9.0
Loretto, KY (near Bardstown)
The postcard stop of the Bourbon Trail. National Historic Landmark campus with the signature red wax hand-dipping experience. Beautiful grounds, creek-side setting.
$18–$75 Moderate booking Official Trail
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Angel's Envy Distillery
8.8
Louisville, KY (Whiskey Row)
Stunning restored industrial building with a rooftop bar overlooking the Louisville skyline. Port-finished bourbon tasting is the highlight. Most polished experience on Whiskey Row.
$25–$50 Hard booking Official Trail
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Old Forester Distillery
8.9
Louisville, KY (Whiskey Row)
One of the best-designed modern distilleries in the country. Multi-story tour through full production process. The "Bottle Your Own" experience is the standout premium offering.
$20–$75 Moderate booking Official Trail
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Woodford Reserve Distillery
8.7
Versailles, KY
Postcard-perfect campus in horse country. Copper pot stills, stone warehouses, creek-side setting. "Corn to Cork" is their premium deep-dive. Can feel similar to Maker's Mark.
$20–$80 Moderate booking Official Trail
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Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience
8.5
Bardstown, KY
Newer facility with one of the best-designed visitor experiences on the trail. "You Do Bourbon" tasting is the best educational experience available. Great gift shop with distillery exclusives.
$20–$50 Easy booking Official Trail
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Evan Williams Bourbon Experience
7.8
Louisville, KY (Whiskey Row)
Most affordable tour on Whiskey Row with a solid bourbon history overview. Underground artisan still and guided tasting. Good starter tour — cocktail lounge downstairs is a nice bonus.
$18 Easy booking Official Trail
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Wild Turkey Distillery
8.3
Lawrenceburg, KY
Perched on a Kentucky River bluff with dramatic views. Jimmy Russell, the longest-tenured master distiller in the world, still works here. Modern visitor center with solid tours.
$15–$45 Moderate booking Official Trail
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Jim Beam American Stillhouse
7.5
Clermont, KY (near Bardstown)
The world's best-selling bourbon brand. Large campus with multiple experience options. Standard tour is solid but not distinctive. The "Urban Stillhouse" and Knob Creek experiences are the upgrades worth considering.
$16–$75 Easy booking Official Trail
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Four Roses Distillery
8.1
Lawrenceburg, KY
Beautiful Spanish Mission-style distillery — architecturally unique on the trail. Known for their 10 distinct bourbon recipes. Relaxed vibe, smaller crowds, and a very knowledgeable team.
$10–$30 Easy booking Official Trail
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Log Still Distillery
8.4
New Hope, KY
One of the best craft additions to a Bardstown day. Restored historic distillery site with a relaxed campus feel. Monk's Road bourbon is excellent. Uncrowded and genuinely craft-focused.
$15–$35 Easy / walk-up Craft
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Preservation Distillery
8.6
Bardstown, KY
A craft distillery doing some of the best bourbon in the region. Smaller, more personal operation where you're likely to meet the people actually making the whiskey. Outstanding bourbon quality.
$15–$30 Easy / walk-up Craft
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Castle & Key Distillery
8.3
Frankfort, KY
Beautifully restored pre-Prohibition distillery with stunning sunken garden and stone architecture. Excellent gin and growing bourbon program. Outstanding cocktails on-site.
$15–$30 Easy / walk-up Craft
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Lux Row Distillers
8.0
Bardstown, KY
Modern craft facility minutes from downtown Bardstown. Home to Ezra Brooks, Rebel, and Blood Oath. Clean, well-designed tasting room with solid smaller-batch bourbons.
$15–$40 Easy / walk-up Craft
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