The Ultimate Bourbon Getaway: Bardstown, The Heart of Bourbon Country
Bourbon distillery tours, bourbon-centric lodgings, bourbon-infused dining, bourbon-inspired drinks—there’s no mistaking you’re in Bardstown, the Bourbon Capital of the World. But the epicenter of all things bourbon also has fun things to see and do for the non-tipplers in the party, including a buzzy shopping scene, outstanding museums, and sensational outdoor theater.
Tastings, tours and so much more
The best place to begin exploring is at a distillery or two. Bardstown is home to the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, featuring the Bottled-in-Bond Tour & Tasting, a 90-minute walking tour through two barrel aging warehouses—a traditional circa 1970s warehouse and a modern one built in 2021. Heaven Hill has the most awarded Bottled-In-Bond Whiskey Collection, and this tour takes visitors through a progressive tasting of its bonded portfolio while exploring the regulations of the Bottled in Bond Act 1897.
At Willett Distillery, guests on the Distillery and Production tour experience the Kulsveen family's approach to pot distillation, walk through the barrel filling station, and make their way through warehouses where the magic of maturation happens. Afterward, The Bar at Willett, a James Beard Award nominee, is an irresistible stopping point for guests wishing to enjoy a neat pour, classic cocktail, and elevated cuisine.
Sweet (bourbon) dreams
It’s fitting that, in the Bourbon Capital of the World, guest accommodations are steeped in character as bold as bourbon’s. The new and exquisite Trail Hotel, the world’s first and only bourbon-infused hotel, welcomes bourbon aficionados with elevated overnights in one of 95 guestrooms, including eight sumptuous, curated bourbon-themed suites. A four-star restaurant, three bars (including a speakeasy), distillery tours, and a team of Bourbon Butlers enhance the experience.
Another first? The award-winning Bourbon Manor Bed & Breakfast. The first bourbon-themed B&B in the world delights with its 10 antiques-laden guest suites, bourbon bar, spa services, and legendary gourmet China and crystal full country breakfast featuring bourbon-infused dishes. Couples can cuddle up in rooms named for classic bourbon cocktails, like the Hotty Toddy, and groups have the option of renting out the entire inn.
Another bourbon-centric option: The Vacation Rentals at Log Still Distillery. Couples have their pick of gorgeous suites tucked into the Homestead, Heritage House, and Poplar Cottage, while groups can stay at the roomy, three-suite Lodge at Log Still Distillery. Need more space? The luxe Mansion at Log Still Distillery has four bedrooms and bathrooms, plus a sitting room and three porches to enjoy the view.
Bourbon-inspired cocktails and cuisine
When it’s time to grab a bite, head to Mammy’s Kitchen and the Old Stable Sports Bar for the restaurant’s wildly popular bourbon burger. Made from a quarter-pound Angus beef patty, it’s soaked in a secret bourbon sauce and topped with lettuce, tomato, and deep-fried onion tanglers.
Match the decadence of the burger with an extravagant bourbon cocktail. Bar manager Robyn Thomas recommends Blowin’ Smoke, a black cardamom-infused Ezra 99 bourbon mixed with Amaro liqueur, pecan liqueur, tobacco bitters, and smoke—especially delicious when paired with Mammy’s delicious chocolate truffles.
At the Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Kitchen & Bar—site of one of Kentucky’s largest barrel-aged cocktail programs—bar manager Mara Hartings pours Old Fashioneds and Manhattans that have aged three to six months in a barrel. Prefer something sweeter? Order a seasonal boozy milkshake like Mexican chocolate or pumpkin spice made with custom ice cream and the company’s own whiskey.
Don’t miss dining in a place named for the structure that ages bourbon to full flavor: The Rickhouse Restaurant and Lounge plates entrées like slow-roasted chicken with bourbon barbecue sauce, porterhouse pork chops topped with bourbon apricot chutney and signature steaks in an atmosphere of warmly lit elegance—the perfect setting for sipping a bourbon flight.
Beyond bourbon
Yes, Bardstown is awash in bourbon—but this bustling burg has something for everyone. Shoppers will relish time spent downtown where independently owned boutiques like Peacock on Third with its colorful and curated women’s clothing and accessories and the Blind Shanty, stocking men’s apparel and so much more, crowd the streets just steps off Courthouse Square. Stop by the Candle Bar at Making Good Scentz to create a custom candle or pick up some heavenly-scented bath bombs.
History buffs can purchase one ticket for the four museums at Bardstown Museum Row. Explore the Civil War Museum and the Women’s Museum of the Civil War with its 8,000 square feet of exhibits, including nineteenth-century surgical field kits. At the General Hal Moore Military Museum, learn about conflicts dating back to the American Revolution. Stroll through the cluster of Colonial-era log structures at Old Bardstown Village.
History lovers who are also fans of live theater—particularly when it takes place under the stars—are in for a treat at My Old Kentucky Home State Park, where the home named Federal Hill shows off a breathtaking array of original antiques, decorative arts, paintings, and personal items. The 200-year-old manse rises from the gently rolling lawn and is a focal point of the splashy Broadway-style musical, “The Stephen Foster Story,” staged during summer months.
With world-class distilleries, unique accommodations, eclectic shops, and rich history, there’s something for everyone in Bardstown. Plan your visit today and experience the heart of Bourbon Country for yourself!
