It’s no surprise that here in Kentucky both visitors and locals alike are quite fond of gifting bourbon and all-things-bourbon-related. Although some people do prefer other drinks besides bourbon such as American brandy or even rum, there is only one contender for the title of Kentucky’s native spirit.
While many people tend to gift the bigger names, like Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark, we wanted to share our personal favorite ways to gift and enjoy Kentucky bourbon this holiday season. And if that includes a visit to our charming Inn at Woodhaven, so be it! (We’re slightly biased there).
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Let’s be honest: the beating heart of the industry surrounding Kentucky’s native spirit is the Bourbon Trail. But did you know that Louisville has its own version of it? It’s called the Urban Bourbon Trail!
On the Urban Bourbon Trail, some of Kentucky’s finest distilleries open their doors to visitors. To a lucky few, they offer bourbon tours where you can witness the old distillery craft of bourbon-making firsthand.
Most distilleries offer more than just a viewing of the workfloor, they also offer bourbon tastings! For bourbon lovers, the option to sample Kentucky’s finest bourbons under the guidance of an in-house expert is enough to warrant stepping on the trail.
While some distilleries such as the famous Stitzel Weller Distillery are outside Louisville, many distilleries are conveniently located in the heart of the city. Many of our recommended distilleries can be found on On Main Street in Downtown Louisville. This is where you can find the stretch known as Whiskey Row.
By the way, most distilleries on our list happen to be within a short 10-mile drive of the Inn at Woodhaven. Combining a distillery tour with a visit at the inn is a great way to make someone feel special!
You can taste bourbon on our front porch under the string lights or in our cozy living room — just sayin’.
The Best Bourbon Distillery Tours
Living in Louisville, there is no shortage of bourbon distilleries offering fantastic distillery tours of their facilities.
While we rarely get days away from the Inn at Woodhaven, we have taken our fair share of local tours and have collected countless stories from guests about their favorite bourbon tour experiences as well.
Where should you start your Louisville distillery tours? Here are our favorite must-see distilleries in no particular order.
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1. Kentucky Peerless
Our first bourbon tour to consider is Kentucky Peerless. While they’ve been known by their current name in Louisville since 2015, Peerless is an award-winning distillery with a history dating back to the 1800s.
Peerless appeals to bourbon lovers of all types with their Tasting Experience, Distillery Tour, and Heritage Tour (an intimate VIP tour for up to 8 people that includes a tour and tasting). No surprise—advance reservations are required for their facility, so plan ahead!
2. The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience
Visit the first distillery on Whiskey Row, with a history dating back to 1783. Aside from their building, which has some serious visual “wow” factor when it’s lit up at night, this bourbon experience really is… well… an experience!
Tours last approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour and include a historical tour, a viewing of the artisanal still, and a guided tasting from their portfolio of noteworthy American whiskey and bourbon. You can plan your trip here and tell them the Inn at Woodhaven sent you.
3. Old Forester
Some people are surprised when we suggest this. Old Forester, while a known and established brand, doesn’t fall into the categories of Big-Name Bourbon Brands or Sexy New Distilleries. But Old Forester knows how to lead a tour that feels like more than just a PR pitch to sell products.
Their guides are both thorough and knowledgeable, leaving many visitors completely satisfied with the experience. Enjoy their regular tour or splurge on their VIP tasting.
By the way, did you know that Old Forester was deemed a medicinal whiskey during prohibition? It’s the only bourbon in the country that was sold by the same company throughout the entire era of prohibition!
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4. Angel’s Envy
Did you know that in their bourbon tastings, Angel’s Envy offers visitors samples of some of their premium bourbons paired with a selection of signature chocolates? Now that’s worth a visit!
Angel’s Envy offers tours of their modern distillery that will appeal to any lover of bourbon. With tours lasting about 1 hour, you get to see up-close how bourbon is made. Visitors can tour the distillery as part of the Signature Tour or the more exclusive Private Select Tour.
Visitors even have the option to purchase their own barrel of bourbon! See their website for full details.
5. Michter’s Fort Nelson
One of America’s oldest bourbon brands, the historic Michter’s brand goes back all the way to 1753. With their reputation of chasing quality no matter the cost (or in their own words ‘money be damned’), Michter’s is a household name for many bourbon lovers.
While the Michter’s process is steeped in tradition, their distillery is much more modern. One one of the tours, visitors get to choose from several distillery experiences where you discover their ancient secrets as well as sample some of the finest bourbon America has to offer.
Tours generally last between 1 and 2 hours and they fill up so make sure to book ahead!
The Best Bourbon Tour Package: BourbonTown Tours
Maybe you’re tight on time. Maybe you cringe at the thought of making individual reservations and trying to time everything appropriately to maximize your Louisville vacation.
Or maybe you just want to drink a ton of bourbon while someone else safely delivers you from place to place and then back home to the Inn at Woodhaven.
If so, BourbonTown Tours is for you! This private tour company is our personal favorite for delivering a VIP bourbon experience in the most convenient and comfortable of ways.
BourbonTown Tours has rich choices for visitors, including private transportation with a guide who’s a local bourbon expert. The flexibility of these tours is incredible: choose the most popular watering holes, or opt for off-the-beaten-path destinations.
Explore the custom tours options, which allows you to get the precise bourbon experience you’re looking for in Louisville, Bardstown and beyond. You can even book one of the BourbonTown Tours for a group retreat, retirement party, bachelorette outing and more! Learn more on their website.
The Best (and Most Relaxing!) Bourbon Gift
In this bourbon-infused town, sometimes the nicest way to enjoy it all is in the relaxed comfort of your home away from home.
One of our favorite parts of being innkeepers is when we get to host bourbon tastings with our guests and share our passion for Louisville hospitality. We have over 50 of our favorite bourbons available for sampling and love to share our knowledge of local bourbon culture and lore.
But what our guests really seem to enjoy most is when we prepare a bourbon flight board that they can enjoy by the warmth of the fireplace in their room or around one of the 13 Christmas trees on our property. Because let’s be honest, bourbon is a drink to be savored and there is no better way to do that than when you’ve got nowhere to go and nothing to do!
Advanced reservations are highly recommended. You can find out more about our bourbon flights and other specials here.
A Gift That Is Just the Right Size
We like to think that the perfect bourbon vacation (or staycation) starts at the Inn at Woodhaven. If you’re still in need of a holiday gift that nearly all adults would enjoy, consider purchasing a gift certificate for a stay in one of our many comfortable themed rooms. We hope you’ll see why our guests return to us year after year!
