Bourbon Trail On A Whim

I have just decided to visit Woodford Distillery today. I have been in Kentucky for a few months now and I am ashamed to say I have not been to any of these distilleries. If I make a day of it can anyone recommend a restaurant. Is Woodford too far for today? Should I go to Makers Mark instead?

I have just decided to visit Woodford Distillery today. I have been in Kentucky for a few months now and I am ashamed to say I have not been to any of these distilleries. If I make a day of it can anyone recommend a restaurant. Is Woodford too far for today? Should I go to Makers Mark instead?

Madeline,

There are 3 or 4 very interesting restaurants in the town of Midway...not too far down the road from Woodford. They all seem to keep pretty conservative hours, thus we've never been able to try any of them (just haven't hit it at the right time) but the menus posted in the windows look very good.

I loved the tour at Woodford (And of course, the samples at the end )

Woodford is an easy drive and maybe 45 minute drive. Holly Hill Inn is in Midway and excellent. They also run a more casual concept called Wallace Station, also in Midway. There is a small food concession at Woodford's visitor center that is catered by Wallace Station - I think. Woodford is a nice tour. I can also highly recommend Buffalo Trace in Frankfort and Four Roses, about 20 minutes away from Frankfort. Wild Turkey lacked a lot of charm, very industrial feeling. I really love Maker's Mark and it has tons of charm, really pretty property, but it is a long drive.

We love the Bourbon Trail!

Thank you!

Might just be the tour guides I have had, but on both of my trips to Woodford, I felt like I learned something both times. When I asked questions, I felt like I was given a "proper" answer. I didn't find Maker's tour very informative at all. I asked some questions about the difference between the original and 46, and it sure seemed the tour guide wasn't really wanting to deviate from the "standard" tour to answer my questions. The Maker's tour, at least on weekends, is odd because they go in "geographical" order and not "bourbon" making order. You see the bottling plant before they discuss the warehouses. Odd.

Also have been to Heaven Hill. I got tired of them reminding me of their "family" ownership while at the same time naming off the many labels they own. Seemed hard for them to give a tour because they couldn't focus on just one bourbon. That's what is great about Woodford. They tailor the whole tour around that one bourbon while also talking about how they make small batches and single barrels.

I am biased since I work at Brown-Forman, but Woodford is easier to get to than most of the other distilleries. Maybe a 5 minute drive off Versailles Road through beautiful horse farm country. You really have to want to see Makers - which you should - to drive there. Also, in Tennessee, Jack Daniel's is off the beaten path, but the setting and the little town of Lynchburg are a pleasant surprise.
The Heaven Hill folks are a family owned business and have a presence both in Louisville and the Bardstown area. Brown-Forman still has a lot of family members involved and is locally owned. Of course, huge contributors to the city of Louisville as is Heaven Hill.
Both companies have spirits that are made here in Louisville. Heaven Hill's distillery in Louisville is next to our main campus; our distillery is in Shively. I hope some day BF opens parts of their operation to the public. Most of the buildings on campus are beautifully refurbished. The building I am in looks like it was made the same time by the same people who built what was now the Mellwood Arts Center.
Bundle a trip to Woodford with Keeneland when racing begins in the Spring.