Planning on taking a group of dudes from work to a bourbon tour. We'll be taking a day off on a week day to make the better tours available. Location don't matter, just want to keep it in Kentucky, for obvious reasons. What are the best bourbon tours you have been on? Why?

My current shelf consists of Old Bardstown Estate Bottled, Forrester's 1920, Woodford, Basil Hayden, Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond, and Blanton's.

I'd rate the Blantons as #1, 1920 as a close second, Basil as third, a tie between Bardstown and Heaven Hill, and last place is Woodford.

 

Woodford used to taste so much better to me a couple of years ago. Not sure if my taste buds have changed over time or the quality of the product has dropped off. I don't hate it, but there are just better bourbons out there for me.

Planning on taking a group of dudes from work to a bourbon tour. We'll be taking a day off on a week day to make the better tours available. Location don't matter, just want to keep it in Kentucky, for obvious reasons. What are the best bourbon tours you have been on? Why?

 

We did Beam, Heaven Hill and Maker's in a day. No complaints.

Planning on taking a group of dudes from work to a bourbon tour. We'll be taking a day off on a week day to make the better tours available. Location don't matter, just want to keep it in Kentucky, for obvious reasons. What are the best bourbon tours you have been on? Why?

 

Most charge now for tours and many take reservations. Buffalo trace and Barton are about the only free tours left. Depending on the tour times, you could do buffalo trace and woodford reserve, plus maybe the new castle and key ($30 per person though and you don't even get to taste their bourbon, just vodka and gin mixed drinks).

Make sure all the places you are going are actively distilling if it's this time of year. Many don't in the summer due to the heat, they use the time for maintenance/construction.

A really cool tour would be Kentucky cooperage in Lebanon, ky, then limestone branch nearby, then makers mark. Getting to see the barrels being made is eye opening.

Wild turkey and four roses are close and good tours. You could maybe get in Wilderness Trail in Danville also.

Of course, going to bardstown would give you all kinds of choices. I would not recommend Heaven Hill as you just get to see their rickhouses as they distill in Louisville ( I think) and truck the new make to bardstown to be barreled.

Most charge now for tours and many take reservations. Buffalo trace and Barton are about the only free tours left. Depending on the tour times, you could do buffalo trace and woodford reserve, plus maybe the new castle and key ($30 per person though and you don't even get to taste their bourbon, just vodka and gin mixed drinks).

Make sure all the places you are going are actively distilling if it's this time of year. Many don't in the summer due to the heat, they use the time for maintenance/construction.

A really cool tour would be Kentucky cooperage in Lebanon, ky, then limestone branch nearby, then makers mark. Getting to see the barrels being made is eye opening.

Wild turkey and four roses are close and good tours. You could maybe get in Wilderness Trail in Danville also.

Of course, going to bardstown would give you all kinds of choices. I would not recommend Heaven Hill as you just get to see their rickhouses as they distill in Louisville ( I think) and truck the new make to bardstown to be barreled.

 

That is correct about HH. All distilling is done at the Bernheim plant on the edge of downtown L’ville. Barreling, bottling and aging are all in Nelson Co.

 

Their tour is an interesting and informative tour with a deep historical focus, and the tasting room is always fun.

Bought bottle of New Riff, pleasantly surprised. Definitely enjoy it.

 

I'm with you there. Just bought two bottles two weeks ago, but did not take the tour.

I'm with you there. Just bought two bottles two weeks ago, but did not take the tour.

 

Definitely exceeded my expectations. I’m about 1/3 through it. I’ll be restocking when this one gets close to empty. Plus, I’m a Newport boy so it’s only I support it.

I'm a displaced Cake Eater who was in town for a reunion. I'll make sure to visit the distillery to replenish, and maybe take the tour, next time I'm in town.

 

The staff bartender gave us a song and dance how the water they use comes from an aquifer that reaches back into the mountains, and that they were luckily able to tap into it. No Ohio River water was used in the making of this bourbon. I'm, uhh, skeptical. But it is a fine product.

I'm a displaced Cake Eater who was in town for a reunion. I'll make sure to visit the distillery to replenish, and maybe take the tour, next time I'm in town.

 

The staff bartender gave us a song and dance how the water they use comes from an aquifer that reaches back into the mountains, and that they were luckily able to tap into it. No Ohio River water was used in the making of this bourbon. I'm, uhh, skeptical. But it is a fine product.

 

What mountains are they tapping into? Lol I was unaware of any mountains in Newport.

I have to say, for $15, Heaven Hill 6 year old Bottle in Bond is surprisingly good.

I have to say, for $15, Heaven Hill 6 year old Bottle in Bond is surprisingly good.

 

The white label? Good stuff and a regular go-to for me. But I think it’s a 4yo.

Bourbon is cheap in Iowa. The Hy-Vee down the street from my mom’s sister’s place has Evan Single Barrel for $20.

The white label? Good stuff and a regular go-to for me. But I think it’s a 4yo.

 

Yes, white label, green lettering. Says 6 years old on it. It is indeed good! I will be buying more of it! :thumb:

Yes, white label, green lettering. Says 6 years old on it. It is indeed good! I will be buying more of it! :thumb:

 

For $12 to $15, it can't be beat. A staple bourbon at the Windage estate.

I was pleased to see Elijah Craig small batch in a 375 ml bottle.