A couple of distilleries in early April

[garmp]

We're planning to hit a couple of distilleries in early April and are looking for other ideas of sites, etc. Buffalo Trace would be the first stop then off to Jack Daniels, where we plan to stay at Tims Ford SP for a couple of days. At Buffalo Trace we're still looking for a park. We prefer State, COE or Military campgrounds.
From Tims Ford SP we will probably meander back home to St. Louis in a leasurely fashion, but are not opposed to stops to see new things. And take a slow leisurely cruise and maybe 5 to 8 days. (Retirement lets you do that)
Oh yeah, we will be coming from Elkhart, IN, in our new RV on its shakedown cruise. Yes, we will spend a night or two near the factory to check everything out before heading south.
Thanks in advance for any ideas.

[The_Kroc]

I second Taylorsville State Park, a COE developed campground run by the State of Kentucky. There is not a bad site to be had and it's close to Bardstown KY, one of our favorite towns in the Midwest. It has "My Old Kentucky Home", a dinner train excursion, lots of history and a Stephen Foster Musical program in the Summer evenings

[TxGearhead]

I think we saw the real facilities at Makers Mark and Woodford. I think also at J Daniels.
I'm just down the road from you in Liberty.

[one_strange_tex]

TxGearhead wrote:
I would second Makers Mark and Woodford if not for anything else but the beauty of the grounds.
Also did Beam and saw CEO Fred who seemed to have sampled a good bit of product. Beam had a decent BBQ stand at the time. Four? years ago.
We stayed at Whites Acres RV in Bardstown.
Toured Jack Daniels a long time ago. We had a new 1979 Trans-Am. Great tour.
I'm drinking Beam Black this week.

We toured Jim Beam 2 years ago last August. I will confirm that the barbeque stand was still there at that time, but I did not try their food. The tour was a good one, but I might recommend one of the smaller distilleries. The tour was primarily 1) the testing or pilot plant facility, not where the real production happens, 2) a demonstration of bottling, again not the real commercial facility, 3) the actual aging warehouses and 4) the tasting room, where each tour participant can get 3 small samples of various whiskeys of their choice. I would like to have seen the real still and production facilities. I understand you see that on the Maker's Mark tour.

By the way, Jim Beam Black is also my go to bourbon these days.

[TxGearhead]

I would second Makers Mark and Woodford if not for anything else but the beauty of the grounds.
Also did Beam and saw CEO Fred who seemed to have sampled a good bit of product. Beam had a decent BBQ stand at the time. Four? years ago.
We stayed at Whites Acres RV in Bardstown.
Toured Jack Daniels a long time ago. We had a new 1979 Trans-Am. Great tour.
I'm drinking Beam Black this week.

[melandme]

Check out Taylorsville Lake State Park. Less than a hour to Frankfort or Bardstown.

[Parrothead_Mike]

A few years back we visited Makers Mark in Loretto, KY, just south of Bardstown and enjoyed it very much. Out in the middle of nowhere, but the distillery is in a nice setting. BTW, Bardstown has a Bourbon Festival every September, I believe.

[jkwilson]

Romer1 wrote:
If you're in Lexington, try to get to Bluegrass Distillers
Bluegrass Distillers

It's a small distiller where you get a personal tour, sampling and get to fill your own bottle of Bourbon

Filling the bottle doesn’t sound as much fun as emptying it!

[Romer1]

If you're in Lexington, try to get to Bluegrass Distillers
Bluegrass Distillers

It's a small distiller where you get a personal tour, sampling and get to fill your own bottle of Bourbon

[discovery4us]

Sounds like a fun trip. I am thirsty just hearing about it.:):):)

[twodownzero]

jkwilson wrote:

"The Federal Standards of Identity for Bourbon stipulate what is and what isn't bourbon. For a whiskey to call itself bourbon, its mash, the mixture of grains from which the product is distilled, must contain at least 51% corn. (The rest of the mash is usually filled out with malted barley and either rye or wheat.) The mash must be distilled at 160 proof or less, put into the barrel at 125 proof or less, and it must not contain any additives. The distillate must be aged in a new charred oak barrel. (Most often these barrels are white oak, but they can be any variety of oak.)"

Another interesting tidbit is that Scotch whisky is traditionally aged in used bourbon barrels. This is for three reasons: First, there is limited if any oak available for making barrels in Scotland. Second is that new barrels impart an astringency to the whiskey/whisky. Third, bourbon has to be aged in new barrels, so they can’t be reused for bourbon.

Scotch whisky doesn't use the "e."

[jkwilson]

"The Federal Standards of Identity for Bourbon stipulate what is and what isn't bourbon. For a whiskey to call itself bourbon, its mash, the mixture of grains from which the product is distilled, must contain at least 51% corn. (The rest of the mash is usually filled out with malted barley and either rye or wheat.) The mash must be distilled at 160 proof or less, put into the barrel at 125 proof or less, and it must not contain any additives. The distillate must be aged in a new charred oak barrel. (Most often these barrels are white oak, but they can be any variety of oak.)"

Another interesting tidbit is that Scotch whisky is traditionally aged in used bourbon barrels. This is for three reasons: First, there is limited if any oak available for making barrels in Scotland. Second is that new barrels impart an astringency to the whiskey/whisky. Third, bourbon has to be aged in new barrels, so they can’t be reused for bourbon.

[one_strange_tex]

jkwilson wrote:

Johno02 wrote:
If you are going to Jack Daniels in Lynchburg, them a MUST see is George Dickle outside Tullahoma. Daniels is a huge industrial manufacturer, Dickle is a small exibition of the art of whisky making as it should be. And one sip will make you a true believer. This is NOT a true burbon, as that can only be a product of Burbon County KY, but instead is a true Tennessee sipping whisky. A distillery tour in Kentucky is a real experience not to be missed in you are in that area with a bit of time. Some of the distilleries are beautiful places to visit.

Bourbon can be made anywhere in the US. Very little is made in Bourbon County. Evan Williams began producing bourbon in Louisville at the first commercial bourbon distillery.

Anderson County, Jefferson County, Nelson County, Franklin County, Marion County, and others produce the most famous brands like Wild Turkey, Beam, Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, Makers Mark etc..

Jack Daniels could be called bourbon if they chose to label it as such.

I’m related to the Ripy family that founded Wild Turkey in Anderson County and have family in every county I mentioned above. The Bourbon Trail is a great way to spend a couple of days!

"The Federal Standards of Identity for Bourbon stipulate what is and what isn't bourbon. For a whiskey to call itself bourbon, its mash, the mixture of grains from which the product is distilled, must contain at least 51% corn. (The rest of the mash is usually filled out with malted barley and either rye or wheat.) The mash must be distilled at 160 proof or less, put into the barrel at 125 proof or less, and it must not contain any additives. The distillate must be aged in a new charred oak barrel. (Most often these barrels are white oak, but they can be any variety of oak.)"

Link for "What make whiskey Bourbon"

Some bourbon is produced right here in Texas. 😉

[jkwilson]

Johno02 wrote:
If you are going to Jack Daniels in Lynchburg, them a MUST see is George Dickle outside Tullahoma. Daniels is a huge industrial manufacturer, Dickle is a small exibition of the art of whisky making as it should be. And one sip will make you a true believer. This is NOT a true burbon, as that can only be a product of Burbon County KY, but instead is a true Tennessee sipping whisky. A distillery tour in Kentucky is a real experience not to be missed in you are in that area with a bit of time. Some of the distilleries are beautiful places to visit.

Bourbon can be made anywhere in the US. Very little is made in Bourbon County. Evan Williams began producing bourbon in Louisville at the first commercial bourbon distillery.

Anderson County, Jefferson County, Nelson County, Franklin County, Marion County, and others produce the most famous brands like Wild Turkey, Beam, Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, Makers Mark etc..

Jack Daniels could be called bourbon if they chose to label it as such.

I’m related to the Ripy family that founded Wild Turkey in Anderson County and have family in every county I mentioned above. The Bourbon Trail is a great way to spend a couple of days!

[navigator2346]

We stayed at Horse Farm when we did the Bourbon Trail. Make sure you hit Woodford Reserve, Makers Mark, Buffalo Trace, and Four Roses. After you test those, you will never touch Jim Beam again.

My favorite is Woodford Reserve, double oaked. I don't even share with my friends.