With only two stamps needed to complete our original Bourbon Trail passport book, I met up with my dad again at the Nashville airport. This time we jumped in the rental car and headed to Owensboro, Kentucky.
If you are reading this blog for the first time, this is the conclusion to a five-part series. You can start from the beginning here.
Day one:
Our first stop was the Green River Distillery (formerly known as the O.Z. Tyler distillery), located about two hours southwest of Louisville, Kentucky. We weren’t sure what to expect at this particular distillery since it was an outlier (on the map) and has been in transition over the years (after being abandoned for a while, the Bardstown Bourbon Co. purchased the property in 2022 and now also distills and distributes Green River Whiskey).
We arrived just in time for the last tour of the day. Founded in 1885, Green River holds the tenth oldest liquor license in the state of Kentucky, and we enjoyed learning about the history behind the brand. Similar to other companies operating when prohibition started, Green River at one point, became known for its “medicinal” qualities. Now it is known as “the whiskey without regrets.”
One of the highlights from this visit, besides the tour, was tasting Green River Wheated Bourbon. This one really stood out to me.
Wheated Bourbon:
Uses wheat in place of rye.
Usually has a sweeter flavor profile.
Since it was already getting into the evening, we grabbed dinner and checked in to our hotel. Day 1: One stamp down, one more to go!
Day two:
We headed to downtown Owensboro to explore the city and grab some coffee. We stopped at the local coffee shop; the Red Swing. (They made a cozy pumpkin chai latte, perfect for this particular October morning).
We walked along the riverwalk, overlooking the Ohio River. I kept thinking about Patty Griffin and her song called, Ohio. I was glad to be here on this adventure with my family…seeing new places, checking things off of our to-do list, and simply being together.
Next, we headed to Louisville, Kentucky.
We made it to our early afternoon reservation for a tour of the Stitzel-Weller Distillery. I was really excited to see this facility as it has been associated with several well-known bourbon legends (e.g. W.L. Weller & Sons, Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle Sr., Arthur Stitzel). At one point in time, it was the home of Bulleit Whiskey but now it produces Blade and Bow.
We got our FINAL stamp, toured the facility, and then participated in a tasting. Day Two: FINAL STAMP COMPLETED!
Bourbons Bistro: One of our favorite finds!
One of the highlights from this trip was stumbling upon Bourbons Bistro. The place had good reviews and wasn’t at all on our radar. When we walked in, the ambiance gave a speakeasy vibe combined with a flare of curiosity. I was eager to see what their bourbon menu held–it was very extensive and impressive! I tried a new-to-me bourbon series called Filmland, as the dim lighting felt like old Hollywood to me. (I tasted varieties from: Ryes of the Robots and Moonlight Mayhem!). I enjoyed the bourbon and the bottle labels for this brand!
And then there was the food…
This was-hands down- the best dinner we have had together on the trail. It was just the perfect combination of a last-minute surprise find, an amazing bourbon menu, quality comfort food, and great family bonding.
My spouse and dad were very intrigued by the bone marrow appetizer. They also both ordered the pork chop and loved it! I had the shrimp and grits, which was the best version of it I’ve had in a very long time! We ate, drank, and laughed together as our time on the trail was winding down. Thank you, Bourbons Bistro for the perfect evening!
Day three: just for fun.
We wanted to see the Bulleit Bourbon location and the Wilderness Trail Distillery before we wrapped up. So, we made a quick stop at Bulleit and then signed up for a tour at the Wilderness Trail Distillery in Danville, Kentucky. They’ve got a good thing going there at Wilderness Trail!
A stop at Camp Nelson.
In keeping with tradition, we also checked off another National Park Unit by visiting Camp Nelson National Monument, outside of Danville, Kentucky. This former Union Army base functioned as a supply depot, recruitment camp for black soldiers, and a refugee camp for many escaping slavery.
End of the trail…or is it?
Finally, before we left Kentucky, we drove to downtown Louisville to where we first began back in 2019: The Frazier Museum (the “start” of the bourbon trail). We inquired as to how to turn in our passport books and tried to decipher what the “prize” might be. The person at the welcome desk gave us an email to respond to (this was October 2023). I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting much…maybe a sticker or t-shirt that said “I completed the Bourbon Trail” or something…. but…a few weeks later (after emailing someone) we received a tasting glass. Just a clear glass, with no mention of the bourbon trail. So, that was a little underwhelming.
However, this journey was never about the possible prize at the end. It was always about the experience: learning about the process of making bourbon, the people/places/history of bourbon, the tastes, the sights, and ultimately spending quality time together.
It took us four trips to Kentucky, over a five-year span but we finally finished our original Bourbon Trail passport book! However, by the time we completed it, more distilleries have popped up and there is now a newer, thicker version! So, what we thought was the end…might be a new beginning! Cheers to the trail and all of the memories we have made!
Tips for exploring the bourbon trail!
- Get out the map! Like the Indigo Girls song, you’ll want to look at a map of Kentucky as you plan out your route/itinerary. There are some areas that are more concentrated than others with distilleries but overall, the “trail” is very spread out.
- Figure out which distilleries are top of your list, and figure out what kind of experience you want: a tour? a tasting? both? Then, make a reservation.
- Know your limits. Have a designated driver!
- There’s a lot more to explore in Kentucky besides bourbon! Have fun exploring!
- Making memories with loved ones is what life is all about! Cheers!
Wilderness & Rye 