16 minute read
Bardstown
BARDSTOWN, KY Adoration Abounds for Bourbon’s Quaint Capital
Bardstown is the Bourbon Capital of the World, with the greatest concentration of Bourbon distilleries in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Downtown Bardstown was once voted the Most Beautiful Small Town in America, and on its historic Main Street you can find gift shops, restaurants and more. Nearby is the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History and My Old Kentucky Home State Park. The 150 QuickStop is the home of Jake’s Fresh Country Sausage, which Food & Wine declared the best sausage in America.
DISTILLERIES
Offering 10 unique distillery experiences located within 16 miles of downtown Bardstown!
Bardstown Bourbon Company
In addition to touring this state-of-the-art distillery, visitors can also enjoy food and a full bar at the Bardstown Bourbon Company Kitchen & Bar onsite. Be sure to check out the vintage whiskey library and Shaken & Stirred Cocktail Class in the warehouse. Distance from Downtown Bardstown: 4.1 Miles 1500 Parkway Dr. | Bardstown, KY 40004 bardstownBourbon.com
Four Roses Warehouse And Bottling
You can visit Four Roses at two locations - the distillery in Lawrenceburg and the warehouse and bottling facility in Cox’s Creek. While it may sound boring to visit a warehouse facility, Four Roses has some pretty unique one story warehouses.A tour of the second location is included in your ticket from the first location you tour. Distance from Downtown Bardstown: 16 Miles 624 Lotus Rd. | Coxs Creek, KY 40013 fourrosesBourbon.com
Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience
Heaven Hill opened after Prohibition with five brothers at the helm, and it is still owned by the same family today. Many of this historic distiller’s brands pay homage to forefathers of Bourbon history such as Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, JTS Brown, and more. 2021 brought a $19 million expansion, including an immersive visitor’s center experience, Five Brothers Bar, and a “You Do Bourbon” experience where you can fill your own bottle of whiskey. Distance from Downtown Bardstown: 1.4 Miles 1311 Gilkey Run Rd. | Bardstown, KY 40004 heavenhilldistillery.com from downtown Bardstown, you can begin a journey through the history of the bestselling Bourbon brand in the world. Check out their brand new visitor’s center along with The Kitchen Table restaurant. Distance from Downtown Bardstown: 15.4 Miles 526 Happy Hollow Rd. | Clermont, KY 40110 jimbeam.com
Log Still Distillery
J.W. “Wally” Dant is paying tribute to his forefathers with the creation of Log Still Distillery and Dant Crossing (pg. 64). Wally is keeping his family’s rich legacy alive as he builds upon the same land in southern Nelson County where his forefathers once made spirits. Explore the vast 300-acre property and enjoy tastings of Monk’s Road and Rattle & Snap spirits at the Log Still Distillery Tasting Room. Distance from Downtown Bardstown: 13.4 Miles 225 Dee Head Rd. | Gethsemane, KY, 40051 logstilldistillery.com
Lux Row Distillers
This stunning new distillery is home to products such as David Nicholson, Blood Oath, Rebel Yell, and Ezra Brooks, this 18,000 square foot facility will eventually becapable of producing 50,000 barrels a year. Distance from Downtown Bardstown: 3.4 Miles 3050 E John Rowan Blvd. Bardstown, KY 40004 luxrowdistillers.com
Maker’s Mark
In Marion County, you can experience an iconic history in motion. Enjoy distillery tours, fine dining, educational programs and whisky workshops at Star Hill Farm where Maker’s® is made. They’re still doing things just like they did them in 1953. From the old letter press, to the way they hand-rotate every barrel and hand-dip every bottle of Maker’s Mark. Distance from Downtown Bardstown: 16 Miles makersmark.com
Old SteelHouse Distillery
A historic distillery nestled on 45 acres in the heart of Bourbon Country. Built at the conclusion of Prohibition in 1933, visitors will see many unique spaces which have been frozen in time since whiskey production ceased more than 50 years ago. Distance from Downtown Bardstown: 10 Miles oldsteelhouse.com HEAVEN HILL BOURBON EXPERIENCE
Preservation Distillery
If you want to get a feel for the vast difference in distillery sizes, this craft distillery makes 1-3 barrel batches of whiskey, considerably smaller than most of its Bardstown area counterparts. It is the only 100% pot-distilled bourbon facility in the region. Distance from Downtown Bardstown: 2.4 Miles 426 Sutherland Rd. | Bardstown, KY 40004 preservationdistillery.com BARDSTOWN BOURBON COMPANY FIVE BROTHERS BAR & KITCHEN AT HEAVEN HILL
YOU DO BOURBON EXPERIENCE AT HEAVEN HILL
THE BAR AT WILLETT THE BAR AT WILLETT
SCOUT & SCHOLAR
SCOUT & SCHOLAR
Willett Distillery
This picturesque distillery has been family-owned and operated for over 80 years. Great efforts have been made to restore the property. From underground, spring-fed lakes, to the Kentucky split-face limestone exterior, to old turn-of-thecentury belt and pulley fan systems running throughout the distillery and visitor center, it truly makes for a memorable trip. Distance from Downtown Bardstown: 2.7 Miles 1869 Loretto Rd. | Bardstown, KY 40004 kentuckyBourbonwhiskey.com
EAT & DRINK
3rd Street Tap House
If beer selection and a pub atmosphere is what you’re looking for, look no further. Enjoy craft beer, Bourbon, and karaoke night! 112 N 3rd St | Bardstown, KY 40004 | (502) 348-8991
Bardstown Burger
Homemade burgers, fries, onion rings, shakes and more. Made fresh, for dine-in or carry-out! 126 N 3rd St, Bardstown, KY 40004 bardstownburger.com
Bluegrass Tavern
Live music is a great compliment pool tables and other bar games. Order a “Fryway To Hell” burger with your Bourbon - if you eat it yourself in under 15 minutes you get a free t-shirt and a spot on the wall of fame. (502) 348-2563 2340 New Haven Rd. | Bardstown, KY 40004
Bourbon Brick Oven Grill
Known for their homemade dough and pizza sauce, Bourbon Brick Oven Grill is the only brick oven pizza you can get in Bardstown. bourbonbrickovengrill.com
Bardstown Bourbon Company Kitchen & Bar
Located inside the visitor’s center at Bardstown Bourbon Company, this full service restaurant and bar has taken full advantage of Kentucky’s “Vintage Spirits Law” by offering a collection of over 400 vintage spirits from around the world on the whiskey menu. 1500 Parkway Dr. | Bardstown, KY 40004 bardstownbourbon.com/dine
Bullitt’s Winery & Bistro
Makers of several varietals of Kentucky Proud sweet wines, which pair with pizzas, salads, and more. 126 N 3rd St | Bardstown, KY 40004 (502) 595-8879 | bullittswine.com
Cafe Primo
Enjoy pizzas, pasta, and sandwiches at this Main Street Italian eatery. There’s also a solid selection of allocated bottles of Bourbon behind the bar. 120 N 3rd St | Bardstown, KY 40004 | (502) 348-8822
Chuckleberry Farm & Winery
Started as a labor of love Chuckleberry Farm & Winery is owned by Chuck & Ladonna Hall. Stop by the farm for a tour and enjoy our famous Chuckleslush (Wine Slushie). 527 Garrison Ln. | Bloomfield, KY 40008 (502) 249-1051 | chuckleberryfarm.com
Fresh
Serving house made pastries, sweet treats and lunch daily, along with delicious smoothies and, of course, their incredible Good Folks Coffee. The menu changes daily/weekly. If you’re limited on time, give Fresh a call and they’ll have your lunch ready for pickup! freshcoffeebardstown.com
Hadorn’s Bakery
At Hadorn’s Bakery, delicious donuts and baked goods are made fresh on site daily. Located on the corner of North 4th St. and West Flaget St. in historic downtown Bardstown, you will find friendly service awaiting you inside.
Harrison-Smith House
A historic home, restaurant and event space that hosts events for groups of all sizes, year round. The menus reflect the rich agricultural heritage of the bluegrass, and incorporate traditional ingredients and recipes. Bourbon is always highlighted, in cocktails, neat, or paired with food. 103 E Stephen Foster Ave. | Bardstown, KY 40004 | harrisonsmithhouse.com
Hurst Discount Drug
Hurst Discount Drug has been s erving the community for over 100 years and is home to one of the very few remaining old fashioned soda fountains! They serve breakfast, lunch, soft drinks, ice cream, malts, shakes, and banana splits, to name just a few. 102 N 3rd St. | Bardstown, KY 40004
Kreso’s Restaurant
European fare including schnitzels and goulash enhance the standard menu of salads and sandwiches. Located inside the beautifully restored Arco Theatre, originally built in 1942. 218 N 3rd St | Bardstown, KY 40004 (502) 348-9594 | kresosrestaurant.com
Mammy’s Kitchen
From the Bourbon burger to the butterscotch pie, the menu is filled with American classics with a Bourbon country spin. There’s also a full bar featuring a wide selection of Bourbons. 116 W Stephen Foster Ave. Bardstown, KY 40004 mammys-kitchen.business.site
McIntyre’s Winery & Berries
McIntyre’s Winery is owned and operated by Tommy and Debbie McIntyre. During a visit you can get fresh berries and homemade fruit wines. Relax with a winery tour and tasting. 531 McIntyre Ln | Bardstown, KY 40004 | (502) 507-3264
My Old Kentucky Dinner Train
Whether you go for a dinner or lunch tour or on the Bourbon Run, enjoy a menu of classic Southern fare while taking a train ride through the heart of Bourbon country. 602 N 3rd St | Bardstown, KY 40004 kydinnertrain.com
Old Talbott Tavern
What started as a stagecoach stop in 1779 has played host to King Louis Philippe of the House of Bourbon, Jesse James, Abraham Lincoln, and more, and is rumored to be quite haunted. Try the Bourbon walnut chicken or Lincoln’s Bourbon BBQ ribs. 107 W Stephen Foster Ave. | Bardstown, KY 40004 talbotts.com
Pat’s Place
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a small town feel includes everything from omelets to onion rings. 123 N 3rd St | Bardstown, KY 40004 | (502) 348-0010
The Rickhouse
Located in the same building as the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History, The Rickhouse features a full Bourbon bar complete with cocktails. The food menu includes American style comfort food. 112 Xavier Dr. | Bardstown, KY 40004 (in Spalding Hall) therickhouse-bardstown.com
Scout & Scholar
food. A spot in the heart of the city that honors its rich history and celebrates the community and traditions yet to come. Enjoy live music, trivia nights and unique events here each month, along with the outdoor patio and fire pits set underneath twinkling market lights. 112 W Flaget St | Bardstown, KY 40004 scoutandscholar.com
Stephen Foster Restaurant
Stephen Foster was a famous songwriter who wrote My Old Kentucky Home, among many others. This buffet-style restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and features a wide variety of options to suit a large crowd. 503 W Stephen Foster Ave. | Bardstown, KY 40004 (502) 348-5076 | stephenfosterrestaurant.com
Susie Q’s
Daily lunch specials, sandwiches and burgers, and house-made baked goods mean there’s something to please everyone. 607 W Stephen Foster Ave. | Bardstown, KY 40004 (502) 331-9298
The Bar at Willett
Located at the site of the historic Willett Distillery, The Bar at Willett serves up vintage whiskey, classic cocktails and small plates inspired by a storied family heritage. Reservations highly recommended to best accommodate you. 1869 Loretto Rd. | Bardstown, KY 40004 kentuckyBourbonwhiskey.com
Uncle Spoony’s Sports Bar & Kitchen
Come for wings, burgers, fried chicken, sandwiches - plus a good time watching your favorite sports games! 109 Guthrie Dr, | Bardstown, KY 40004
STAY
Kentucky Bourbon Manor
Experience the Old-World grandeur of a luxurious antebellum mansion by booking one of nine rooms inside two restored plantation homes, or a tenth room in the original smokehouse, at the Kentucky Bourbon Manor. A member of the National Historic Registry and Kentucky Landmark Plantation Home, the Kentucky Bourbon Manor guarantees a romantic stay in Bardstown, with rooms that include private fireplaces, antique furnishings, spiraling staircases, whirlpool tubs and canopy king beds. Every homemade breakfast served in the dining hall or room incorporates the theme of Bourbon. For those passing through Bardstown, the Bourbon Manor Bar also serves local microbrews and Bourbons, as well as a tapas menu with meats, cheeses and appetizers, starting at 5 p.m. from Thursday through Sunday. 714 N 3rd St | Bardstown, KY 40004 (502)-Bourbon; (800) 426-8726 Bourbonmanor.com
LOG STILL DISTILLERY TASTING ROOM
THE AMP AT DANT CROSSING
N G I O N E OF MANY LODGING OPTIONS AT DANT CR O S
LaQuinta Inn & Suites
Fairfield Inn & Suites
A brand-new, 100-room hotel just outside of downtown Bardstown. Enjoy modern amenities and design with touches of bourbon influence. With large size suites, meeting room options, a swimming pool, gym, and free breakfast, this location is a perfect spot to book for an extended stay in Bardstown! 1070 Morton Ave | Bardstown, KY 40004 marriott.com
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
For sleek and oh-so-contemporary, head to the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bardstown. You’ll find guestrooms with streamlined workspace and crisp bedding, a breakfast bar with healthy options, and an ultra-modern lobby with lots of elbow S room. Perhaps best of all is the surprise with a blast from the past: The hotel offers trolley rides to downtown Bardstown aboard the vintage inspired “Spirit of Bardstown.” 950 Morton Ave, | Bardstown, KY 40004 ing.com/holidayexoress Less than five miles from Bardstown Bourbon Company®, Lux Row Distillers™, Willett® Distillery, and Barton 1792 Distillery. Settle in with a heated indoor pool and 24/7 gym—plus, free breakfast and parking, WiFi and business center access, laundry facilities, a Bright Side Market, and event space. 74 Creekview Ct, Bardstown, KY 40004 wyndhamhotels.com
The Jailer’s Inn
One of the oldest cities in Kentucky, Bardstown is home to many historical buildings with a chilling allure. Visitors flock to Bardstown for Bourbon, but a few discover haunting tales as well. The rugged stone Jailer’s Inn downtown housed prisoners as the Nelson County jail until 1987.
Spook-seeking visitors can stay in the black and white jail cell, which provides an eerie picture of incarceration in the early days of Nelson County. If staying overnight in a cell doesn’t appeal to you, the former jailhouse provides six other more glamorous rooms for guests. 111 W. Stephen Foster Ave. | Bardstown, KY 40004 (502) 348-5551 | jailersinn.com ONE OF MANY ROOM STYLES AT DANT CROSSING
Talbott Inn
This charming 15 room boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Bardstown, is located on the courthouse square. Guests are treated to a full breakfast every morning with a variety of room selections. It is located next door to the Old Talbott Tavern, and is walking distance to most of the downtown’s other shops, bars and restaurants. 101 W. Stephen Foster Ave. | Bardstown, KY 40004 (502) 348-3658 | www.talbottinn.com
ATTRACTIONS
Dant Crossing
Dant Crossing is a one-of-a-kind destination to make lasting memories with family and friends. The pastoral campus is anchored by Log Still Distillery, where you can enjoy Monkʼs Road spirits. Enjoy world-class entertainment at their outdoor amphitheater, The Amp. Stay overnight at one of their unique lodging options on-site. Host an unforgettable experience at The Legacy, an 18,000-square-foot wedding and events venue. Enjoy acres of wooded walking trails and a 12-acre fishing lake. More attractions will open soon at Dant Crossing, including a fully functional private train depot and farm-to-table restaurant. 225 Dee Head Rd | New Haven, KY 40051 dantcrossing.com
My Old Kentucky Home State Park
One of the first state parks established in Kentucky, My Old Kentucky Home State Park evokes nostalgia for an old way of life in Kentucky during the 1800s. Visitors will delight in Victorian-era costumes and classic American music presented during
outdoor performances of the Stephen Foster Story. Stephen Foster was the famous American composer who wrote the state’s official ballad, “My Old Kentucky Home.” With an 18-hole golf course, campgrounds and tours of the 292acre estate’s antebellum mansion, families will enjoy non-stop activity at this historic park. 501 E. Stephen Foster Ave. | Bardstown, KY 40004 (502) 348-3502 | visitmyoldkyhome.com
The Kentucky Railway Museum
A family friendly stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, visitors can explore World War II era train car, take a ride on a steam locomotive and explore 70 pieces of historic railway equipment.
136 S. Main St | New Haven, KY 40051 (502) 549-5470 | kyrail.org
Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History
Located in historic Spalding Hall, the museum houses an extensive collection of the liquor memorabilia of Oscar Getz and other distillers from the 1700s to today. See George Washington’s millstone, a replica of Lincoln’s Tavern in Illinois, Carrie Nation’s hatchet and, new in 2018, the Prohibition Exhibition featuring interactive exhibits, life-size models, and more. 114 N. 5th St | Bardstown, KY 40004 (502) 348-2999 | whiskeymuseum.com
Year Round Events
Kentucky Bourbon Festival (September), Arts & Crafts Festival (October), Craft Beer Festival (October), Christmas ‘Round Bardstown (November & December)
At Mary’s
Located right in the heart of Main Street in Bardstown’s beautiful historic downtown. At Mary’s offers stunning art, curated antiques, personal wedding registries, fabulous silk floral arrangements, and gifts for all occasions. 116 N 3rd St | Bardstown, KY 40004 | shop-atmarys.com
Kentucky Bourbon Marketplace
Whether you are looking for the perfect t-shirt to commemorate your Bourbon country visit or you want to load up on Bourbon influenced foods, decor, and more, this is a one stop shop for all your Bourbon country souvenir and gift needs. Pick up a bottle of Bourbon while you’re there! 212 N 3rd St | Bardstown, KY 40004 kyBourbonmarketplace.com
Making Good Scentz
Offering handcrafted soaps made with vegetable, coconut and olive oils, oatmeal and a variety of herbs and teas, as well as body creams, lotion sticks, sugar scrubs, lip balms, bath bombs, body
DOWNTOWN SHOPPING
Whether you’re hunting for a heritage antique, authentic artwork, furniture goat’s milk soap or a box of Bourbon chocolates, you’ll find the items you’re looking for in the Bardstown shopping district. visitbardstown.com
T U CKY BOURBON MANOR N K E sprays and candles that smell like heaven! 123 N 3rd St | Bardstown, KY 40004 makinggoodscentz.com
Peacock on Third
The Peacock tries to recreate three characteristics - a warm, fun and welcoming environment; a well edited collection of clothing that is highend style at an affordable price; and service that is genuine, honest and not pushy. The Peacock focuses on women’s clothes, shoes, jewelry, accessories, and men’s clothing and shoes. 122 N 3rd St, | Bardstown, KY 40004 | (502) 348-2330
Shaq & Coco
Stylish furniture, brilliant lighting, and glamourous gifts are just a few products you can find right in the heart of downtown Bardstown. Shaq & CoCo has a pulse on the latest trends. 111 N 3rd St | Bardstown, KY 40004 (502) 349-7768 | shaqandcoco.com
