We are celebrating our 10yr anniversary in early December. Can't wait to be there. Just a Fri+Sun trip. Hopefully I will be able to see/grab couple of cool bottles.
Can't argue with this list. My one add would be Wilderness Trail. Beautiful campus, plus unique information on the tour due to their on-site lab for yeast development.
I’ve only gone to the bourbon trail once and loved it. This sounds like a great list to check out. I’m going to have to make a point to go there with my son and have him experience a really unique trip. It’s a great area to go on a motorcycle trip too, and that’s how I experienced it last time with a bunch of friends. Thanks for some suggestions from two people who know these distilleries very well.
Agree with the list. This is a great list to give to someone to ensure they won't leave unfulfilled. I'd add a smaller distillery to get some variety. The tour at Limestone Branch (Yellowstone) was incredible and there's a great chance you'll get to shoot the breeze with Steve Beam. They're yearly limited release is usually available in the gift shop as well, so you leave with an allocated bottle if you want too.
I went 2 weeks ago on a tour and mostly agree with your list. But...Evan Williams was unique and I got several bottles only available there. Bardstown was a very happy day too! That whiskey vault they have is amazing!!!
Do they make anything tough to find like Booker's or Baker's 13 for sale after a tour? Have a friend hitting up OF or Jim Beam soon and I want to tell him what to look for.
I would put Maker's Mark on any such list, due to the beauty of the campus, the history of the brand, and their innovations with regard to sustainable practices. Otherwise, great list!
We went to all 6 of these, plus Willett, on our 4 day Kentucky trip in 2019. Willett was our favorite for the awesome experience, but Michters was a close second. The one thing I hated about Stitzel-Weller, was they charged about a 30% markup on their own products in the gift shop when compared to a liquor store. Every other distillery had everything at normal retail.
Two that we had great experiences at when we went last year was Angel's Envy (in Louisville) and James Pepper (in Lexington). We thought Four Roses was beautiful, but the flavor profile doesn't hit us. Next trip we are probably going to do a tour at Old Forester (we just went in and had flights).
I agree with your list. Unless you’re going to do a top 20, it’s hard to get them all. I understand the fees distilleries charge, but a big plus is Buffalo Trace tours are FREE! Even with a tasting session at the end. If you cover BT visits in future videos, worth mentioning IMO.
Wow, great list, but how in the hell did you leave Maker's Mark off the list. I've been there many times and have never been disappointed, from the tours to dip your own bottle to the beautiful grounds and amazing gift shop. It's definitely on my list, for sure.
We were there recently and did 15 various tours. Standard tours got old, but we mixed up a bunch of different experiences. My favorite was Whiskey Thief. Very cool vibe. The tour is kind of an afterthought. You basically just stand around and drink from 5 different barrels. They are very generous with their pours and if you buy a bottle you get to fill it yourself using a thief. 100% recommended if you like barrel strength stuff.
This was my favorite place. excellent experience bottling my own. To pick the one I like the best I was able to sample more than once from a couple barrels. Then they helped with a small sample blind tasting.
I’ll be hitting the trail again mid July, really appreciate you guys sharing knowledge. Can you tell me if Michters has a bottle limit for purchase? Is it one per day? One Per month like Old Forester?
@@bourbonkingdom man that would be a bummer! I was really looking forward to that one. I was actually down there from Friday to Sunday of Derby weekend. (my first trip from WI)
Finally getting to plan a trip up there for Labor Day weekend. What’s the best way to figure out the distillery releases? Is it mainly a luck-of-the-draw thing or do they post to social media? I definitely want to visit Michter’s and 4🌹
@@bourbonkingdomyou mentioned in another video friends coming in from MI cause they know when a distillery is releasing a new bourbon. And Dave mentioned Uber Allocated Drops around 14min. ua-cam.com/video/ogAaO3sks0U/v-deo.html unless this was not a reference to anything 😢
OF has a nice tasting but the tour is meh I’m about done with HH, been there a few times and never seen a bottle I wanted I’m not the biggest Makers fan but their tasting after the tour is top notch Four Roses has a nice tasting after the tour BT had a fun tour but the tasting sucks Peerless is fun and has a good tasting
We recently went on a trip, and spur of the moment booked a Peerless tour. We had no expectations and absolutely loved that tour.
That tour is very interesting. They have a cool history. Not too mention, the whiskey is very...well...it has no peer.
Castle & Key was a great tour. They are renovating the old Taylor distillery and the grounds are fantastic.
The old fashion at SW was soo freaking good!
All great visits but of all the big guys I’ve visited I loved little Glenn’s Creek. Very intimate tastings and awesome bourbons, especially the OCD#5.
Makers Mark is one of my favorites
We are celebrating our 10yr anniversary in early December. Can't wait to be there. Just a Fri+Sun trip. Hopefully I will be able to see/grab couple of cool bottles.
Can't argue with this list. My one add would be Wilderness Trail. Beautiful campus, plus unique information on the tour due to their on-site lab for yeast development.
Last Feb. my took me to Old Forester tour. We were able to purchase Birthday Bourbon
I’ve only gone to the bourbon trail once and loved it. This sounds like a great list to check out. I’m going to have to make a point to go there with my son and have him experience a really unique trip. It’s a great area to go on a motorcycle trip too, and that’s how I experienced it last time with a bunch of friends. Thanks for some suggestions from two people who know these distilleries very well.
Two that I would add, Wilderness trail, for the science, Peerless for the history
Great video. Timing perfect, headed to KY this month. Thank you Gentlemen
Our pleasure!
Agree with the list. This is a great list to give to someone to ensure they won't leave unfulfilled. I'd add a smaller distillery to get some variety. The tour at Limestone Branch (Yellowstone) was incredible and there's a great chance you'll get to shoot the breeze with Steve Beam. They're yearly limited release is usually available in the gift shop as well, so you leave with an allocated bottle if you want too.
Limestone is a amazing place that we both love.
Love to tour BT one day. 9ish hours away though.
I went 2 weeks ago on a tour and mostly agree with your list. But...Evan Williams was unique and I got several bottles only available there. Bardstown was a very happy day too! That whiskey vault they have is amazing!!!
Very nice!
Thank you, very informative
I’m going later this year I can’t wait.
Really enjoyed this as I live in NKY and I’m down there as often as I can be.
I loves Jim Beam & their tour 🥃
Do they make anything tough to find like Booker's or Baker's 13 for sale after a tour? Have a friend hitting up OF or Jim Beam soon and I want to tell him what to look for.
I would put Maker's Mark on any such list, due to the beauty of the campus, the history of the brand, and their innovations with regard to sustainable practices. Otherwise, great list!
Great point!
We went to all 6 of these, plus Willett, on our 4 day Kentucky trip in 2019. Willett was our favorite for the awesome experience, but Michters was a close second. The one thing I hated about Stitzel-Weller, was they charged about a 30% markup on their own products in the gift shop when compared to a liquor store. Every other distillery had everything at normal retail.
Two that we had great experiences at when we went last year was Angel's Envy (in Louisville) and James Pepper (in Lexington). We thought Four Roses was beautiful, but the flavor profile doesn't hit us. Next trip we are probably going to do a tour at Old Forester (we just went in and had flights).
I agree with your list. Unless you’re going to do a top 20, it’s hard to get them all. I understand the fees distilleries charge, but a big plus is Buffalo Trace tours are FREE! Even with a tasting session at the end. If you cover BT visits in future videos, worth mentioning IMO.
BiB Tour at Heaven Hill is fantastic. Plus you get to do the tasting while walking through the Rickhouses.
Wow, great list, but how in the hell did you leave Maker's Mark off the list. I've been there many times and have never been disappointed, from the tours to dip your own bottle to the beautiful grounds and amazing gift shop. It's definitely on my list, for sure.
True. It's a mandatory visit!
It does have the prettiest grounds, with Castle and Key slightly behind
@@johnwood1014 we always go in December when they have all the Christmas lights and decorations up. Absolutely beautiful.
MM is a beautiful place in the fall and a great place to visit we definitely had them just right outside of the list with Bardstown Bourbon Company
Are the bourbons at the distillery retail priced or are they marked up like your local liquor stores?
We were there recently and did 15 various tours. Standard tours got old, but we mixed up a bunch of different experiences. My favorite was Whiskey Thief. Very cool vibe. The tour is kind of an afterthought. You basically just stand around and drink from 5 different barrels. They are very generous with their pours and if you buy a bottle you get to fill it yourself using a thief. 100% recommended if you like barrel strength stuff.
This was my favorite place. excellent experience bottling my own. To pick the one I like the best I was able to sample more than once from a couple barrels. Then they helped with a small sample blind tasting.
Peerless has a fun tasting that gives you a free sampling glass.
Give me a shout next time you come to A. Smith Bowman! I’ll be in y’all neck of the woods in a few weeks.
Much needed straight from the locals lol
Lol at Brent saying “don’t y’all already know” that’s when you know you hang out at distilleries too much
What can we say we are fans lol.
You forgot to mention Buffalo Trace puts out online what they’re selling for the day 45-75 mins before they open
Great point
I’ll be hitting the trail again mid July, really appreciate you guys sharing knowledge. Can you tell me if Michters has a bottle limit for purchase? Is it one per day? One Per month like Old Forester?
when is the Derby week haul video coming out?!
My guy I am trying the problem is half the audio is bad but if we can save it we will!
@@bourbonkingdom man that would be a bummer! I was really looking forward to that one. I was actually down there from Friday to Sunday of Derby weekend. (my first trip from WI)
Willett's distillery
Finally getting to plan a trip up there for Labor Day weekend. What’s the best way to figure out the distillery releases? Is it mainly a luck-of-the-draw thing or do they post to social media? I definitely want to visit Michter’s and 4🌹
i would go to Michter's everyday you are here. Same with 4 roses. Chances are high you will land something from both of them.
How’s wild Turkey distillery ? Never been
It's ok the problem is you can't tour it anymore but the updated gift shop is cool
You mentioned a few months back Uber Alloated Drops. Is this a Facebook group or a separate url? Can you add to the comments?
I am a little confused by what you are asking sorry bud.
@@bourbonkingdomyou mentioned in another video friends coming in from MI cause they know when a distillery is releasing a new bourbon. And Dave mentioned Uber Allocated Drops around 14min. ua-cam.com/video/ogAaO3sks0U/v-deo.html unless this was not a reference to anything 😢
OF has a nice tasting but the tour is meh
I’m about done with HH, been there a few times and never seen a bottle I wanted
I’m not the biggest Makers fan but their tasting after the tour is top notch
Four Roses has a nice tasting after the tour
BT had a fun tour but the tasting sucks
Peerless is fun and has a good tasting
Do you have to take a tour to get bottles?
Depends on the distillery. Like Zach said, you’re not guaranteed the cool bottles.
You missed Woodford Reserve
MM