AAA Traveler - Winter 2014 - 23

THE SCENIC ROUTE

The 125-mile drive along back roads of central Kentucky between I-65 and I-75
forms a "bourbon belt" through rolling hills and pastures where thoroughbreds
graze behind four-rail fences. Touring picturesque distilleries, located in or
just outside welcoming towns, illuminates both the distinctive amber spirit
and the soulful culture that produces it.

IMAGE: (OPPOSITE PAGE) ISTOCKPHOTO; ILLUSTRATION: WALTER BAUMANN

Bardstown
Dubbed the "Bourbon Capital of the World," this
town founded in 1780 hosts the Kentucky Bourbon
Festival (featuring bluegrass music and demonstrations
like barrel-making) every September. Year-round, start
your trip with a tasting flight at the Kentucky Bourbon
House, a Federalist-style inn on the town square. Stay
for a family-style dinner or try the Kentucky Hot Brown,
an open-faced sandwich smothered in cheese sauce, at
nearby Old Talbott Tavern. See aging whiskey barrels
on an on-site tour of Heaven Hill Distilleries' evocative
wooden warehouses, or hop aboard a trolley tour that
includes a ride through town. The Jim Beam American
Stillhouse is 17 miles up Kentucky Route 245 North.
There, take in a behind-the-scenes tour of the distilling
process and a museum showcasing hundreds of liquor
decanters and sample whiskey in the tasting room.
Loretto
The lush, peaceful countryside along U.S. 150 and
Kentucky Route 55 makes it worth visiting the off-thebeaten-path Maker's Mark distillery. Guided tours begin
near a stone-walled creek and conclude with a visit to a
room where workers artfully dip the top of bottles
in red wax, a Maker's Mark signature. Visitors can
purchase bottles to dip in wax themselves.
Lexington
Town Branch distillery, a few blocks from the University
of Kentucky's campus, shares property with craft
brewing company Kentucky Ale, so you can sample
both brews and spirits. Linger in Lexington to learn
some equine history. The International Museum of the
Horse highlights thoroughbred breeding and racing
in the area. At the Kentucky Horse Park, watch a live
show such as Horses of the World, or sign up for horse
farm tours to wander some of the Bluegrass region's
historic estates. Sample burgoo, a warming regional

dish similar to Irish stew, at Jonathan's, the restaurant at
Gratz Park Inn, a gracious boutique hotel.
Versailles
Woodford Reserve, cradled in a scenic hollow on
the road between Lexington and the state capital,
Frankfort, distinguishes itself as the smallest and longest
continually operating distillery in Kentucky. (The locals
call the town "Ver-sales.") Make a reservation for the
corn-to-cork tour, which details the bourbon-making
process, from cooked mash (a mix of grains), that
ferments in tanks to the spirits aging in charred barrels.
Stay for a lunch of sandwiches and salads at the
distillery's restaurant, Picnic on the Porch.
Frankfort
Buffalo Trace, overlooking the Kentucky River, oversees
some of the most sought-after artisan bourbon brands.
Follow guides to the premium labeling room, where
staffers meticulously hand-label bottles of Eagle Rare
(you'll have a nip at the tour's end) and Old Rip Van
Winkle. Then walk through "A Kentucky Journey"
(Abraham Lincoln's pocket watch is among the
artifacts) at the neighboring Kentucky Historical Society,
or wander through shops downtown like Wilma's Linens
& Lace, a specialty quilt store.
Buffalo Trace
Heaven Hill
BARDSTOWN
LORETTO

Maker's Mark

FRANKFORT
VERSAILLES
LEXINGTON

Town Branch
Woodford Reserve

Go where the spirit leads you! Your AAA
Travel Specialist can help plan your getaway.

WINTER 2014

AAA Traveler - Winter 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AAA Traveler - Winter 2014