TN and KY Whiskey/Bourbon Distillaries Trail/Tour

[Mr.G21]

Anyone done a few of them on a ride?  

I am in AL....drive past a few in route to Indy on biz now and then.  Went through TN and KY last week on a biz trip and said, dang....I need to map a few back roads up and back and make the ride a reality.  It would make a good theme for a trip, great pics and great scenery in TN and KY.

Jack, Jim, Makers Mark are my 3 main locations I want to hit.  

Advice, feedback or other bourbons to add??

[Cricket1]

I've thought about doing one in KY, but not being able to "sample the wares" would kinda suck. (No drinking and riding for me)

 A fair amount of them in KY are close enough together you could ride to the area, then take a "guided tour" in a limo etc. Rinse and repeat the next day, then ride home the next day?

[Mr.G21]

Oh yeah....you could do that, great idea.  No drinking and riding for me either.

You can't sample at Jack D's...dry county lol.  I was more interested in the destination and sights then the sampling, ha.  Plenty of my friends have been to 1 or 2 of them, no one has told me it was not cool, etc.

Few pics, maybe a souvenier from one of them and the ride to/from is my quest I think.

[kyzrex]

We roads the Bourbon Tour, as part of ESTN meet, a few years back.  It was over a Memorial Day weekend, so most of the distilleries were closed and couldn't go in.  Still was a fun ride, with lots of back roads, past some very cool horse farms.  I've also been to Jack Daniels in Lynchburg, Tn.  ( in fact I was down there just 2 weeks ago).......ditto for it.  Nice back roads down to it, depending on how you come.  When I was down there last time I ran into a pretty big group of bikes, mostly cruisers, that had ridden back roads up from Alabama.  I'm not a whiskey drinker, so I don't miss not being able to sample the wares, but they are still some very cool places to see, and to ride to.

[MrsCablebandit]

Add Buffalo Trace to your tour and pick up a bottle of bourbon cream liqueur. You can thank me for the suggestion after you've had your first sip. The stuff is amazing!!!  

[mxvet57]

Add Buffalo Trace to your tour and pick up a bottle of bourbon cream liqueur. You can thank me for the suggestion after you've had your first sip. The stuff is amazing!!!  

Lush  

[stromgal]

I'd recommend the Labrot & Graham distillery where they make my fave, Woodford Reserve. Very old distillery, lovely grounds, excellent tour. It's south of Frankfort on twisty road 1659. $5 tour, don't go on Sunday if you want to taste.  

[kyzrex]

By the way......


www.kybourbontrail.com

[motormike]

I've thought about stopping at Jim Beam or other distilleries and even making a stop at Louisville Slugger for a bat if I'm ever in the area.  I'm not sure how I'd strap a Louisville Slugger to the bike, though.  

[R Doug]

Great thread.  I've been researching this area as Sheri and I may be visiting it in the next few years as our vacation (on a Ural, I hope!).  

Anyhow, I have a question:  are the distilleries airconditioned?  We may be doing this tour in July and if we're on a bike, I am curious as to what (if any) relief we would get on the tours from the heat.  I am assuming the distilleries are air conditioned but the warehouses for the barrels are not (for obvious reasons).

FWIW, I would add a visit to Keeneland ( http://www.keeneland.com/ ) to catch a race.  I read it's a great place to check out.

Thanks.

[Cablebandit]

None of the ones I visited were as I recall.  Most of the time the tasting room is air conditioned.

[R Doug]

None of the ones I visited were as I recall.  Most of the time the tasting room is air conditioned.

So, a fall trip this will be.  

[kyzrex]

I am pretty sure,that any that have a gift shop or tasting room would have those facilities air conditioned.  The working areas are most likely not.

[stromgal]

On my first trip to the area, I toured several distilleries in July, when the temps were in the 90s and the dewpoints in the 70s. It was pretty miserable... on one tour I remember staying in the limestone cave where the water was sourced.  

[Cricket1]

On my first trip to the area, I toured several distilleries in July, when the temps were in the 90s and the dewpoints in the 70s. It was pretty miserable... on one tour I remember staying in the limestone cave where the water was sourced. 

Yup, I'd think a trip either in early spring, or fall would be best.   June, July or August?

[Guy]

Yup, I'd think a trip either in early spring, or fall would be best.   June, July or August?

C'mon, 90+ with high humidity is not that bad  

I haven't been to all the distilleries on your list, but Makers Mark is one of the neatest places I've been, and I don't even drink. Rustic, quiet, and there are some great road is the area if you know where to look. You can see the dipping line (where Maker's get the was top) and even did your finger in on of the mash vats.

Jim Beam is not near as cool, very factory-esque, with the original Beam house, a large gift shop, and that's about it.

If you decide to hit up the Slugger Museum, you could park the bike and make a day of it in downtown Louisville. The Slugger Museum, the Muhammad Ali Museum, and the Frazier History Museum are all about three blocks apart. Don't let the Frazier Museum's website fool you, most of the exhibits are the history of personal weapons through the years, mainly European and American, with some interesting traveling exhibits

You could even stay at 21c while in Louisville.

[Cablebandit]

Jump in:



Or just dip a finger in:



The smell in the aging barns is intoxicating.  

[DeansZG]

   Include a stop at the Four Roses distillery as well...fourrosesbourbon.com ‎  It's located west of US127 about 6 miles south of Lawrenceburg.
  The wife & I had this little old lady( reminded us of Dr. Ruth) giving us the tour & she was very animated( prolly looped ) in her narration of the tour.  
  A couple of yrs. ago, the Ky legislature voted to allow the distillery to finally be able to sell the product stateside, but ONLY in the state of Kentucky. Up until that time, it was for export only....

[vfrrider]

Better take your dual sport if you're going to visit thm all, and warn the "proprietors" before going down those trails. They have been known to shoot "revenuers".

Larry
VFRrider

[Kneescrubber]

I've thought about stopping at Jim Beam or other distilleries and even making a stop at Louisville Slugger for a bat if I'm ever in the area.  I'm not sure how I'd strap a Louisville Slugger to the bike, though.  

I once transported 2 cases of Shiner Bock and 2 quarts of Chuy's chili con queso on my R80ST from Austin to Phoenix using nothing but bungee cords.

It can be done.  

[Stargzrgrl]

Add Buffalo Trace to your tour and pick up a bottle of bourbon cream liqueur. You can thank me for the suggestion after you've had your first sip. The stuff is amazing!!! 

 

[Mr.G21]

I'm pretty sure that is illegal in 34+ states......just naughty  

[servicerifle]

I did it several years ago.  No "twisties" but the curves are great if taken at "go to jail speed." LOL.  Pretty much the whole area is dry, and the distilleries are serious about not giving samples.  Bring your own.  I still recommend the tour.

[motociclista]

I can also recommend the Makers Mark and Woodford Reserve tours. More scenic, less industrial than some of the others. Of course it has been many years since I did that tour.

http://books.google.com/books?id=EPsDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA29&dq=American+Motorcyclist+Bourbon+Trail&hl=en&sa=X&ei=_IyIUKLlHsa50AG-pYDYAQ&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=American%20Motorcyclist%20Bourbon%20Trail&f=false.

[HoosierFZ1]

Done the tour in the car and on the bicycle, never on the motorcycle. I'd suggest using the bicycle maps and directions uses more back roads. http://kybourbontrail.com/biketrail/
I have to agree with others Beam was my least favorite, really liked Four Roses, Woodford, and Makers.

[R Doug]

Done the tour in the car and on the bicycle, never on the motorcycle. I'd suggest using the bicycle maps and directions uses more back roads. http://kybourbontrail.com/biketrail/
I have to agree with others Beam was my least favorite, really liked Four Roses, Woodford, and Makers.

Most excellent information.  Thanks.

[Paco23]

Great thread.  I've been researching this area as Sheri and I may be visiting it in the next few years as our vacation (on a Ural, I hope!).  

Anyhow, I have a question:  are the distilleries airconditioned?  We may be doing this tour in July and if we're on a bike, I am curious as to what (if any) relief we would get on the tours from the heat.  I am assuming the distilleries are air conditioned but the warehouses for the barrels are not (for obvious reasons).

FWIW, I would add a visit to Keeneland ( http://www.keeneland.com/ ) to catch a race.  I read it's a great place to check out.

Thanks.

With the Non-airconditioned distilleries and wanting to visit Keeneland at the same time....  You are in luck.  Keeneland only operates (runs races) in April and October.

Give me a heads up, as I live in the area and I really enjoy the bourbon tours and LOVE to hit Keeneland.  I would be most happy to tag along or guide.

[R Doug]

Give me a heads up, as I live in the area and I really enjoy the bourbon tours and LOVE to hit Keeneland.  I would be most happy to tag along or guide.

Keeneland is a MUST for the wife and me.  

Currently, our plans are to save up for a Ural and take the tour in a hack.  

[dolomoto]

I stopped by Four Roses on the way to Indy. The free tour was interesting had a tasting at the end and we got to keep the glass.



This year, I rode up to Makers Mark and had a great trip. The tour cost $7 and was a bit longer than Four Roses and had a tasting of three things at the end. Sadly, most of the tour group did not taste more than one or two of their offerings. No free glass.  

[Mr.G21]

Well, summer is here and the time is right......for taking that tour.

I'm gonna take a day ride up to Lynchberg next weekend or the following to knock that off the list.  Trying to organize my ride up to Ky this summer.  I think I am gonna slab it up on a Fri, do as many as I can on Sat and take a long backroad ride back on Sun.

Even though it will be hot, I think this is just gonna be a fun theme ride.

[Mac]

Well, summer is here and the time is right......for taking that tour.

I'm gonna take a day ride up to Lynchberg next weekend or the following to knock that off the list.  Trying to organize my ride up to Ky this summer.  I think I am gonna slab it up on a Fri, do as many as I can on Sat and take a long backroad ride back on Sun.

Even though it will be hot, I think this is just gonna be a fun theme ride.

HWY129 west of Lynchberg is very nice.