Whiskey originates in Ireland and Scotland, where it was born from a medieval drink preferred by monks called aqua vitae.
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Unsurprisingly, whiskey was preferred by Irish and Scots who immigrated to the United States. Those who settled in Kentucky didn’t just bring the drink with them—they innovated a new type of whiskey: Bourbon.
Compared to other American variations, like rye and malt whiskey, bourbon is made from at least 51% corn and must be aged in a charred oak barrel. That barrel is what gives bourbon its iconically sweet profile. But the name comes from a county in Kentucky where distilleries took off in the late 1700s.
By 1840, the term bourbon was officially coined, becoming part of Kentucky’s identity. Today, you can explore the state’s penchant for unbeatable bourbon at its many distilleries. There’s even a bourbon trail for those who want to make a trip out of tastings.
But if you want to offload the work to local pros and guides, you can always book one of the many bourbon tours around Kentucky, from Lexington to Bardstown. Here are the tours to keep on your radar.
6 bourbon tours around Kentucky: whiskey tastings only
- B&C small group bourbon experience tour (Lexington): Personalize this full-day bourbon experience tour by hand-selecting your top three distilleries. Your guides will take you to each distillery where you can enjoy a tour and tasting. If your group is interested, you can also book luxury private transportation.
- Large-group bourbon tour across Kentucky (Lexington): This tour is run by Bourbon Bites Tours, which has a pre-arranged full-day tour option. You don’t need to pick from a list of distilleries—the team at Bourbon Bites has already put together a list of curated distilleries. Between tastings, you’ll get to learn plenty about the history of bourbon and bourbon production in Kentucky.
- Large-group bourbon tour with multiple stops (Lexington): This half-day tour lets you choose your top three distilleries from a list of over 15 options. Along the way, guides will teach you about how bourbon is distilled and give you the rundown on Kentucky’s Prohibition history.
- Craft Bourbon hidden distilleries tour (multiple pickups available): This full-day luxury tour pairs you with a bourbon expert who will take you to five hand-selected and hidden-gem-caliber distilleries around Kentucky. They’re on the Craft Bourbon Trail and specialize in what’s known as ‘craft bourbon’, letting you dig into the nitty-gritty of indie distillery projects.
- Downtown bourbon experience with multiple tastings (Lexington): If you don’t want to leave Lexington, head to this tasting experience at Fresh Bourbon downtown. You’ll learn the ins and outs of bourbons, from food and aroma pairings to how to build a killer cocktail using bourbon. Along the way, you’ll be treated to bourbon tales, tips, and tricks that let you walk away with a few drink-building skills.
- Spirits Distillery guided tour and tasting (Louisville): If you’re visiting Louisville instead of Lexington or Bardstown, which are near the Bourbon Trail, then book this bourbon experience. You’ll be welcomed into Spirits Distillery, a nano-distillery where you can taste small-batch bourbons. Between tastings, you’ll learn about the history and science of bourbon, too.
4 bourbon tours around Kentucky: tastings plus other activities
- Whispers on Whiskey Row ghost tour with tasting (Louisville): Learn about the ghosts of Louisville’s past, including true crime tales and legends. Along the way, you’ll get to stop at multiple bars downtown. There, you can sip on whiskey cocktails as you hear tales that don’t make it into the guidebooks.
- Phantoms of Prohibition tour with tasting (Louisville): Part whiskey tasting tour, part deep dive into the Prohibition era, this tour blends great cocktails with a riveting history lesson. You’ll also discover local haunts, including a speakeasy bar and a hotel that’s home to ghosts. Plus, this tour comes with small bites.
- Buffalo Trace & Kentucky Horse Farm premium experience (multiple pickup locations): If you love bourbon and horses, this unique experience lets you first explore the Buffalo Trace distillery, then the famous Kentucky Horse Farm. Both are premium experiences, taking you behind the scenes to see how each location operates. Think: the Bourbon Trail meets Lexington horse country.
- You can also take similar tours of Buffalo Trace & Churchill Downs or Maker’s Mark & Churchill Downs, in case you’d rather see the famed race track instead of the horse farm.
- Bardstown bourbon & food tour (Bardstown): You get three amazing offers when you book this tour. First: the chance to explore Bardstown, one of Kentucky’s cutest and most re-visitable small towns. Second: the chance to sip on world-class bourbon whiskey. Third: the chance to eat your way through Bardstown while sampling handcrafted eats and regional favorites. Pretty hard to beat, in my opinion.
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