The birthplace of Bourbon beckoned. Allison White answered the call.
By Allison White
HQ 106 | SUMMER 2019
Not all tours are created equal as I recently experienced while visiting three stops on the famed Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Before packing my bag and heading out of town to experience a few bourbon tours, I wondered how different could they be? Bourbon can be made uniquely, but how can the distilleries vary enough to entice whiskey lovers from across the country to visit each of them?
OLD FORESTER DISTILLERY
My first stop was in downtown Louisville on Main Street at Old Forester Distillery. I was greeted with several smiles and escorted downstairs into a dimly lit room full of whiskey. The distillery’s highly sought-after Birthday Bourbon ($699 a bottle and up) was just in reach; however, sadly, a thin piece of glass separated the two of us.
The tour began as we wafted aromas of cooking grains in the fermentation room that held four vats with enough mash to fill 2,800 bottles. Around the corner was an amusement park-like elevator ride that took us up to the in-house cooperage. This small-scale barrel-making operation was an aspect of the tour that makes the Old Forester experience unique and well worth your time. Moving on we stepped foot into a life-size barrel as we made our way into the warehouse that held stacked barrels. The blunt aroma left no question as to what was inside. Our next stop was a high-tech bottling line before we ended the tour with what we were all waiting for — the tasting room. Here we sampled the goods we had just learned about in a bright and open room. It was a delicious way to end the outing.
RABBIT HOLE DISTILLERY
I wandered down a neighboring street to find my next stop —the Rabbit Hole Distillery. What immediately caught my eye was the complex’s industrial, modern feel as well as its inviting outdoor spaces for entertaining. The tour started with a sip of the golden-brown bourbon Rabbit Hole meticulously produces. The brilliantly designed distillery, which opened in August 2018, is able to produce more bourbon per square foot than any other distillery in Kentucky. Our tour guide Adam, who also doubles as a master taster, began leading us in between nine impressive vats full of bubbly mash. As I looked around, I was struck by the inspiring architecture. In fact, we learned that the ingenious design creates a year-round climate-controlled distillery room.
We walked a few more steps and encountered an impressive 48-foot copper still. Our last stop was the tasting room and upstairs bar area. If I could pick any place in the world to enjoy some bourbon, this would be it. The floor-to-ceiling windows, funky furniture, artsy décor and open feel were as tasteful as the bourbon we sampled.
STITZEL-WELLER DISTILLERY
I reluctantly left behind the modern feel of Rabbit Hole and headed five miles out of town to the Stitzel-Weller Distillery. In contrast to my last two indoor tours, this distillery allows you to experience the Kentucky air and atmosphere that has aged bourbon for generations. Huddled together in this tranquil and eerily beautiful setting, our group learned a few facts about the “campus.” We looked out in amazement at all the warehouses surrounding us filled with more than 400,000 barrels of bourbon. Next, we experienced what one of those warehouses looked and smelled like inside. I was immediately reminded of a candle I purchased once that had the comforting aromas of white oak and bourbon.
At this point, my ears had heard enough and my lips were ready to be greeted with the line-up for the day. The bourbon hugged us like a warm sweater as we sipped four whiskeys including a new favorite — Blade and Bow. I made sure to let Tom Bulleit, owner of both the Stitzel-Weller Distillery and the Bulleit Distilling Company, know of my pleasant experience. After all, his office is open to the public and patrons are encouraged to leave him notes.
From Old Forester’s dark and mysterious ambience to Rabbit Hole’s open and industrial feel and everything in between, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail offers a unique mix of experiences all centered on one common interest — bourbon. Bourbon is a passion that brings people together, and that is always a good thing.
