The Bourbon Trail

On Saturday, one of AJ's co-workers wives set up a day of fun touring the bourbon distilleries and participating in some bourbon tastings. We had so much fun and it was so nice to meet some new people! We started with a trolley tour of Bardstown, KY, which highlighted a couple distilleries and a lot of gorgeous, historical homes. We only made it to Heaven Hill and Makers Mark. They were so cool and we had SO much fun. If you come to visit, we can go tour some and do some bourbon tastings. The best part is... THEY ARE ALL FREE and we only live about 45 minutes away. AJ and I picked up some Bourbon Trail Passports, after we visit all the distilleries and get our passports stamped, we get a free t-shirt!! I never dreamed touring some distilleries would be so cool.

At Heaven Hill, they were not doing the whole tour because it is a walking tour and it was too cold and rainy. We were only able to watch a video about making bourbon and do a tasting. Below is a photo of their tasting setup. I was very impressed with how much thought was put into their welcome and tasting centers.



The next photo is of the warehouses where the white oak bourbon barrels are aged for at least 7 years. The black on the bottom of the buildings is a mold that is only present when aging bourbon.


The next stop we made was at Makers Mark. It was awesome. You normally go on a guided tour but they were having a special holiday open house when we were there and you had to walk around by yourself. It was cool, but I would really like to take the guided tour. Their campus is gorgouss. At Makers Mark, they paint their aging warehouses black so the mold cannot be seen. I don't have any photos of them because it was dark out. Below are some photos from Makers Mark...

The large copper vats distilling the alcohol.


The yeast mixing with the grain alcohol. This part was so cool, you could stick your fingers in and play with the yeast and taste it. I wanted to climb in, they looked like giant 12' hot tubs!



Another...
Dipping the bottles in wax, I heard when you purchase a bottle from them, you get to dip it in the hot wax yourself. They were not doing this on Saturday because they were crazy busy. I would love to go back and hand dip my own bottle. Each case also comes with an entire bottle dipped in wax, this bottle is known as the "slam dunk." If you ever see this bottle on the liquor shelves, you should buy it, they are collectors items! And yes, all of the employees were dressed as elves and their entire campus was decorated in Christmas lights AND it was snowing giant flakes while we were there, so gorgeous!


So anytime you are around bourbon country, I highly recommend stopping, or you can come to visit us and we will show you around!!

On another note, my Uncle Craig, got an albino buck in Coshocton, Ohio this past week!! Way to go!!! Super cool!!!


My Mom is coming tomorrow with a load of wedding gifts and to help me get this place organized! I am so excited. This week is going to be full of organizing, shopping for bedroom furniture AND baking Christmas goodies!! I think that Hot & Spicy Chex Mix, Buckeyes, molasses cookies, chocolate crinkle cookies, puppy chow (Special for Drew) and special for my Mamoo... Christmas cut-outs!

Until then...au revoir!