Calling all group tour planners! Plan a one-of-a-kind group adventure along Kentucky’s iconic bourbon trails. With world-class distillery tours, tastings, and unique experiences, your group is in for the trip of a lifetime.
Kentucky is the birthplace of bourbon. It is much more than a drink here; it’s also a way of life. Kentucky makes 95% of the world’s supply, and we celebrate it here! Soak up its unrivaled spirited culture with a tour and tasting at world-famous distilleries, where you can learn how Kentucky’s signature spirit is made.
Stroll landscaped grounds, see masters at work, hear fascinating stories, and breathe in the “angel’s share.” You can even take cocktail classes to mix your own concoctions with the help of a spirit specialist.
Along with these exciting attractions and so many more, your group will be fascinated by the regional history, culture, and food they’ll experience along the way in Kentucky’s lively cities and charming towns.
All of this and more await in the Bluegrass State. Just take a look at some of these awesome group experiences!
· Discover the “First Family of Bourbon” at the James B. Beam Distilling Co. American Outpost in Clermont. Master distillers will guide your group around the distillery to sample their classic bourbons and new releases while detailing the distilling company’s storied past. Join a master distiller at The Kitchen Table restaurant for a Kentucky-inspired lunch paired with house spirits. Sample unique Beam and Noe family recipes in the 8 Generation Tasting Experience.
· In Louisville, Angel’s Envy Distillery invites groups to see the entire distilling process and sample premium whiskies and their signature chocolates. The Whiskey Roundtable tasting features a 30-minute educational tasting experience with three pours. Bottle your own Angel’s Envy Single Barrel Bourbon Finished in Port Barrels. Or learn to make your own Angel’s Envy concoctions by taking a cocktail class. Be sure to try libations from the seasonal cocktail menu at The Finishing Room bar while you’re there.
· You’re invited to two can’t-miss distillery experiences with Heaven Hill Distillery. In Bardstown, the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience features interactive exhibits, like the Family Gallery, 1935 Distillery Theater, and Elijah Craig Gallery, where guests learn more about the distillery’s rich history. Stop into one of three tasting rooms to sample award-winning bourbons.
· The Bourbon 101 exhibit gives you an inside look at the distillation process and Heaven Hill’s mashbills. Then, go for a cocktail on the patio at the on-site Five Brothers Bar. You can even taste, bottle, and personalize your own bourbon. Take your group to Louisville’s Whiskey Row for the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. Go for a one-hour guided distillery tour, including four bourbon tastings and a look at the distillery’s artisanal still. Head back to the days of Prohibition with the Speakeasy Tasting Experience, or learn recipes from legendary bartender Tom Bullock in the Ideal Bartender Experience.
· Louisville’s Frazier Kentucky History Museum is the official starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Along with trip-planning tools and trail maps, the trail’s Welcome Center features a detailed look at America’s only native spirit in The Spirit of Kentucky exhibit. Then, try the blind tasting experience with Flight Club or mix your own concoctions with the Craft Your Own Cocktail Experience. You can also book private tours and tastings for your group.
· Pair your distillery tour with a live concert at Log Still Distillery in Gethsemane. Tour the distillery and its grounds before tasting some of Log Still’s core spirits. Plan your visit around the events calendar at The Amp. This onsite concert venue hosts nationally touring acts on weekends, May through October.
· Lexington’s Distillery District is perfect for a lively night out. Anchored by three distilleries— Barrel House Distillery, James E. Pepper Distillery, and RD1 Spirit—the neighborhood is home to restaurants, bars, taverns, music halls and concert venues, a brewery, a cidery, an arcade, and so much more. This is the perfect stop to tailor your bourbon experience to your group.
Book your group’s Kentucky bourbon tour today! Be sure to contact local DMOs for group incentive programs.
Group travel contact:
Chenelle McGee
502.892.3232
kentuckytourism.com/group-travel
Top photo: Bourbon Women SIPosium
Photo by Kentucky Department of Tourism
