Wheelchair Access on Kentucky Distillery Tours, Stop by Stop
Updated November 2026 · BourbonTown Tours
Some Kentucky distillery tours are fully wheelchair accessible and some are only partly. Woodford Reserve and Angel's Envy say their full tour paths are accessible, Buffalo Trace makes only its Trace Tour ADA accessible, and Maker's Mark books accessible experiences by email. BourbonTown Tours asks about mobility needs at the inquiry and builds the route around stops that fit. Our larger vehicles all accommodate wheelchairs.
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Quick Facts
- Woodford Reserve: the tour path is wheelchair accessible; an elevator serves the 32 steps up to the fermentation floor.
- Angel's Envy: the entire tour path is wheelchair accessible.
- Buffalo Trace: the Visitor Center and Gift Shop are ADA accessible; the Trace Tour is the only ADA-accessible tour.
- Maker's Mark: accessible experiences at Star Hill Farm are scheduled by email through the Maker's Mark site.
- Service animals: Woodford Reserve allows service animals on the tour path.
- BourbonTown Tours: our larger vehicles all accommodate wheelchairs. Tell us about accessibility needs when you submit your inquiry; custom tours typically run three stops, and we can subtract one.
Which Kentucky distilleries have wheelchair-accessible tours?
Four of the most-booked distilleries publish clear accessibility answers, and they differ.
- Woodford Reserve (Versailles): the distillery tour path is wheelchair and handicap accessible. There are 32 steps up to the fermentation floor, with an elevator to assist. Service animals are allowed on the tour path. Plan the rest of a Woodford stop around that elevator with our Woodford Reserve distillery guide.
- Angel's Envy (Louisville): the entire tour path is wheelchair accessible. Angel's Envy asks guests to tell its Brand Home visitor center staff about accessibility needs on arrival, if they are comfortable sharing. Details on our Angel's Envy distillery tour page.
- Buffalo Trace (Frankfort): the Visitor Center and Gift Shop are ADA accessible, and the Trace Tour is the only ADA-accessible tour. Our Buffalo Trace distillery guide covers the Trace Tour.
- Maker's Mark (Loretto): Star Hill Farm offers accessible experiences, scheduled by email through the Maker's Mark site. See our Maker's Mark distillery guide.
Accessibility is set per tour, not per distillery. Ask about the exact experience before you book.
Why some distillery tours are hard to access
Distilleries are working production sites first. Tour paths run through stillhouses, fermentation rooms and barrel warehouses built for making bourbon, not for visitors. Woodford Reserve's path climbs 32 steps to the fermentation floor, with an elevator as the alternative. Angel's Envy says most of its distillery is not climate controlled, and guests spend 30 to 40 minutes in hot, humid areas. Buffalo Trace limits ADA access to one tour.
Heat is the factor guests overlook. Woodford Reserve notes temperatures inside can pass 90 degrees in spring and summer. A guest who uses a wheelchair, has a heart or breathing condition, or tires quickly in heat will have an easier day outside the summer months.
How BourbonTown Tours plans an accessible bourbon day
Tell us about accessibility needs when you submit your inquiry. We use the answer to pick the stops and the vehicle. Custom tours typically run three stops, and we can add or subtract on your planning call, so a guest who tires easily can do two stops with a longer lunch. Lunch falls between stops 1 and 2 or stops 2 and 3, depending on the itinerary, which builds in a seated rest. Water is stocked in every vehicle.
On the call we ask three things: whether the guest uses a wheelchair full-time or can transfer and walk short distances, whether the chair folds, and how long the guest is comfortable on a tour path. Then we route the day around stops where the whole path works, such as Woodford Reserve and Angel's Envy, and we book the Trace Tour at Buffalo Trace. Our fleet runs from an Audi A8 sedan for up to 3 guests and a Yukon XL for up to 6 to Sprinter and Transit vans for 7 to 14, and our larger vehicles all accommodate wheelchairs. Start with our custom tours page.
Questions to ask a distillery before you book
- Is the whole tour path accessible, or only the visitor center and gift shop?
- Are there stairs on the path, and is there an elevator?
- Is the tour climate controlled, and how long is the walking portion?
- Is seating available during the tasting?
- Can a service animal or a companion come along?
For the full planning picture, read our bourbon tour planning guide.
Frequently asked questions
Are most distillery tours wheelchair accessible?
Many are, but not every tour at every distillery. Woodford Reserve and Angel's Envy say their full tour paths are wheelchair accessible. Buffalo Trace makes its Visitor Center, Gift Shop and Trace Tour ADA accessible, and only the Trace Tour among its tours. Maker's Mark schedules accessible experiences by email. Ask about the specific tour, because access varies by experience at the same site.
Is Buffalo Trace wheelchair accessible?
Partly. Buffalo Trace's Visitor Center and Gift Shop are ADA accessible, and the Trace Tour is the only ADA-accessible tour at the Frankfort distillery. The Trace Tour is also open to visitors of all ages. If a guest in your group uses a wheelchair, book the Trace Tour and plan the rest of the visit around the Visitor Center and Gift Shop.
Is Woodford Reserve wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Woodford Reserve says its distillery tour path is wheelchair and handicap accessible. The path includes 32 steps up to the fermentation floor, and an elevator is available to assist. Service animals are allowed on the tour path. Woodford warns the distillery can pass 90 degrees in spring and summer, so plan water and rest for guests sensitive to heat.
Is Angel's Envy wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Angel's Envy says its entire tour path in downtown Louisville is wheelchair accessible, and it asks guests to tell Brand Home visitor center staff about any accessibility needs on arrival. Most of the working distillery is not climate controlled, and tours include 30 to 40 minutes in hot, humid areas, so guests sensitive to heat should plan for that.
Can BourbonTown Tours plan a tour for a guest who uses a wheelchair?
Yes. Tell us about the need when you submit your inquiry and we plan around it. We route the day through stops with accessible tour paths, such as Woodford Reserve and Angel's Envy, book the Trace Tour at Buffalo Trace, and can cut the day from three stops to two. Our larger vehicles all accommodate wheelchairs, and on the planning call we confirm the chair type and the vehicle for your group.
Plan an accessible bourbon day
Tell us about mobility needs in your inquiry and we build the stops and the vehicle around them. We reply the same day between 8 AM and 8 PM Eastern.
