Every distillery worth visiting — the official Kentucky trail plus the best American whiskey stops.
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is one of America's great road trips: rolling limestone-water country, centuries-old rickhouses, and tasting rooms where the state's signature spirit is still made the slow way. This is the complete checklist — the official Kentucky distilleries, the craft additions worth the detour, and the standout whiskey makers beyond Kentucky — so you can plan your trip and track every stop.
There are 18 distilleries on this list, including 11 in Kentucky. Print it, check them off, and don't lose track of which ones you've toured.
| Distillery | Location | Founded |
|---|---|---|
| Maker's Mark Distillery | Loretto, KY | 1953 |
| Buffalo Trace Distillery | Frankfort, KY | 1858 |
| Woodford Reserve Distillery | Versailles, KY | 1812 |
| Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center | Bardstown, KY | 1935 |
| Wild Turkey Distillery | Lawrenceburg, KY | 1869 |
| Four Roses Distillery | Lawrenceburg, KY | 1888 |
| Jim Beam American Stillhouse | Clermont, KY | 1795 |
| Distillery | Location | Founded |
|---|---|---|
| Willett Distillery | Bardstown, KY | 1936 |
| New Riff Distilling | Newport, KY | 2014 |
| Castle & Key Distillery | Frankfort, KY | Founded 1887, revived 2018 |
| Bardstown Bourbon Company | Bardstown, KY | 2014 |
| Distillery | Location | Founded |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Daniel's Distillery | Lynchburg, TN | 1875 |
| George Dickel Distillery | Tullahoma, TN | 1870 |
| Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey | Shelbyville, TN | 2017 |
| Distillery | Location | Founded |
|---|---|---|
| MGP Indiana (Lawrenceburg Distillery) | Lawrenceburg, IN | 1847 |
| WhistlePig Farm | Shoreham, VT | 2007 |
| FEW Spirits | Evanston, IL | 2011 |
| Mountain Laurel Spirits (Dad's Hat Rye) | Bristol, PA | 2011 |
Turn this list into a keepsake. The Triptyka Bourbon Trail Passport is a printable PDF with a checklist of every distillery, a detail page for each (with tasting notes and what to know before you go), suggested road-trip routes, and achievement badges to earn.
Get the Printable Bourbon Trail Passport — $9.99 on Etsy →Cluster by region. Group distilleries around Bardstown, Frankfort/Lexington, and Louisville to minimize driving. Book ahead. Popular tours sell out weeks in advance, especially in fall. Plan a driver. Tastings add up fast — line up a designated driver or a tour service. Go shoulder-season. Spring and early summer are quieter than the fall rush.
The official Kentucky Bourbon Trail features 11 core Kentucky distilleries, including Maker’s Mark, Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, and Jim Beam. Counting nearby craft distilleries and other great American whiskey makers, there are 18 stops worth visiting.
Most people spread the official trail across 3–4 days, clustering distilleries by region (Bardstown, Frankfort/Lexington, and Louisville). You can do a focused long weekend or take years of trips — which is exactly why a passport to track them works so well.
Bardstown, Kentucky calls itself the 'Bourbon Capital of the World' and sits near Heaven Hill, Willett, and Bardstown Bourbon Company. Louisville and Lexington are also popular bases with the most lodging and dining.
Yes — the popular distilleries (Maker’s Mark, Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve) book up weeks ahead, especially on weekends and in fall. Reserve tours before you travel.
A printable bourbon trail passport. The Triptyka Bourbon Trail Passport gives you a checklist of every distillery, a detail page for each with tasting notes, suggested road-trip routes, and achievement badges to earn as you go.