Bourbon Trail
Encyclopedia
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail (sometimes informally shortened to "the Bourbon Trail") is a program of the Kentucky Distillers' Association (KDA) to promote the bourbon
industry in Kentucky
.
The KDA has registered the phrase Kentucky Bourbon Trail as a trademark.
, joined the Trail program. However, the Tom Moore Distillery was then purchased by the Sazerac Company
the following year, and at the end of that year both the Tom Moore Distillery and the Buffalo Trace Distillery
, which was also owned by the Sazerac Company
, withdrew from the KDA. The two Sazerac distilleries continue to host public tours, and a Sazerac spokesperson stated that they still feel that they are "very much a part of the Bourbon Trail", but stated that Sazerac wishes to promote its distilleries independently of the KDA.
" which has been stamped by all the participating distilleries.
The six current trail members are:
Bourbon whiskey
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey – a barrel-aged distilled spirit made primarily from corn. The name of the spirit derives from its historical association with an area known as Old Bourbon, around what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky . It has been produced since the 18th century...
industry in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
The KDA has registered the phrase Kentucky Bourbon Trail as a trademark.
History
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail was launched in 1999 by the KDA. At the time, it included seven of the eight distilleries in the region. In 2008, an eighth distillery, the Tom Moore DistilleryBarton Brands
Barton Brands, Ltd. was a company that produced many distilled spirits and liquors. In 2009, it became part of the Sazerac Company of New Orleans....
, joined the Trail program. However, the Tom Moore Distillery was then purchased by the Sazerac Company
Sazerac Company
The Sazerac Company is a large privately held and family-operated alcoholic beverages company with headquarters in Metairie, Louisiana.It owns and produces a large and diversified portfolio of beverage brands, and it owns and operates a number of distilling companies...
the following year, and at the end of that year both the Tom Moore Distillery and the Buffalo Trace Distillery
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Buffalo Trace Distillery is a distillery located in Frankfort, Kentucky. It has historically been known by several names, including most notably, the George T. Stagg Distillery and the O.F.C. Distillery. Its namesake bourbon brand, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey, was introduced...
, which was also owned by the Sazerac Company
Sazerac Company
The Sazerac Company is a large privately held and family-operated alcoholic beverages company with headquarters in Metairie, Louisiana.It owns and produces a large and diversified portfolio of beverage brands, and it owns and operates a number of distilling companies...
, withdrew from the KDA. The two Sazerac distilleries continue to host public tours, and a Sazerac spokesperson stated that they still feel that they are "very much a part of the Bourbon Trail", but stated that Sazerac wishes to promote its distilleries independently of the KDA.
Trail member sites
The program sends free T-shirts to people who mail in a promotional "passportPassport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
" which has been stamped by all the participating distilleries.
The six current trail members are:
- Four Roses Distillery (Kirin Brewery CompanyKirin Brewery Companyis a Japanese company. It is a member of the Mitsubishi keiretsu.-Overview:Kirin sells two of the most popular beers in Japan, Kirin Lager--the country's oldest beer brand--and Ichiban Shibori. In the happoshu category, Kirin Tanrei is the top seller. Kirin handles domestic distribution for...
) in LawrenceburgLawrenceburg, KentuckyLawrenceburg is a city in Anderson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 10,505 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Anderson County...
– open for tours Monday through Saturday - Heaven Hill Visitors CenterHeaven HillHeaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., is a private family-owned and operated distillery company headquartered in Bardstown, Kentucky that produces and markets the Heaven Hill brand of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and a variety of other distilled spirits. Its current distillery facility, called the...
(Heaven Hill Distilleries) in BardstownBardstown, KentuckyAs of the census of 2010, there were 11,700 people, 4,712 households, and 2,949 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 5,113 housing units at an average density of...
– open for tours Tuesday through Sunday (the actual Heaven Hill Bernheim distillery site is in LouisvilleLouisville, KentuckyLouisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
and is not open to the public) - Jim Beam DistilleryJim BeamJim Beam is a brand of bourbon whiskey produced in Clermont, Kentucky. It is currently one of the best selling brands of bourbon in the world. Since 1795 , seven generations of the Beam family have been involved in whiskey production for the company that produces the brand, which was given the name...
(Fortune BrandsFortune BrandsFortune Brands was a holding company founded in 1969 as American Brands and later renamed in 1997 and split apart in 2011. The corporate headquarters was in Deerfield, Illinois in the United States. The company historically had a significant diversity of product offerings...
) in ClermontClermont, KentuckyClermont is a USGS-designated populated place in Bullitt County, Kentucky, United States, south of Louisville.-History:The area was officially recognized by the USGS on September 20, 1979, during the rapid expansion of Shepherdsville due to the development of Interstate 65. A large portion of...
– open for tours Monday through Sunday - Maker's Mark Distillery (Fortune BrandsFortune BrandsFortune Brands was a holding company founded in 1969 as American Brands and later renamed in 1997 and split apart in 2011. The corporate headquarters was in Deerfield, Illinois in the United States. The company historically had a significant diversity of product offerings...
) in LorettoLoretto, KentuckyLoretto is a city in Marion County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 623 at the 2000 census. The tiny city is best known as the home of the Maker's Mark bourbon distillery.-Geography:Loretto is located at ....
– open for tours Monday through Sunday - Wild Turkey Distillery (Campari GroupCampari GroupGruppo Campari is an Italian-based multinational producer of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The group holds a portfolio of over 40 brands marketed and distributed in more than 190 countries...
) in LawrenceburgLawrenceburg, KentuckyLawrenceburg is a city in Anderson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 10,505 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Anderson County...
– open for tours Monday through Saturday - Woodford Reserve DistilleryWoodford ReserveWoodford Reserve is a brand of premium small batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey produced by the Brown-Forman Corporation. It is distilled at the company's Woodford Reserve Distillery, and marketed under the former company name for the distillery, Labrot & Graham. The distillery is located in...
(Brown-Forman CorporationBrown-Forman CorporationThe Brown-Forman Corporation is one of the largest American-owned companies in the spirits and wine business.Some well-known brands of the corporation include Jack Daniel's, Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodka, Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Canadian Mist, Early Times, Old Forester, and Korbel champagne.-...
) near VersaillesVersailles, KentuckyAs of the census of 2000, there were 7,511 people, 3,160 households, and 2,110 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,330 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.18% White, 8.67% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.35%...
– open for tours Tuesday through Sunday
External links
- Kentucky Bourbon Trail website from the Kentucky Distillers' Association