Bardstown Bourbon Company

The most modern, sophisticated distillery in Bardstown. A state-of-the-art facility focused on transparency, innovation, and a one-of-a-kind collaborative distilling program — plus an excellent on-site restaurant.

🏇 Official Bourbon Trail
Location
Bardstown, KY
Booking
Moderate
Tours
$25–$80
📅
Book Ahead
2–3 Weeks
Tour Length
60–90 min
🏆
Our Rating
8.5 / 10
📍
Region
Bardstown

What to Expect

Bardstown Bourbon Company is the most modern distillery on the trail. Everything about it feels contemporary — open spaces, clear glass walls, and a design philosophy built around transparency. You can see the entire production process from almost anywhere in the building.

What makes BBC unique is their collaborative distilling program. They produce bourbon for other brands and companies, which means they're making more different styles of whiskey than almost any other single facility. The tours lean into this — you learn about how different mashbills, yeast strains, and barrel treatments create wildly different bourbons.

The on-site Bottle & Bond Kitchen and Bar is one of the best restaurants in Bardstown — excellent food with bourbon pairings in a stunning setting. Worth building a meal here into your Day 2 schedule.

Tour Options

Discovery Tour

Solid Option

Tour the state-of-the-art facility with a focus on their modern approach to bourbon production. Includes a tasting. Clean, well-run, and visually impressive.

💰 $25
60 min
📅 Book 1–2 weeks ahead

Behind the Barrel

★ Top Pick

A deeper experience with barrel-room access, extended tasting, and more detail on their collaborative program. Smaller groups. The best way to understand what makes BBC different.

💰 $60–$80
90 min
📅 Book 2–3 weeks ahead

How to Book

BBC is moderately competitive — more so than most Bardstown distilleries because of the restaurant traffic. Book 2–3 weeks ahead for weekend tours. Weekdays are easier. Their Louisville tasting room is a separate experience and much easier to book.

Booking Method
Website
Best Experience
Behind the Barrel ($60–$80)
Cancellation
24hr notice
Walk-Up Chance
Low–Moderate

Gift Shop

Well-curated gift shop with their own brands (Fusion, Discovery, Origin series) plus collaborative releases. Prices reflect the premium positioning — expect to spend more per bottle than at Heaven Hill or Jim Beam. The limited releases and collaborative bottles are the most interesting buys.

Our Honest Ratings

Tour Quality
8.5
Value for Money
7.2
Campus & Grounds
8.8
Gift Shop
7.8
Booking Ease
6.5
Crowd Level
6.0

The Bottom Line

Bardstown Bourbon Company is the most forward-thinking distillery on the trail. If you're interested in the future of bourbon rather than its past, this is your stop. The collaborative distilling concept is genuinely unique, the facility is stunning, and Bottle & Bond is an excellent restaurant. Pair with Heaven Hill for a complete Bardstown experience — history meets innovation.

Practical Info

Address: 1500 Parkway Dr, Bardstown, KY 40004

Hours: Monday–Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM, Sunday 12 PM – 5 PM

Parking: Free, large lot.

Nearby & Pair With

📍 Itinerary Fit

Bardstown Bourbon Company is featured in our 3-Day Bourbon Trail Itinerary. See the full day-by-day route for how it fits with nearby stops.