What better way to kick off the fall season than a trip along Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail during National Bourbon Heritage Month in September.
National Bourbon Heritage month was first established in 2007 to celebrate Kentucky as the birthplace of bourbon, which was declared in 1964 by an Act of Congress as “America’s Native Spirit”. Bourbon was first produced by settlers in early Bourbon County, Kentucky (hence its name) who brought their whiskey distilling knowledge and the practice of aging whiskey and charring the barrels for better flavor from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France and other European countries. The combination of highly successful corn crops and the presence of limestone deposits that made for clean, pure water produced the sweet spirit unique to America.
Although bourbon whiskeys are produced in other parts of the world, bourbons made for consumption for the United States must be produced in the United States. Today, more than 95% of all bourbon produced in the United States is produced in Kentucky.
Hit the Trail…
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is the ultimate road trip for bourbon lovers. With more than eight of the most famous distilleries in the world, in addition to several craft distilleries, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a path of heritage and history…not to mention the finest bourbons in the world.
Stretching from Lexington to Bardstown, Shepherdsville, to Louisville and all the areas in between, you’ll visit distinctive tasting rooms of some of your favorite bourbons and enjoy perfectly paired cuisines in various distillery restaurants.
Jim Beam Day…
Don’t forget to celebrate Jim Beam Day! Plan to be in the area on September 13, visit the Jim Beam American Stillhouse in Clermont for distillery tours, fun, music, specialty cocktails and to honor the legendary James B. Beam. Be sure to visit Fred’s Smokehouse for barbecue! Can’t get any better.
If you are looking to stay the weekend, you might want to check out Shepherdsville hotels. These Bourbon Trail accommodations are a short drive away on I65.
The best way to enjoy bourbon? According to Jim Beam’s Seventh Generation Master Distiller, Fred Noe – “Any damn way you please.”
