Kentucky, US (Bourbon)
No globetrotting spirits trip would be complete without a stop off in the southern US state of Kentucky, the home of Bourbon. Finger-licking food aside, of which there is plenty, Kentucky had 68 distilleries as of 2018 (Kentucky Distillers’ Association), compared to just eight in 2009. The vast majority offer some form of tour and the chance to sample a number of different Bourbons.
As declared by the US congress in 1964, Bourbon is America’s only native spirit, and must be made with a minimum of 51% corn, aged in charred new oak barrels, stored at no more than 62.5% ABV and bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV.
Key distilleries/brands: Bulleit, Old Forrester, Buffalo Trace, Angel’s Envy, Maker’s Mark, Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, Woodford Reserve, plus many many more.
Where to go: Hire a car and take a trip along the Bourbon trail, pinging between Lexington, Louisville and Bardstown. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail, a tourism body created in 1999 by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, offers a snapshot of the best spots to visit, pinpointing distilleries, tastings, workshops and restaurants to explore, and provides a neat road map for those visiting.
Nearly all distilleries, especially the larger ones, offer tours, and you’d be hard pressed to have a bad experience. However those with a particular draw include the Four Roses distillery, which is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places thanks to its Spanish Mission-style architecture, while the Stitzel-Weller distillery is jam-packed with history being the location where Pappy Van Winkle (Pappy’s) was originally produced.
Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve and Jim Beam also offer slick tours, but don’t forget the smaller distilleries too. Castle and Key distillery in Frankfort is based inside a castle.
The James E Pepper distillery in Lexington was originally founded by the family behind Woodford Reserve, but shut down in the 1950s. It reopened to the public in 2018, and is a focal point for exploring the bustling downtown distillery district in Lexington (along with the Barrel House distillery), which is home to restaurants, shops and bars.
Outside of Bourbon, get on your bike and take in the Kentucky countryside and explore its forests, gorges and lakes. There’s plenty to see.
Source: Spirits Business Tequila
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