Flying In for a Bourbon Tour? Start Here.
Updated November 2026 · BourbonTown Tours
To plan a Kentucky bourbon tour from out of state, fly into Louisville (SDF) or Lexington Blue Grass (LEX), stay in Louisville, Bardstown or Lexington, and give the trip two days: one in the Bardstown cluster and one in Frankfort and Versailles. Book 2 to 4 months ahead for most of the year and earlier for fall and spring weekends.
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Quick Facts
- Airports: Louisville (SDF) or Lexington Blue Grass (LEX).
- Pickup: at your hotel in Louisville, Bardstown or Lexington; airport pickup can be arranged.
- Distilleries in a day: three is typical, so a two-day trip covers 5 to 6, and the count is set on your planning call.
- Price: per person and set by your group size; the exact rate and fees are in the cost answer below.
- Included: everything except lunch and driver gratuity. On the two-day plan below, that means the Maker's Mark, Heaven Hill, Buffalo Trace, Castle & Key and Woodford Reserve tickets, which we reserve once you confirm.
- Private: every tour is private to your group, never mixed with strangers.
- Booking ahead: 2 to 4 months for most of the year; earlier for fall and spring weekends.
Airport & Arrival
- Louisville (SDF): the main airport.
- Lexington Blue Grass (LEX): an option if you are visiting central Kentucky distilleries first.
- Hotel pickup in Louisville, Bardstown or Lexington; airport pickup can be arranged.
How Many Days Do You Need?
1 day
- Visit three distilleries in one cluster. Perfect if bourbon is part of a larger Louisville trip.
2 days
- The sweet spot. Day 1: Maker's Mark and Bardstown. Day 2: the Frankfort and Versailles cluster. Covers 5 to 6 distilleries total.
3 days
- The full experience. Add smaller craft distilleries, bourbon restaurants, and relaxation time.
2-Day Itinerary (Our Recommendation)
Day 1: Bardstown & Loretto
- Morning hotel pickup in Louisville
- Maker's Mark (Loretto, about 30 minutes past Bardstown): allow about two hours; the visit is covered, and a bottle you dip in the red wax is yours to buy
- Lunch in Bardstown
- Heaven Hill (Bardstown)
- Back at your hotel in Louisville inside a 6 to 8 hour day
A short third Bardstown stop such as Willett fits only when the day is running ahead of the clock, and never on a Sunday, when Willett is closed. On Sundays Heaven Hill runs 1 to 5 PM, so we plan the day around that window.
Day 2: Frankfort & Woodford County
- Hotel pickup (time varies by itinerary)
- First stop: Buffalo Trace (Frankfort), the Trace Tour
- Second stop: Castle & Key, tour and tasting, in the same cluster
- Lunch in Frankfort or Versailles
- Third stop: Woodford Reserve (Versailles)
- Drop-off at your hotel or the airport, inside a 6 to 8 hour day
This order runs Wednesday through Saturday (Thursday through Saturday in January and February, when Woodford Reserve is closed Tuesday and Wednesday), since Castle & Key is closed Monday and Tuesday. On a Sunday, Buffalo Trace is open 11 to 5, so the day starts later and 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.
Where to Stay
- Downtown Louisville: best for nightlife, restaurants, walkable.
- Bardstown: best if most distillery visits are south. Charming small town.
- Lexington: best when Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, Four Roses and Wild Turkey are the names on your list.
Our guide to where to stay for a Kentucky bourbon tour covers each city.
Coming from Another State
- Chicago: the Chicago bourbon tour guide covers the fly-in weekend in detail.
- Atlanta, Florida, New York, Texas and Virginia: our guides from Atlanta, Florida, New York, Texas and Virginia cover each trip.
- Nashville: bourbon tours from Nashville covers the drive north, the time change and Nashville pickup.
- Everywhere else, DC included: fly into Louisville (SDF) or Lexington (LEX), and the private tour day starts from your hotel in Louisville, Bardstown or Lexington.
How to plan a Kentucky bourbon trip covers lead times through the year.
Planning from out of state
Frequently asked questions
Do you pick up from the airport?
Yes, airport pickup from Louisville International (SDF) can be arranged. Share your flight details with your dates and we will work it into the plan. Hotel pickup runs in Louisville, Bardstown and Lexington, so if you fly in the day before, the tour day starts at your hotel the next morning instead.
Where should we stay?
Stay in Louisville, Bardstown or Lexington, the three cities where tours start at your hotel. Our where-to-stay guide lists hotels in each city alphabetically, not ranked, with what each base means for a morning pickup. We do not book or sell hotel rooms, and we hold no arrangement with any hotel we list, so reserve wherever suits your group.
Should I rent a car?
Not for the bourbon days: we do the driving, so nobody drinks and drives. Every tour is private to your group, in our vehicle, from hotel pickup to drop-off. If you're spending extra days exploring Louisville or Lexington, a rental car can be useful for non-bourbon activities.
What's the best time of year to visit?
Every season has its appeal. October, April and May are the peak months. July and August are hot but less crowded. December to March is quieter, with easier distillery access and occasional bourbon release events. Sunday hours are shorter and vary by distillery. Willett is closed on Sundays.
How much does a private bourbon tour cost?
Private tours run $275 to $425 per person depending on group size, plus 6% KY sales tax and a 3% booking fee. The rate covers everything except lunch and driver gratuity. Flights, hotel rooms and lunch in Bardstown or Frankfort stay on your side; the distillery tickets for every stop sit inside the rate, and we reserve them after you confirm. A deposit reserves your date. Your quote includes the full details.
How far ahead should we book?
Two to four months ahead is best. Fall and spring weekends fill first, so plan earlier for those seasons. We can sometimes build a day on a week's notice, but distillery tours may already be full. Fly-in groups should hold off on airfare until the tour date is set; Derby week needs 4 to 6 months, and the mid-September Bourbon Festival 6 months or more. If Buffalo Trace matters to you, reach out at least 10 weeks ahead. On the two-day plan, that 10-week rule usually sets the booking date, because Buffalo Trace is the first stop on Day 2.
Plan your private bourbon day
Tell us your dates, where you're flying from, and how many days you have, and we'll build the itinerary around your trip.
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.
Your tour includes:
- Trip planned by a Bourbon Experience Coordinator; a professional guide drives the tour
- Distillery tickets booked for you
- Lunch reservation made (meal on your tab)