Depending on how many distilleries are on your tour list for the day, consider making the trek to Bardstown, Kentucky, to tour the Heaven Hill Bourbon Distillery.
Only 90 minutes from Lexington, the Heaven Hill Bourbon Distillery and Bourbon Heritage Center awaits you. This tour on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is unlike many of the other distillery tours because you’ll be in the Bourbon Heritage Center, which is designed to imitate the inside of a bourbon barrel.
The Bourbon Heritage Center offers visitors two distinctly different tours.
The first is the Mashbill Tour, which tells the story of how bourbon became America’s whiskey and what role family-owned Heaven Hill has played in developing bourbon’s history and shaping its future. This tour takes you through Rickhouse Y for a discussion of the processes affecting Heaven Hill’s production and aging processes. At the end of the tour, you’ll sample three distinctly different Heaven Hill bourbons.
The Whisky Connoisseur Experience offers a more in-depth experience for the bourbon lover. You’ll begin with the history to better understand the nuances of producing characteristically fine bourbon. Heaven Hill will teach you about the four pillars of assessing quality bourbon. The keepsake glass is yours to take.
Heaven Hill also offers specialty tours and events; check their website for updates.
Unfortunately, no tours are available on major holidays, and guides host the last tour one hour before the Bourbon Heritage Center closes. Closing hours vary by day of the week and season.
Heaven Hill offers many American whiskeys including Evan Williams, Larceny, Elijah Craig and Parker’s Heritage Collection. Explore the offerings of barware and apparel at the gift shop, which also offers snacks if you need to grab a bite to eat.
If you’re short on time and can’t make it to Bardstown, try out the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience on Whiskey Row.
Either way, we’ll have your GoldShield transport waiting for you afterward.
