Today I got home from a trip to Kentucky. I visited seven distilleries (toured them all), a brewery and a winery. Did tastings at them all, bought something from them all :-) and enjoyed myself mightily. I’ll have reviews of the trip in time, but here is a photo of the spoils.
First the liquid spoils:
From left: MB Roland’s Mint Julep, Alltech’s Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale (got a 4-pk), Heaven Hill’s Evan Williams (Mini) Mint Julep mix, Woodford Reserve’s Woodford Reserve (personalized label), Wild Turkey’s American Honey (mini), Wild Turkey’s Rare Breed (personalized label), Heaven Hill’s Even Williams 2001 Single Barrel (signed by the master distiller), Jim Beam’s Booker’s Bourbon (mini), Wildside Winery’s Bourbon Barrel Red, Jim Beam’s Basil Hayden (mini), Four Roses Small Batch, Buffalo Trace’s Bourbon Cream (think Irish Cream, but better-only available near the distillery), Jim Beam’s Knob Creek (mini), Maker’s Mark (wax-dipped by me, signed by the company presidents), Bluegrass Brewing’s Bourbon Barrel Stout (got a 4-pk), and Jim Beam’s Baker’s Bourbon (mini)
And then the Solid Spoils: I bought a glass from every distillery I visited (Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Wild Turkey, Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill-two from here, Four Roses and Woodford Reserve) and got a free shot glass from Old Talbott Tavern, a bar in Bardstown, for doing a Bourbon Sampler flight of five bourbons.
All in all it was fun. Only a couple minor hiccups. I’ll tell you about them later. But as of right now there are 7 distilleries between Lexington and Louisville that you can tour. As of next week there will be eight and as of next year there will be nine. Yes. I am certainly going back.