Kentucky is home to nearly 100 whiskey distilleries ranging in size, age, and production style. It would take a dozen trips to visit them all, and deciding on which ones to tour is tough. Instead of boasting a list of the best distilleries on the Bourbon Trail (like a lot of websites), I’m here to tell you the can’t miss whiskey distilleries in Kentucky.
There is no such thing as “the best whiskey distillery” or even a list of the best distilleries. Why? Because “the best” is a personal preference depending on what whiskey you like and what you want out of a distillery tour.
So instead of telling you what your preference should be — which no one should do, whether it’s the whiskey you’re drinking or the distillery you’re visiting — here are a few unique aspects or stand-out distilleries to see in Kentucky.
Can’t Miss Whiskey Distilleries in Kentucky
See an Iconic Pot Still at Willett
BARDSTOWN, KENTUCKY
There are several reasons why Willett Distillery is one of the can’t miss distilleries in Kentucky. First, the drive there takes you through the adorable, historic town of Bardstown that looks straight off a movie set. Beautiful houses, historical buildings, and cute stores line the streets.
Then you get to Willett’s campus, which includes half a dozen whiskey warehouses. There’s something eerie about them; maybe it’s the whiskey fungus lining them, or the industrial feel to the campus. Or maybe it’s just me! But then you get inside Willett and it’s beautiful. The visitor’s center has a fantastic gift shop and the Bar at Willett is a must.
Willett’s distillery tour takes visitors through a warehouse, historic bottling station, fermentation room, and of course to see that iconic pot still. It’s a trademark of Willett, and one of the few pot still whiskeys in Kentucky (alongside Woodford and Michter’s). But the best part of the tour is that you get to taste whiskey throughout it. Instead of waiting til the end to drink, you get to enjoy whiskey during the tour. And there’s something special about drinking whiskey in a warehouse full of barrels!
To my knowledge, Willett is the only distillery that serves whiskey during the tour. But if you know of any others, please let me know!
[Related :: Six Tips for Visiting the Bourbon Trail]
Walk Through History at Woodford Reserve
VERSAILLES, KENTUCKY
Nestled in between horse ranches in Versailles, Kentucky, is Woodford Reserve Distillery. What is known as the Woodford Reserve Distillery today started distilling in 1812. Not only is it one of the oldest distilleries in Kentucky, it’s one of the oldest working distilleries in the country. The name has changed over the years, and it hasn’t been continuously operated since then, but the campus is full of history.
Warehouse C, where 5,000 barrels of whiskey patiently mature, is one of the oldest working warehouses in the country. The bottling house, also on campus (and on the tour), dates to 1892. But the bottling line itself is much newer, with modern technology filling bottles and bottles of whiskey!
If the historical campus isn’t enough to draw you to visit Woodford Reserve, its iconic pot stills should be. Three beautiful pot stills stand in the distillation room, making Woodford’s triple-distilled whiskey. (Woodford is also distilled in column stills at the Brown Forman distillery Shively, Kentucky.) They alone make Woodford Distillery a distillery not to miss!
Another historical option: Buffalo Trace Distillery is the oldest continuously run distillery in the country, also on a huge campus. But tours at Woodford show much more of the distillery and whiskey-making process than Buffalo Trace. (Note: Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Tennessee received the country’s first distillery license.)
Check out a Modern Downtown Distillery at Angel’s Envy
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
While Woodford Reserve is on a huge campus in the middle of horse ranches, Angel’s Envy Distillery is the exact opposite: right in downtown Louisville. The modern distillery was built in just 2013, literally walking distance from Main Street’s restaurants and bars. Loosely modeled after a cathedral, the bright interior has high ceilings and lots of windows to show off the column still in the center of the building.
Even though it’s much smaller than many historical distilleries, Angel’s Envy bottles whiskey right on site. (Unfortunately whiskey matures in Henry Country, so you don’t see a warehouse of whiskey here.)
What Angel’s Envy lacks in history and size, it makes up with a pretty distillery and easy access.
Another downtown option: Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery, located right on Main Street in Louisville. But most of their whiskey is distilled and aged at their Shively distillery, so the tour is not as in-depth as Angel’s Envy. (But Michter’s offers a bottle-your-own option; see below.)
Taste New Make Spirit at Barton 1792
BARDSTOWN, KENTUCKY
Barton 1792 often gets overshadowed by its more famous Bardstown neighbors, but it’s one of the can’t miss distilleries in Kentucky. Not only is it free (just email/call to reserve), but it was the most in-depth, as close to hands-on tour we took during our Bourbon Trail Birthday Trip.
Situated on a campus dating back to 1879, Barton 1792 has 31 warehouses, 17 fermentation tanks, a bottling facility, grain storage, and a giant column still. It’s the world’s largest column still (6 feet wide and 55 feet tall), capable of processing 10,000 gallons an hour! The tour takes you right up to it, and — here’s the best part — guests can taste the new make spirit right off the still. It’s 143 proof, just shy of their 160-proof hand sanitizer!
Another unique aspect of Barton 1792 is Fermentation Tank Row. The 17 fermentation tanks sit outside so if one one fails, the mash flows outside and doesn’t ruin machinery in the distillery. It’s the only distillery in Kentucky with outside fermentation tanks, which are accessible by a single hallway. The tour takes you through the hall, where you can taste the mash! We tasted cooked, unfermented mash (before yeast is added). It was like cornbread batter: sweet and chewy.
To my knowledge, Barton 1792 is the only distillery in Kentucky allowing tastes of new make spirit and mash. However, tours are scheduled to stop in June 2022, so get there soon! Hopefully they’ll restart sometime in the future.
Bottle your own Whiskey at Michter’s Fort Nelson
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
Michter’s actually has two distilleries in Kentucky. Most of the whiskey is made and bottled in Shively on a 12.8-acre distillery campus that isn’t open to the public. But the second, much smaller distillery is right on Main Street in downtown Louisville.
Located in a former fort built in 1890, Michter’s Fort Nelson distillery has small versions of their pot still and fermentation tanks. They’re mostly used for experimentation, while also showing visitors the whiskey-making process. The tour is surprisingly informative considering how museum-like the distillery could come off, and the tasting includes an interesting comparison between different alcohol proofs.
But the highlight of Michter’s Fort Nelson is the bottle-your-own opportunity. I was able to bottle a single cask of Michter’s rye (54% ABV), including writing the labels and sealing the cork. Only a small number are available each day, so grab a spot early if you want to take one home.
Angel’s Envy and Heaven Hill also offer bottle-your-own experiences, with Heaven Hill offering several different whiskey options. But neither offer a single cask bottling like Michter’s.
Switch Things Up with Brandy and Gin at Copper & Kings
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
If you’ve had enough whiskey or just want to know how other spirits are distilled, head to Copper & Kings distillery in Louisville. Copper & Kings is known for their brandy, but they also make several types of gin, absinthe, and liquors.
Touring Copper & Kings is refreshing after seeing so many similar processes on the Bourbon Trail. There’s also a laid-back, unpretentious feel to it, too. Not to mention unique aspects! They “sonic age” their spirits, playing music in the warehouse to encourage micro vibrations. The day we were there, Nina Simone was blasting through the barrels (in celebration of her birthday).
The end-of-tour tasting is also a fun treat. Because so many spirits are made at Copper & Kings, the tasting includes a whole range of spirits. Most are only sold on site, so leave room in your luggage for a bottle or two of something unique. Or bottle your own gin for the ultimate souvenir.
If you don’t have time (or energy!) for another distillery tour, the on site restaurant and bar is an excellent alternative. Located on the distillery’s rooftop with a view overlooking the city, the creative cocktails and seasonal Kentucky cuisine.
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With almost 100 distilleries, there are dozens of other unique experiences and can’t miss distilleries in Kentucky. These are the ones that stood out to me. Let me know in the comments which distilleries and experiences were the highlights of your trip. I’d love to know!
Related :: Six Tips for Visiting the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky, 5 Surprising Facts About the Bourbon Trail, and more American Distilleries
