Design Your Dream Bourbon Trail Adventure

For the traveler who desires sophistication and personally designed itinerary, there is nothing like a private custom bourbon trail tour to give you an up close and personal taste of Kentucky’s world famous bourbon heritage. Unlike typical group tours, customized excursions cater specifically to individual interests, ensuring whiskey enthusiasts can dig deeper into the history, science and art of our native spirit. Whether it’s your first foray or you’re a seasoned aficionado, curating your own bourbon-trail agenda guarantees an immersive experience that aligns with your own pace, interests and whiskey-flavor profile.

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail was created in 1999 by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association and now features more than 40 distilleries throughout the state. These range from world-renowned breweries to smaller craft producers. With more than 11 million barrels of bourbon aging across the state (that’s more than two barrels for each of Kentucky’s residents), Kentucky is still home to the world’s bourbon-making heart. Though not for everyone, guided group tours are the choice of many travelers however private custom bourbon trail tours offers a more personal, flexible and in-depth experience. These tours are usually hosted by local experts or master guides who can arrange behind-the-scenes access, private tastings and exclusive barrel selections not offered on public routes.

One major advantage of going the custom route is your ability to cherry-pick the distilleries you visit. Some travelers might want to concentrate on heritage brands with recipes that date back centuries and grand rickhouses, while others will be eager to visit boutique distilleries experimenting with grist, finishes and fermentation techniques. This same degree of personalization applies to pacing, as well so guests can spend extra time at select stops or opt to pair their visit with culinary offerings, including bourbon and food tastings, chef-prepared lunches, and mixology lessons.

Intermittent between these treks, a number of independent custom bourbon trail tours include unique educational facets to enrich the enjoyment of the spirit. For Paxton, those have included comparisons of bourbons based on age, mash bill or barrel treatment that visitors taste together during a guided tasting. Others might include a course in nosing and sensory analysis, equipping guests with the tools to detect the essence of vanilla, caramel, oak and spice — flavors that are the result of the barrels of charred American oak in which bourbon is required, by U.S. law, to be aged at least two years (though most are aged for much longer). Kentucky’s distinctive, limestone-rich water is another key ingredient, and many private tours feature a trip to natural springs or the water used in the production process.

Geography is a key as well, in a well thought-out bourbon adventure. Kentucky’s pretty countryside has so much more beyond the distilleries. Most tourists take such tours for unparalleled opportunities to experience the culture and history, vising old towns, horse farms and Civil War sites along the way. Louisville, Lexington and Bardstown are great central locations from which to build a customized multi-day itinerary. All provide convenient access to top bourbon distilleries and accommodations, dining and culture to make your visit complete. Whether you want to glide through horse country, visit architectural gems or sip a sunset on the riverfront, the region’s bounty makes it simple to elevate your trip beyond the tasting glass.

So in summary, if you are someone who wants to enjoy the best bourbon tour possible, a private custom bourbon trail tour is ideal. And they provide freedom to discover Kentucky’s bourbon culture at your own pace and experiences that can’t be found on traditional tours. As bourbon continues its ascent in popularity across the globe, there’s no better way to experience the birthplace than your own customized trek through bourbon’s birthplace, experiencing for yourself the spirit of Kentucky—or should we say, story?