For the millions of visitors traveling the Kentucky Bourbon Trail annually, it seems logical to begin or end their visit in Bardstown, the Bourbon Capital of the World.
And when we say begin or end, we don’t mean just a quick tasting at one of the legendary distilleries, but a full day dedicated to the delights of our commonwealth’s signature beverage. Bardstown is obsessed with the beverage. Want proof? Start your morning with breakfast at Mammy’s Kitchen and get your first taste of bourbon with their Bourbon-bon Pancakes.
Described as being “the size of the breakfast platter itself” – enough for two and maybe three - these pancakes have a sugar and cinnamon crust and are infused with what else - bourbon. Order one of Mammy’s famous bourbon Bloody Marys to go with the pancakes. Don’t be squeamish about drinking before noon…..you are in Bardstown, after all. After breakfast it’s time for some serious bourbon tasting, and with 11 distilleries within 16 miles of downtown Bardstown, you will be spoiled for choice.
While the name Lux Row Distillers may not be as immediately recognizable as Maker’s Mark, Heaven Hill or Jim Beam, the distillery is an excellent place for your morning tour and tasting. Lux Row, specializing in wheated and rye bourbons, is one of the relative newcomers to Bardstown, having been distilling here for only eight years. However, during that time, it has amassed an impressive portfolio which includes Rebel Bourbon (their biggest globally selling product), Ezra Brooks, David Nicholson, Daviess County and Blood Oath.
Lux Row’s secret weapon is their Master Distiller/Blender John Rempe, a certified food scientist who has also been a winemaker. Listen to Rempe talk about the brands he has created such as the David Nicholson Reserve, Rebel 10-year-old and the ultra-premium Blood Oath series, and you’ll begin to understand the passion he has for distilling bourbon. Aficionados can opt for a VIP or a single barrel tasting in a beautiful stone house that dates back to 1806.
By now it’s time for lunch and another bourbon cocktail, and where better to have both than the Old Talbott Tavern which is considered the oldest bourbon bar in the United States? Order one of their specialty bourbon cocktails (the salted caramel Old-Fashioned is their twist on the classic), and count yourself in good company as famous drinkers during the tavern’s 247-year-old history have included a famous president (Andrew Jackson), a famous general (George Rodgers Clark), a famous songwriter (Stephen Collins Foster), and a famous outlaw (Jesse James.) There’s plenty of bourbon in their dishes as well – Bourbon BBQ Meatballs for an app and Bourbon Mango Pork Chop or Bourbon Walnut Chicken for an entrée.
Leave the afternoon for another distillery visit, a tour of the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History, or a chance to shop for a bourbon-related item at the boutiques on Bardstown’s Main Street. If you are in no rush to head out of town (and you really shouldn’t be), you have hopefully booked a room at The Trail Hotel.
The Trail is the world’s first bourbon-centric hotel. It has suites with names such as Prohibition, Mash Bill, Single Barrel and Distillers’ Den. It has complimentary tastings in the lobby, a dedicated Bourbon Butler, and a buzzy restaurant, the Oak & Ember where you will surely want to book a table for dinner. The bourbon isn’t so much in the food here as in the curated list of premier vintages to pair with the dinner selections from steak to oysters. Following dinner, you’ll probably want to retire to one of the Trail Hotel’s two distinctive bars, the Bourbon Lounge with its clubby atmosphere or the Bourbon Vault with its Speakeasy vibe.
Should you want to venture back downtown for a nightcap, locals will direct you to The Volstead Bourbon Lounge. Named after the Act that ushered in Prohibition, the speakeasy offers a cozy, dimly lit atmosphere, crushed velvet couches, and an extensive bourbon selection of more than 850 bottles. Make your final toast to the town that has become synonymous with America’s only native spirit before heading back to The Trail Hotel for sweet bourbon-infused dreams.
For more information, contact www.VisitBardstown.com