Guide to Bourbon in Bardstown, Kentucky
Settled in 1780, Bardstown in Kentucky’s 2nd-oldest city. It is the county seat of Nelson County.
Bourbon & Distilleries in Bardstown
A total of 11 distillery experiences are located within 16 miles of downtown Bardstown: Bardstown Bourbon Company, Barton 1792, Heaven Hill, Log Still, Lux Row, Old Samuels, Preservation Distillery, and Willett, plus Jim Beam American Stillhouse, Limestone Branch, and Maker’s Mark.
Bardstown Bourbon Company is a modern distillery that produces a variety of bourbons and offers a unique visitor experience.
Barton 1792 is known for its historic distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, producing high-quality bourbon since 1879.
Heaven Hill, located in Bardstown, is one of the largest independent family-owned and operated distilled spirits producers in the US, with a wide range of bourbon brands.
Log Still Distillery is a family-owned distillery with deep roots in Kentucky's bourbon history and a focus on crafting premium spirits.
Lux Row Distillers is a family-owned company in Bardstown that produces various bourbon brands, including Rebel Yell and Blood Oath.
Preservation Distillery is a craft distillery in Bardstown focused on producing small-batch, high-quality bourbon.
Willett Distillery, located in Bardstown, is a family-owned distillery with a long history of producing premium bourbon and rye whiskeys.
Jim Beam American Stillhouse, located in Clermont, Kentucky, is the home of the world's best-selling bourbon, offering visitors an in-depth look at the distilling process.
Limestone Branch Distillery is a craft distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky, producing a range of spirits, including the popular Yellowstone bourbon.
Maker's Mark is a historic distillery in Loretto, known for its handcrafted bourbon and iconic red wax seal.
Fun Facts about Bardstown
- Bardstown was named “The Most Beautiful Small Town in America” in 2012 by USA Today and Rand McNally.
- More than 300 buildings in Bardstown are on the National Register of Historic Places, with nearly 200 in the downtown district.
- The Stephen Foster Story has been entertaining audiences at the J. Dan Talbott Amphitheatre at My Old Kentucky Home State Park in Bardstown since 1959.
- My Old Kentucky Dinner Train has been hosting bourbon tours since 1988. The Bardstown railroad was originally constructed in 1860; the dining cars were built in the late 1940s after World War II.
- The Old Talbott Tavern was built in 1779 and is located just off the Courthouse Square in historic downtown Bardstown. It is the oldest restaurant in Kentucky.
- Bardstown is “The Bourbon Capital of the World” and an official trailhead of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
