Destination Distilleries: Why Bourbon Lovers Are Flocking to Bardstown, Kentucky

As the Bourbon Capital of the World®, Bardstown, Kentucky, is home to a distinguished collection of world-famous distilleries, as well as a number of newer craft distilleries. Many of them offer complimentary tours, allowing you to discover the craftsmanship and tradition of the state’s signature spirit.

Here’s our guide to a few of Bardstown’s must-see distilleries, along with our favorite places to eat, sip and stay in this uniquely Kentucky town.

Bardstown Bourbon Company™

Set on 100 acres of active farmland, this American whiskey and bourbon destination experience features a state-of-the-art distillery, vintage whiskey library and a unique educational experience. Specialty tours, cocktail classes and limited-edition tastings take you behind the scenes of the distilling process and show you how to make the perfect bourbon cocktails. End your visit with a meal at The Kitchen & Bar, which offers expertly crafted cocktails and superb food in a hip, modern setting.

Lux Row Distillers™

One of Bardstown’s newest distilleries, Lux Row blends timeless craft and modern innovation to create some of Kentucky’s most regarded bourbon brands, including Rebel Yell®, Ezra Brooks®, David Nicholson® and the highly regarded Blood Oath series. With a 43-foot custom copper still, six barrel warehouses and the capabilities to produce three million gallons of spirit a year, Lux Row Distillers is a must-see.

Willett Distillery

Independent and family-owned since 1936, the historic Willett Distillery specializes in handcrafted, small-batch and single-barrel selections of distilled spirits. Visitors to its historic property can choose from more than a dozen different tour and tasting experiences, including access to specialty products like the elegant Willett® Pot Still Reserve. Round out the experience with The Bar at Willett, the distillery’s elegant onsite bar and restaurant, which serves seasonally inspired small plates alongside classic cocktails and their modern interpretations. (But be sure to call ahead for reservations.)

Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience

Both the whiskey novice and the connoisseur can discover something new at the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, where guests can learn about the history and production of bourbon before ending their visit with educational tastings at a bar housed inside a giant barrel. Phase I of a $17.5 million renovation and expansion project to the center was completed in late 2019 and features three beautiful tasting rooms representing key parts of the Heaven Hill story that overlook Heaven Hill’s main campus of rickhouses for spectacular views of bourbon country. Phase II, which was completed in 2021, included an enhanced and interactive visitor experience, as well as a hip rooftop bar and restaurant.

Preservation Distillery

Pot-distilling in the smallest 1-3 barrel batches, Preservation Distillery and Farm is a hidden treasure. This craft distillery, relatively new to the bourbon scene in Bardstown, is the region’s first and only 100% pot-distilled producer in Nelson County. Take a tour of the beautiful grounds and distillery and finish with a taste of their premium product. Don’t forget to walk over and say hi to the award-winning livestock on property!

More Destination-Worthy Distilleries

These six esteemed distilleries in Bardstown proper are only the beginning. True bourbon aficionados will want to pay a visit to other nearby landmarks, including Maker’s Mark Distillery, where they can hand-dip a bottle of Maker’s Mark® Bourbon in the brand’s iconic red wax, and the James B. Beam Distilling Co, where they can walk in the footsteps of seven generations of master distillers.

Enjoy Classic Southern Dining

Bardstown’s picturesque downtown features a vibrant food scene offering old-fashioned Southern classics. Try Kurtz Restaurant, where they’ve been dishing up home-cooked, skillet-fried staples since 1937, and Mammy’s Kitchen, where locals enjoy flavorful plates like bourbon pork chops in a relaxed atmosphere. Be sure to checkout the downtown scene, namely Scout & Scholar Brewing Co., a craft brewery. This brewery offers up to 20 of their own brews as well as upscale food emphasizing local ingredients.

Stay at the Historic Talbott Tavern

Built in 1779, the historic stone building is one of the oldest western stagecoach stops in America and, as such, welcomed a parade of visitors ranging from kings and presidents to pioneers and renegades. Overnight rooms are named after famous (or infamous) guests of the Tavern, including Abraham Lincoln, Daniel Boone and Jesse James, and are furnished with period antiques and modern amenities.

Modern Accommodations With Small-Town Charm

If rumors of ghostly sightings get you spooked, Bardstown offers plenty of newer accommodations as well. Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express and, the Fairfield Inn & Suites are also options in Bardstown, each with modern amenities and the friendly service you’ll come to expect from this welcoming town.

Experience the Official Bourbon Celebration of Kentucky

Now in its third decade, Bardstown’s annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival is the authentic and original experience, attracting some 50,000 visitors from across the U.S. and around the world.