Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Rock, Paper, Scissors For Who Drives The Bourbon Trail?

The reason for traveling into Kentucky was to visit the Bourbon Trail. Over 95 percent of the world's bourbon is produced in Kentucky and there are several different distilleries scattered throughout the state's northwestern region. We knew about a few of the labels like Maker's Mark, Jim Beam, and Wild Turkey, but were informed by the campsite manager at Camp on the Kentucky to check out a smaller distillery called Four Roses. Here is our experience throughout the distilleries and the beautiful Bourbon Trail.

Here you can see the entire Bourbon Trail. There are seven main distilleries on the Trail with several others littered around the region.

We arrived at Four Roses. We had never heard of this label before but were excited to try it.

Peter in front of the beautiful Spanish-styled architecture of Four Roses. The other distilleries we visited later that day had a large warehouse feel to them. This was unique. 

Wolf taking a seat on the bench as the tour rolled on. It was hot out there.

We were now inside the distillery. Here is Peter with the oddly shaped machines and equipment. 

Brittany, our tour guide, hosted a tasting session at the end of the tour. We tried 3 different labels, with the second, their single barrel, being our favorite. 

Brittany and The Wolf. Thanks for the tour!

Believe it or not, Wolf was supposed to be in this picture. Started giving the camera to people younger than 80 after this.

Beautiful Wild Turkey Penitentiary... I mean Distillery.

 Amazing trail to Maker's Mark Distillery.

We arrived.

Oldest bourbon distillery in the world.

Wolf, a little bit sweaty.

Here's our massive tour group.

She said something about why "whisky" was spelled incorrectly, but we kind of didn't care.

Venturing away from the tour a bit.

The first liquor store was actually a drive-in. People would drive their horse and buggy up to the window to get bourbon as if it were a McDonald's.

Bottles getting pumped with bourbon.

Employees hand-dipping every Maker's bottle into wax. 

The bottling line had advertisements that lined the walls. Here are a couple of our favorites. 


Peter standing in front of the fermenting tanks. Each barrel is at least 100 years old and holds over 100,000 shots. 

Peter pulling a fast one. We suggest not buying a bottle in 6-7 years...

The Maker's taster lineup.

Pic with Annie, the tour guide.

Our last distillery before heading north to Cleveland.

Flashing the Oregon "O." Jim Beam was closed, so we only saw the exterior.

Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Whiskey Rock-A-Roller"

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