Bardstown Distilleries Worth the Trip, and How to Route Them
Updated November 2026 · BourbonTown Tours
The best distilleries in Bardstown are Heaven Hill for the widest brand portfolio, Bardstown Bourbon Company for Rickhouse Barrel Thieving and dinner on site, and Willett for a small production tour, with Maker's Mark about 30 minutes away in Loretto. Bardstown sits about 50 minutes from Louisville, and Heaven Hill to Bardstown Bourbon Company is about 5 minutes.
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Distilleries in Bardstown
Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience
Location: Bardstown
Heaven Hill covers a broad portfolio under one roof: Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Larceny, Henry McKenna, and more. The Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience offers tours, tastings, and excellent gift shop finds.
Best for: Brand explorers, bourbon collectors, groups
Bardstown Bourbon Company
Location: Just outside downtown, about 5 minutes from Heaven Hill
A modern, large-scale distillery with an on-site restaurant and tasting bar. Standard distillery experiences are included; premium and VIP add-ons are quoted on your planning call.
Best for: Foodies, architecture lovers, special occasions
Learn more about Rickhouse Barrel Thieving
Maker's Mark (about 30 min away)
Location: Loretto, KY (about 30 min from Bardstown)
Maker's Mark sits in the country, a short drive from downtown Bardstown. The red shutters, country setting, and bottle-dipping experience make it the stop most first-time Bardstown groups ask for. The visit is covered on a private tour; the bottle you dip is one you buy.
Best for: Couples, photographers, first-timers
Where to Eat & Drink in Bardstown
| Spot | What It Is | Don't Miss |
|---|---|---|
| Bardstown Bourbon Company restaurant | On-site restaurant and tasting bar | Flight pairings with dinner |
Bardstown Day Trip Itinerary
Morning: Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, taste the full brand portfolio
Afternoon: Maker's Mark, bottle dipping and stunning scenery
Evening: Bardstown Bourbon Company dinner, end with a flight
Pro tip: If you're visiting during Kentucky Bourbon Festival (mid-September), book everything 6 months or more in advance. Sunday hours are shorter and vary by distillery: Heaven Hill keeps Sunday hours of 1 to 5 PM, and Willett is closed on Sundays.
For a private day based in town, see private bourbon tours from Bardstown.
How we route a Bardstown day
Bardstown rewards short hops. Heaven Hill to Bardstown Bourbon Company is about 5 minutes, and Heaven Hill to Willett is about 8, so a Bardstown day spends its hours at the stops. Maker's Mark sits about 30 minutes south in Loretto and needs about two hours on site, so when it is on the list we keep the other stops short. Sundays narrow the choice: Willett is closed on Sundays and Heaven Hill keeps Sunday hours of 1 to 5 PM. A group staying in Bardstown is collected later in the morning than a group coming down from Louisville, about 50 minutes north. Bottles bought in the Bardstown Bourbon Company shop cannot be shipped, so plan to carry them home.
Kentucky breweries
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Bardstown called the Bourbon Capital of the World?
Bardstown earned the title because of its concentration of distilleries, bourbon history, and hosting the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival. Heaven Hill, Bardstown Bourbon Company, Willett and several craft distilleries call Bardstown home, with Maker's Mark about 30 minutes away. Heaven Hill to Willett is about 8 minutes.
How far is Bardstown from Louisville?
Bardstown is about 50 minutes from downtown Louisville, making it an easy day trip. You can combine Heaven Hill and Maker's Mark in one day, then explore downtown Bardstown's bourbon bars. BourbonTown Tours picks you up at your hotel or door in Louisville, Bardstown or Lexington.
What is there to do in downtown Bardstown?
Downtown Bardstown is walkable and charming, with bourbon-focused bars to finish the day. Just outside downtown, Bardstown Bourbon Company's restaurant pairs dinner with a bourbon flight. Sunday hours are shorter and vary by distillery, and Willett is closed on Sundays, so plan a Sunday around the stops that are open.
When is the Kentucky Bourbon Festival?
The Kentucky Bourbon Festival is held in mid-September in Bardstown. It features tastings, special releases, music, food, and events across multiple distilleries. Book accommodations months in advance, and for a private tour that week, reach out 6 months or more ahead.
Is Willett Distillery open on Sundays?
No. Willett is closed on Sundays, and Heaven Hill keeps Sunday hours of 1 to 5 PM, so a Sunday in Bardstown runs on fewer, later options. On any other day Willett pairs easily with the in-town stops: Heaven Hill to Willett is about 8 minutes, and Heaven Hill to Bardstown Bourbon Company about 5.
How long should we allow at Maker's Mark?
Allow about two hours on site at Maker's Mark. It sits about 30 minutes south of Bardstown in Loretto, so when it is on the list we keep the other stops short. The visit is covered on a BourbonTown Tours private day, and the bottle you dip in red wax is one you buy.
Can I ship bottles from Bardstown Bourbon Company?
No. Bottles bought in the Bardstown Bourbon Company shop cannot be shipped, so plan to carry them home. Bardstown Bourbon Company also has an on-site restaurant and tasting bar, it is home to Rickhouse Barrel Thieving, and the day-trip itinerary on this page ends there with dinner.
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.
