Lesson From the Road

I have plenty of other thoughts to share about bourbon and the industry based on
what I've learned over the past couple of years, but I wanted to get these trip tips
written down while they were still fresh in my mind.

We recently returned from another Bourbon Trail adventure, and every visit
seems to teach us something new. Whether it's planning distillery tours more
efficiently, discovering hidden gems, or learning small details that make the
experience even better, I picked up several practical tips that I wish I had known
before earlier trips.

If you're planning your first Bourbon Trail visit—or even your fifth—I hope these
suggestions help you make the most of your time in Kentucky.

• Find a great place to stay. Frankfort is centrally located to many of the
  distilleries, making it an ideal home base. We found a wonderful Airbnb that we
  keep returning to, and it has become the perfect launching point for our bourbon
  adventures.

• Visit the big-name distilleries, but don't skip the small ones. There are so
  many distilleries to explore. This was our fifth trip to Kentucky, and while we
  always revisit a few favorites, we also made time to discover some smaller
  distilleries that were well worth the visit. For the first time, we visited Lexington
  and really enjoyed RD1 Spirits. They specialize in finishing bourbon with different
  types of wood, which made for a unique and fascinating tasting experience.

• Take the tour. We've taken many distillery tours over the years—from the free
  tours at Buffalo Trace to some of the more expensive experiences. This trip,
  however, we enjoyed our best tour yet at Wild Turkey. We took the Russell's
  Immersion Tour, led by Bo Garrett, and it was informative, engaging, and one of
  the highlights of our trip.

• Talk to strangers. I've said it before: the marketing team at Buffalo Trace are
  marketing geniuses! Day after day, they convince grown men and women to
  happily wait in line for bourbon. As strange as that may sound, the wait often
  becomes one of the best parts of the day. Standing in line creates the perfect
  opportunity to strike up conversations with fellow bourbon enthusiasts. Over the
  years, we've met so many interesting people and made memorable connections
  through our shared love of bourbon.

• Take the road less traveled. Kentucky is a beautiful state, and many distilleries
  are located in picturesque settings. Thanks to a wrong turn suggested by Google
  Maps, we accidentally discovered much of the countryside while driving from one
  distillery to another. The interstate is the fastest route, but you'll miss the rolling
  green hills, white fence-lined pastures, winding rivers, and horse-dotted
  landscapes that make Kentucky so memorable. Taking the scenic backroads just
  added to the adventure of this trip.