Kentucky Bourbon Tours: Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, and More Waiting for You!

Whether you live in Kentucky or are visiting for a short amount of time, taking a bourbon tour is something you need to do! Take the legendary Kentucky Bourbon Trail through the heart of bourbon country to really understand what Kentucky is all about. Kentucky Bourbon Tours allows visitors to see Bourbon Country & directly experience how distilleries hand-craft Kentucky Bourbon.

Gold Shield Cars has been serving Bourbon Country for over 30 years with a fleet of more than 40 vehicles. We also have experienced chauffeurs who know Kentucky bourbon culture. Create a custom bourbon transport experience, with distillery tours, bourbon tasting, meals serving bourbon recipes, gift shops, and more when you explore our Bourbon Trails.

Here are some of our most popular stops:

The Jim Beam American Stillhouse

At the Jim Beam American Stillhouse in Clermont, Kentucky, you can walk in the footsteps of seven generations of bourbon master distillers and experience how the world’s best bourbon gets crafted. Visitors can take part in the production process, from mixing grains to bottling.

When you get hungry, look no further than Fred’s Smokehouse, located right next door. Enjoy Kentucky-style vittles and a great view of the foothills, but keep in mind that the café is closed in the winter. Other seasonal events, such as a lesson about the history of bourbon or private luncheons with the master distiller, have guests coming back frequently.

Until then, sip a cocktail at the Jim Beam Bourbon Bar before taking your Gold Shield transport back home!

Admission for a 90-minute tour is $14 for adults. Tours take place Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Make reservations at least two days before your visit and check in 15 minutes before your tour. You’re encouraged to make reservations in advance because tours fill up quickly. The distillery is a working site, so be aware that some operations may not be available for public viewing during specific parts of the year.

The Maker’s Mark Distillery

A large part of the Maker’s Mark Tour is outdoors amid Kentucky’s splendid scenery, and reservations are not required. You’ll find friendly guides who will guide you through the whiskey-making process. Look carefully and you may even catch a glimpse of the resident cat that supervises all activity at the distillery!

The tours, which take approximately an hour, are first-come, first-serve. Saturdays are the busiest tour day of the week. You may be waiting outdoors, which is where most of the tours take place. Be sure to wear comfortable seasonal clothing.

The Maker’s Mark Distillery is also home to the Star Hill Provisions restaurant. It’s here that you can enjoy locally-sourced lunch dishes complemented by signature cocktails. The restaurant is open for dinner on Saturdays from May-October, and the Distillery also hosts live music and candlelight tour events throughout the year.

If you’re over 21, you can even hand-dip your own bottle of Maker’s Mark bourbon!

Tours are $12 for adults older than 21. The distillery is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and on Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For groups of five or more people, buy your tickets online. Availability and tour times change with the seasons, so check the Maker’s Mark website for up-to-date information.

Wild Turkey

Wild Turkey in Lawrenceburg offers an award-winning visitor center with a sweeping view of the Kentucky River. The tasting room houses the distillery’s original copper still, and you can see a variety of Wild Turkey memorabilia on exhibit. If you’re lucky, you may see deer or real wild turkeys during your visit.

The Visitor’s Center houses the “Angel’s Room,” where you’ll sip a variety of Wild Turkey bourbons while enjoying the scenery. Before you leave, tour the museum-like gallery of Wild Turkey history, and then head to the gift shop for bourbon-related souvenirs of your visit.

The tour itself will guide you from the distillery to the rickhouse (the many levels that store stacked barrel racks), and then on to the barrel aging warehouse as you witness the “From Barrel to Bottle” process. Guests who are 21 years old and over may also participate in a tasting flight at the end of the tour.

Tours start at $10, and they’re free for members of the military. Available year-round, the tour can accommodate as many as 32 people. Make a booking reservation in advance; the Wild Turkey Bourbon Distillery will refund cancellations if made 48 hours in advance of the tour. The visitor center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays from March through December.

Contact Us Today to Book Your Kentucky Bourbon Tour!

Gold Shield Cars can give you a luxurious Bourbon Trails transport experience!

Let us be your chauffeur throughout this experience while you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the tour of a lifetime. We have an expansive fleet of vehicles that can accommodate any party size you may have. Our drivers offer top class service getting you to and from your destinations.

Visit our website or call toll-free 800-205-7330 for more information on the Bourbon Trails stops available.