Three Distilleries in One Day
Updated November 2026 · BourbonTown Tours
Yes, you can visit three Kentucky distilleries in one day, and three is the number our custom tours typically run. The best route is Buffalo Trace, Castle and Key and Woodford Reserve, all in the Frankfort and Versailles cluster. A tour day runs 6 to 8 hours with lunch between stops, and we can add or subtract a stop on your planning call.
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Quick Facts
- Is it possible: yes. Custom tours typically run three stops, and we can add or subtract on your planning call.
- Best 3-stop combo: Buffalo Trace, then Castle and Key, then Woodford Reserve, all in the Frankfort and Versailles cluster.
- Start time: pickup time varies by itinerary. Buffalo Trace's gift shop keeps hours of 9 to 5 Monday through Saturday and Sunday 11 to 5, so a Sunday day starts later.
- Lunch: between stops one and two or two and three, depending on the itinerary, at a table we book and confirm; the meal goes on your tab.
- Day length: a tour day runs 6 to 8 hours, including the drive out and back.
- Buffalo Trace: If Buffalo Trace matters to you, reach out at least 10 weeks ahead.
- Tickets: we book distillery tickets once your tour is confirmed, and they are included in the rate.
The Rules
- Book everything in advance. Three distilleries means three reservations. Last-minute hopes don't work when you're on a tight schedule. On a private tour we book the distillery tickets once your tour is confirmed.
- Start early. Pickup time varies by itinerary, and we set it so the first stop opens the day, later on a Sunday. This builds buffer time you'll need.
- Plan two long stops and one short one. Buffalo Trace and Maker's Mark each need about two hours with the tasting and the gift shop, and a tour day runs 6 to 8 hours, drive out and back included.
- Take a real lunch break. Don't skip it. You're tasting bourbon at every stop. Food matters. Build lunch into the middle of the day.
- Don't drive. After three tastings, you shouldn't be behind the wheel. Book transportation or designate a sober driver who's okay missing tastings.
Best 3-Distillery Route: Frankfort and Versailles
Buffalo Trace first, Castle and Key second, lunch, then Woodford Reserve.
Why this works:
- Buffalo Trace (first stop): Historic grounds, and the gift shop keeps hours of 9 to 5 Monday through Saturday and Sunday 11 to 5. If Buffalo Trace matters to you, reach out at least 10 weeks ahead.
- Castle and Key (second stop): tour and tasting, in the same cluster.
- Lunch (after the second stop on this route): at a table we book and confirm nearby; the meal is on your tab.
- Woodford Reserve (third stop): Most scenic distillery. The drive through horse country adds to the experience.
- All three sit in one cluster, so the day goes to the distilleries rather than the highway, and you are back at your hotel inside a 6 to 8 hour day.
- Castle and Key is closed on Monday and Tuesday, so this route runs Wednesday through Saturday (Thursday through Saturday in January and February, when Woodford Reserve is closed Tuesday and Wednesday). Woodford Reserve itself is open seven days a week from March to December, and Thursday to Monday in January and February. On a Sunday, Buffalo Trace keeps hours of Sunday 11 to 5, so the day starts later and we plan two distilleries with a sit-down lunch or three with a box lunch.
Alternative Routes
The Hands-On Route
Jim Beam in the morning, then Heaven Hill, then Maker's Mark. Ends with bottle dipping at Maker's Mark, where each guest buys the bottle they dip. All in the Bardstown and beyond cluster. Heavy on experiences, light on driving. Maker's Mark needs about two hours and sits about 30 minutes past Bardstown, so keep the Heaven Hill stop a short one.
The Bardstown Focus
Heaven Hill in the morning, lunch in Bardstown, then Maker's Mark, then one more. Concentrates everything in one area. Less driving, more time at each stop. Add Bardstown Bourbon Company or Willett for a third, and keep it short, since Maker's Mark takes about two hours on site.
Timing Template
| Order | Activity |
|---|---|
| Pickup | At your hotel or door. Pickup time varies by itinerary. |
| Stop 1 | Distillery #1 tour and tasting. Buffalo Trace keeps hours of 9 to 5 Monday through Saturday and Sunday 11 to 5. |
| Stop 2 | Distillery #2 tour and tasting |
| Lunch | Between stops 1 and 2 or 2 and 3, depending on the itinerary, at a table we book and confirm |
| Stop 3 | Distillery #3 tour and tasting |
| End of day | Back at your hotel inside a 6 to 8 hour day |
Adding or Subtracting a Stop
Custom tours typically run three stops, and we can add or subtract on your planning call. Drive time between stops decides the answer, so a day inside one cluster holds more than a day split across two.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you visit 3 bourbon distilleries in one day?
Yes, if you plan carefully. Pickup time varies by itinerary, so we set it to put you at the first stop as the day opens. Plan two long stops and one short one, take a real lunch break, and accept you won't see every exhibit at each location. Custom tours typically run three stops, and we can add or subtract on your planning call. A tour day runs 6 to 8 hours, including the drive out and back.
What's the best 3-distillery itinerary?
Buffalo Trace first, Castle and Key second, lunch, then Woodford Reserve. All three sit in the Frankfort and Versailles cluster, so the day goes to the distilleries. This timing runs Wednesday through Saturday (Thursday through Saturday in January and February); on a Sunday we plan two distilleries with a sit-down lunch or three with a box lunch. If Buffalo Trace matters to you, reach out at least 10 weeks ahead.
Should I book a tour or drive myself for 3 distilleries?
Book transportation. After three tastings, you shouldn't be driving. A private tour handles logistics and everyone can enjoy every pour. With BourbonTown Tours, every tour is private to your group, we book distillery tickets once your tour is confirmed, and the rate covers everything except lunch and driver gratuity.
What time should I start for 3 distilleries?
Pickup time varies by itinerary, and we set it so your first stop opens the day. Buffalo Trace's gift shop keeps hours of 9 to 5 Monday through Saturday and Sunday 11 to 5, so a Sunday day starts later. An early first stop builds the buffer you need for the tasting and the gift shop, leaves room for lunch between stops, and keeps the third stop inside a tour day of 6 to 8 hours.
What is a good 3-distillery route on the Bardstown side?
Jim Beam in the morning, then Heaven Hill, then Maker's Mark, all in the Bardstown and beyond cluster. The route is heavy on experiences and light on driving. Maker's Mark needs about two hours and sits about 30 minutes past Bardstown, so keep the Heaven Hill stop a short one. The day ends with bottle dipping at Maker's Mark, where the visit is covered and the bottle each guest dips is theirs to buy.
Plan your private bourbon day
BourbonTown Tours has run 3,000+ private tours since 2012. Every tour is private to your group, never mixed with strangers, and covers everything except lunch and driver gratuity. Distillery tickets are included.
Private tours run $275 to $425 per person depending on group size, plus 6% KY sales tax and a 3% booking fee.
