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I've never had the chance to take a ride to any of them but have been to several of the distilleries including Jim Beam(both Frankfort and Clermont),Wild Turkey in Lawrenceburg,Buffalo Trace and Makers Mark. Makers Mark is the nicest(IMO). I talked with a lady about their tours. During the week you can watch them run the line and hand dip the bottles. I was also told you can buy a bottle and dip it yourself. On the weekends you only have a video of the bottling process to watch. We're looking forward to taking a ride down to do the tour ourselves.
I have a friend that has a bottle he dipped. He put a dollar bill in the wax. Cool stuff...
From the Woodford distillery take the main road east for 5 to 6 miles and you will round a bend to see the abandoned Old row distillery. It is situated on the river and was originally powered by water wheel and belt power. The buildings are covered with vines and are in major disrepair. Its a great photo shoot opportunity.
When I say narrow road I mean just a car and a quarter wide. Its worth the ride.
Jim Beam, Woodford Reserve, Makers and Wild Turkey are the for sure spots I plan on hitting. Will check out Buffalo Trace as well per alot of recommendations. Leaving STL on a Thursday afternoon, in the area all day on Friday, Saturday and return home Sunday. The link from Swirvin Irv very helpfull!!
I'm from southern Kentucky down on the Tn border so I'm not real familiar with the upper parts. I was up there years ago but it's a distant memory. I remember bardstown being a cool place. Be sure to visit the old Kentucky home. Should be going right by it otw to the many distilleries in the area. I'm a fan of history and Kentucky has no shortage of that. If I'm not mistaken the Lincoln birthplace is in the area you visiting as well. So your well informed on great distilleries to visit but there's also many other historical Kentucky sites to see in that area. One I haven't seen is fort boonesboro. That is the location of Daniel Boone's settlement way back in the day. Can't believe I'm a Kentuckian and haven't visited fort boonesboro
The old Talbots tavern in downtown Bardstown has 80 or so different flavors of Bourbon to choose from and a good restaurant in the same building. The bartenders know their bourbon. Heaven Hill in Bardstown has a nice visitor center. My old Kentucky home state park is also in Bardstown. Maker's Mark as many others have said was a great tour. We also stopped at the battle field in Perryville which was very interesting and not too far from Loretto. Beam was my least favorite of the tours but that's probably just me...
I'm from southern Kentucky down on the Tn border so I'm not real familiar with the upper parts. I was up there years ago but it's a distant memory. I remember bardstown being a cool place. Be sure to visit the old Kentucky home. Should be going right by it otw to the many distilleries in the area. I'm a fan of history and Kentucky has no shortage of that. If I'm not mistaken the Lincoln birthplace is in the area you visiting as well. So your well informed on great distilleries to visit but there's also many other historical Kentucky sites to see in that area. One I haven't seen is fort boonesboro. That is the location of Daniel Boone's settlement way back in the day. Can't believe I'm a Kentuckian and haven't visited fort boonesboro
Now you're getting into my part of the state. You'll find some of my ancestors on the role at Boonesboro. If you take a notion to check it out and have an afternoon to just ride, give me a shout.
You probably haven't been to the Red River Gorge or Natural Bridge area yet either. Pretty country, you don't know what you're missing
OP, the best riding in KY is in the Appalachian Foothills in the eastern part! Enjoy your trip! The tour van sounds like a great idea to me.
After you come into Indiana, get off at Poseyville, exit 12 off I-64. Take highway 68 until it runs into 62, stay on 62 until you get to Edwardsville/Georgetown, In. That will put you at exit 118 (I-64), then you're 10 minutes from Louisville.
There is a good spot to stop and eat in Leavenworth called the Overlook, it's also a good place to get a pic of your bike with the river below.
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It will take you longer to get there but this option is no interstate outside St. Louis. And it will be some beautiful riding. Just get on google maps. You can customize the route by dragging and dropping the route to specific roads. So if you wanted to add a little more interstate you can.
St Louis, MO
Get on I-70 E
1.4 mi / 4 min
Take I-64 E, US-50 E and US-150 E to KY-44 E/Stites Station Rd in Louisville
282 mi / 5 h 23 min
Continue on KY-44 E. Take KY-1526 E, KY-44 E and KY-61 S to Happy Hollow Rd in Bullitt County
21.9 mi / 34 min
Turn left onto KY-44 E/Stites Station Rd
Continue to follow KY-44 E
3.3 mi
Keep left to continue on KY-1526 E
3.7 mi
Turn right onto Martin Hill Rd
2.3 mi
Turn left onto KY-44 E
4.5 mi
Turn right onto KY-61 S/S Buckman St
Continue to follow KY-61 S
5.1 mi
Turn left onto KY-245 S
2.4 mi
Turn left onto Happy Hollow Rd
Destination will be on the right
0.6 mi
Jim Beam American Stillhouse
526 Happy Hollow Rd, Clermont, KY 40110
Sounds like an awesome trip, hope you have a blast!
If I ever get a chance to do that trip and it has to be on a bike, then one of my buddies is going to have to drag me around in a side car, all that bourbon and I would be having way to much fun !
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