Bardstown Bourbon Company
Bardstown Bourbon Company is a state-of-the-art distillery located in the heart of Bardstown, Kentucky. Tours at Bardstown Bourbon Company are designed to provide an optimal experience regardless of one’s bourbon knowledge. Their restaurant, Bottled & Bond Kitchen and Bar, is located on-site and offers an extensive food and drink selection. Bardstown Bourbon Company produces distillate for both themselves and other companies through their Collaborative Distilling Program. Bardstown bourbon company is located at 1500 Parkway Drive Bardstown, Kentucky.
Tickets/Scheduling
Bardstown Bourbon Company offers tours Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm. Tours range from $15 – $50 and can be booked online here. It’s recommended that you secure tickets in advance, as tours do book up quickly! While you’re at it, don’t forget to make your reservation to eat at Bottle & Bond Kitchen and Bar. You can do that here.
The Tour(s)
Bardstown Bourbon Company offers two different tours and an exclusive, limited edition tasting. The “Main Event Tour” is a classic distillery tour that lasts approximately one hour. The cost for this tour is $20 per person, and includes a tasting straight from the barrel. A more extensive tour called “Behind the Scenes” is a 1.5-hour tour given once per month by Nick Smith. The cost for this tour is $50 per person and sells out fast. The final is not a tour but a tasting experience that includes three distillery exclusive bourbons. This experience is offered multiple times a week for $15.
Tastings
Tastings for each tour level are different. The Main Event Tour includes a sample of bourbon straight from the barrel. This experience takes place in on of Bardstown Bourbon Company’s beautiful rick houses. The exclusive tasting experience includes three limited edition samples. If you are visiting the distillery and do not plan to participate in a tour, a complimentary tasting is available on the opposite side of the bar!
My Experience Touring the Bardstown Bourbon Company
Full disclosure, I didn’t take a standard tour. They were still going through renovations to finalize the tour space in the rick-house so our tour was modified a bit. I essentially did both the “Main Event Tour” and “Tasting Experience.” I also spent a good amount of time at the restaurant, once you are there you will understand why.
Arrival
It is always recommended to show up early to all distillery tours. For the tours at Bardstown Bourbon Company, I recommend arriving early because the campus is breathtaking and there is so much to see. Getting to Bardstown Bourbon Company early will allow you to grab a drink, check out their gift shop, put in a reservation for the restaurant, and participate in your complimentary tasting. All of this is accessible just steps from the tour check-in desk.
The Tour
The tour experience at Bardstown Bourbon Company is different than most. A headset is provided so that you can clearly hear the tour guide while walking around the distillery. This is a fully operational distillery so noise levels can be very high. You’ll quickly realize how modern and beautiful the distillery really is, both inside and out. Bardstown Bourbon Company maintains a tight and busy schedule, giving visitors the unique opportunity to get a glimpse behind the scenes of a large scale distillery. In the fermentation room, you will have the opportunity to see every step of the process in each of their 13 fermenting tanks. If you are on the Main Event Tour, you will take a stroll around the campus and end up in their rick house, which is adjoined by a tasting bar.
The Tasting
Like previously discussed, your selected tour or experience will determine the composition of the tasting. If you are on the main event experience you will receive a sample directly from a barrel. That is pretty cool, considering most distilleries do not provide their tour guests with this option. If you do the tasting experience, you will receive three distillery exclusive samples. However, if you are not on a tour, you can still enjoy a complimentary tasting while you are at the distillery.
The Restaurant – Bottle & Bond Kitchen and Bar
Make reservations before or after your tour to enjoy a meal at Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Bottle & Bond Kitchen and Bar. Their food is absolutely amazing! I started out with their grilled cheese and tomato bisque soup. While this item is located on their appetizer menu, it was easily the best-grilled cheese and tomato bisque soup I have ever had! I was so full from the appetizer that I skipped right to dessert. Dessert included milk and homemade cookies, which I paired with one of their famous boozy milkshakes! I suggest you make plans to stop at their restaurant more than once while you’re in Kentucky. There are so many things on the menu that you will be tempted to try them all.
Tips:
- Book tours and restaurant reservations in advance.
- Ask questions! The Bardstown Bourbon Company guides or “Spirit Specialist” as they call them, know their stuff! Each Spirit Specialist has a deep understanding of the bourbon making process and will be familiar with the history of Bardstown Bourbon Company.
- Did I mention to make reservations at their onsite restaurant? Ok, I just wanted to make sure you do not miss out on the amazing food selection. If nothing else, you do not want to miss out on their homemade cookies or boozy milkshakes
Bardstown Bourbon Company
1500 Parkway Drive, Bardstown KY 40004
Monday: Closed
Tues – Sun: 9:30AM–5PM
