Bourbon’s Beating Heart: Exploring Bardstown’s Legendary Distilleries

February 11, 2025

If bourbon is your passion – or even just a casual curiosity – you’ll find yourself at home in Bardstown. Known as the Bourbon Capital of the World, this picturesque town offers more than a sip of history—it serves a full pour of heritage, innovation, and craftsmanship. Here, bourbon isn’t just a drink – it's a way of life steeped in rich history and vibrant stories that make every shared glass a truly memorable moment.


A Legacy of Family and Flavor at Willet Distillery


Perched atop a scenic hill in Bardstown, Willet Distillery is a jewel in Bardstown’s bourbon crown. Founded in 1936, this family-owned distillery has remained true to its commitment to small-batch bourbon that’s always crafted with care. Stepping foot into Willet feels like being welcomed into a family tradition, where warmth, craftsmanship, and a deep respect for bourbon shines through.

Known for their iconic pot still-shaped bottles and unique mash bills, Willet’s bourbons tell a story.  Whether you’re savoring the smooth Willet Pot Still Reserve or are a collector hunting for the elusive Family Estate Bottled series, you’ll find yourself appreciating their dedication to detail. The distillery’s intimate tours and tastings are a must, offering an up-close look at the magic behind the craft.


Learn more and plan your visit: https://www.kentuckybourbonwhiskey.com/ 


Honoring Tradition with 100% Pot Distillation at Preservation Distillery


For those seeking a true taste of the past, Preservation Distillery is a must-visit. This boutique operation is one of the few distilleries in the United States exclusively using 100% pot still distillation, a method steeped in history but increasingly rare in modern bourbon production. Walking through Preservation Distillery reflects a reverence for heritage, from their use of traditional techniques to their dedication to small-scale, high-quality output.


Their limited-release bourbons and ryes are packed with deep, complex flavors that harken back to the golden age of whiskey-making. Beyond the liquid, the distillery’s serene countryside setting and focus on sustainability make it a haven for bourbon lovers and eco-conscious travelers alike.


Discover their story: https://www.preservationdistillery.com/ 



Preservation Distillery


A Destination full of Bourbon Heritage 


Bardstown is more than a collection of distilleries; it’s a living, breathing tribute to bourbon culture. Beyond Willet and Preservation, visitors can explore a wealth of renowned names such as Heaven Hill, Maker’s Mark, and Bardstown Bourbon Company. Each distillery offers its own unique spin on Kentucky’s signature spirit, ensuring every visitor finds something to love.


The Bourbon Heritage Center, housed at Heaven Hill, provides a deep dive into the history and science of bourbon, while Bardstown Bourbon Company’s modern campus combines cutting-edge production with world-class dining. If you’re a true enthusiast, you can’t miss Bardstown’s annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival, where the town comes alive with tastings, events and a deep, shared love for bourbon culture.


For those planning a pilgrimage, the Bardstown Distillery Listings serve as the perfect starting point to fill your glass.


A Toast to Bardstown


In Bardstown, bourbon isn’t just made – it's celebrated. It’s a town where tradition meets innovation. With its legendary distilleries, trailblazing personalities, and unwavering commitment to craft, this unique Kentucky town offers a journey through the past, present, and future of America’s native spirit. 

Savoring Bourbon: The Best Pairings and Local Culinary Delights

April 24, 2025
Foodies and bourbon enthusiasts seeking elevated dining experiences find their bourbon-infused bliss in Covington, Frankfort, and Bardstown. Many restaurants and bars in these bourbon-centric cities showcase unique takes on pairing bourbon with meals, specialize in bourbon-infused menus, and feature dishes that amplify bourbon flavors. Additionally, these three cities offer bourbon experiences that bourbon lovers aren’t likely to find anywhere else. SIGNATURE SPINS In Newport, the team at Purple Poulet Southern Bourbon Bistro , led by Chef Rick Zumwalde, loves a good splash or three of bourbon in dishes like fried chicken and waffles with maple bourbon syrup, “Swanky” Shrimp-n-Grits with bourbon-cream pan gravy, hickory-smoked beef brisket with bourbon-peach jus, a Casino-style market catch with bourbon-bacon-maple broth, and bourbon mashed sweet potatoes. Likewise, the team at Beehive Augusta Tavern shows its unbridled enthusiasm for Kentucky bourbon by incorporating it into multiple dishes: bourbon-braised short ribs, bourbon carbonara, bourbon-glazed bone-in pork chops, bourbon-glazed salmon, a bourbon bordelaise burger, and honey bourbon fried chicken. Even sides like the honey bourbon bacon brussels get a dousing. At the Kitchen & Bar at Bardstown Bourbon Company (BBCo.), Kentucky’s first distillery-based restaurant, Chef Stu Plush likes to bring out bourbon tasting notes through various dishes. For instance, the menu suggests BBCo. Origin Series Bottled-in-Bond or Prohibited Paradise for country ham carbonara and BBCo. Origin Series Rye Whiskey or Feel the Heat for its Southern fried chicken. At HOC (House of Commons): A Bourbon Library in Frankfort, Founder and Proprietor Dave Sandlin brings encyclopedic knowledge to the bourbons he stocks. Additionally, this bourbon barkeep knows how to spin a good yarn. “Everyone has a story to tell, and every bourbon has a story to tell,” said Sandlin. “Our storytelling is the framework around the more than 315 Kentucky whiskeys we have on the shelf, why we have them, why each is special, rare, or different.” Visitors to HOC won’t find food and bourbon pairings (although Sanders is happy to share restaurant recommendations); this bourbon bar is about pairing bourbon to people’s palettes. “People come in and tell us what they like, and we formulate a taste profile for them,” said Sanders.

Bourbon Basics: How to Taste, Pair, and Enjoy Like a Pro

April 23, 2025
Planning your first distillery visit or considering a journey along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®? Bourbon has a built-in mystique and culture that might give the bourbon-curious and aspiring aficionados pause in taking that first step into the world of America’s Only Native Spirit. BOURBON 101 The variety of distilleries and their unique experiences may seem daunting, and terms like “nosing” and “Kentucky chew” baffling, but part of the fun of bourbon is in the learning. Beginners can get their feet wet in Frankfort at Buffalo Trace Distillery , with an intro to the history and science of bourbon, and at Castle & Key with an interactive Cocktail Therapy class to elevate sensory awareness. The Old Pogue Experience on Northern Kentucky’s The B-Line ® in downtown Maysville offers a different perspective, combining the Bourbon History Galleries, which delve into the 1791 Whiskey Tax Act Rebellion and Prohibition, with an (optional) tasting of an original Kentucky bourbon—Old Pogue Master’s Select. In the Bourbon Capital of the World, Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown gives an insider’s view of the bourbon making process from start to finish on its Grain to Barrel Tour, followed by an educational, guided tasting experience. Here is a guide to some bourbon basics that will help you look more natural than novice when sitting down to a tasting and will soon have you pairing like a pro.
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