The postcard stop of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail — a National Historic Landmark with rolling hills, a creek-side campus, and the famous red wax hand-dipping experience that everyone remembers.
Maker's Mark is one of those rare places that lives up to the hype. The campus is a National Historic Landmark set on a quiet stretch of Hardin's Creek in Loretto — about an hour south of Louisville and 25 minutes from Bardstown. Black and red buildings against rolling green hills, limestone creek running through the property, and an unhurried pace that feels intentional.
What sets Maker's Mark apart from other big-name distilleries is the hand-dipping experience. You can dip your own bottle in Maker's signature red wax, label it, and take it home. It's genuinely fun and makes for a great souvenir or gift. This is the experience that sells out — the standard tour usually has more availability.
Plan to spend at least 90 minutes here, longer if you do the hand-dip. The grounds are beautiful for walking, the gift shop is well-stocked, and there's a relaxed quality to the campus that rewards slowing down. Don't rush this one.
The standard tour covers the full production process from grain to bottle across the historic campus. You'll see the fermenting room, still house, and aging warehouses. Includes a tasting at the end. A quality tour that checks every box.
This is the one everyone talks about. After a tour of the distillery, you hand-dip your own bottle in Maker's signature red wax, sign it, and take it home. It's personal, fun, and makes for a unique keepsake. Books out faster than the standard tour — reserve 4–6 weeks ahead.
Their most in-depth experience. Covers the history, production, and tasting in greater detail. Smaller groups and more interaction with guides. Worth it if you want the full story and don't mind the higher price.
Maker's Mark is moderately competitive for booking. The standard tour usually has availability within 2–3 weeks, but the hand-dipping experience sells out 4–6 weeks ahead, especially on Saturdays. Weekday availability is significantly better.
Walk-ups: Maker's Mark does sometimes accommodate walk-ups for the standard tour, especially on weekdays. Their gift shop and grounds are open even without a tour reservation, so it's still worth stopping by.
The Maker's Mark gift shop is solid. Standard bottles are at MSRP. The real draw is the Private Select single barrel picks — exclusive bottles only available at the distillery that are selected by their team from individual barrels. They're typically $70–$90 and are a step up from the standard offerings.
Merchandise-wise, the red wax theme carries through everything — glasses, ornaments, apparel. The Maker's Mark branded Glencairn glasses are a popular and affordable souvenir.
Maker's Mark is a must-visit for the campus alone — it's the most photogenic distillery on the trail. The hand-dipping experience elevates it from great to unforgettable. Book the hand-dip if you can, but even the standard tour on these grounds is worth the drive. Put this on Day 2 of your trip and plan lunch in Bardstown after.
Address: 3350 Burks Spring Rd, Loretto, KY 40037
Hours: Monday–Saturday 9:30 AM – 5 PM, Sunday 11:30 AM – 5 PM
Parking: Free, large lot. Rarely an issue.
Kids: Allowed on tours, no tasting under 21.
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Maker's Mark Distillery is featured in our 3-Day Bourbon Trail Itinerary. See the full day-by-day route for how it fits with nearby stops.