There's a reason that bourbon is historically produced in Kentucky (even though legally it can come from anywhere in the US): the limestone filtered water and locally-grown grains just plain taste better, and the fact that the region has, for most of history, made most of America's bourbon, means that the people there have a deep passion for it, and they also have old-school, time-tested recipes, too. Whether you're a bourbon snob, or you just like drinking, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a must-visit.
Over in Bardstown, there's Willett Distillery. This is a great place to visit to counterbalance the bigger distilleries along the Bourbon Trail. Though, not nearly as polished as distilleries like Maker's Mark, it's a much more personal, intimate and informative experience than what you'll get touring a bigger operation.
After that, check out the Maker's Mark Distillery. It's worth it to buy a bottle here, because you get to dip the top in the iconic red wax yourself! Also, take some time to enjoy the bucolic setting of this distillery.
Over in Lebanon, hit up the Limestone Branch Distillery, which seeks to make everything as authentic as possible, and as a family-owned and operated craft distillery, their local heritage goes back a few generations. It's a great destination on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour, which focuses on smaller and more inventive distillers.
From Lexington head over to Danville, Kentucky and visit Wilderness Trace Distillery. This distillery is so new that their bourbon is still aging, although they do have other liquor you can sample when you visit, like rum aged in old bourbon bottles and unfiltered vodka. They're really knowledgeable about the science of bourbon and booze, and the tour is fantastic.
Also in Lexington is the Barrel House Distillery, which makes small-batch bourbon, as well as moonshine, vodka and rum, which makes it worth a stop. You could easily spend an hour or two here, sampling their beers and boozes and chatting with the owners.
When you're ready for a hearty meal, there's super delicious BBQ right off I-75 at Red State BBQ. This is a great bit of Texas BBQ in the heart of Kentucky. The brisket is renowned, especially with their Texas hot sauce. They have a good beer selection, excellent pulled pork, tasty baked beans and a variety of BBQ sauces.
Then make a quick stop at folk legend Daniel Boone's Gravesite for a great photo op (especially if you happen to have one of those coontail hats).
Next up is the Buffalo Trace Distillery. It's not a part of the Kentucky Distillers Association's official Bourbon Trail, but they are, however, open for tours and tastings. They have a few iconic bourbon brands that are produced here: Buffalo Trace, Blanton's (with the little horse on top of the round bottle), and Eagle Rare. If you've got a sweet tooth, definitely also try the bourbon cream (it's perfect if you're still not sold on straight bourbon) and bourbon brittle.
Even the most enthusiastic bourbon-lover can't just barrel through and sample bourbon at 9 places all in a rush. You won't be able to fully appreciate every sip if you don't take a break to clear your mind and your palate! Luckily, there's lots to do (and eat) in Kentucky while traveling from distillery to distillery (or rather, from sample of bourbon to sample of bourbon). Eating is important, of course, and luckily, there are tons of local restaurants where you can get a great meal to soak up some of the liquor. Plan to spend at least 2-3 days traveling along the Bourbon Trail, and stop off at some of the many charming Kentucky towns along the route.
The best time of year for a road trip down the Bourbon Trail: Summer is high season along the trail, so you'll have more crowds to contend with, and hotels will be slightly more expensive. A beautiful time of year, however, is mid-September to late-October. You'll avoid most crowds, enjoy off-season hotel prices, and the scenery along Kentucky's rural roads is unsurpassed in autumn. From beautiful fall foliage, to pumpkin patches and farm cider, this is the best time to experience the Bourbon Trail.