Private Bourbon Tours from Lexington
Updated November 2026 · BourbonTown Tours
Private bourbon tours from Lexington are custom-built day trips that combine pickup at your Lexington hotel or Blue Grass Airport, visits to distilleries in the surrounding cluster, typically three stops, lunch at a Versailles or Lexington restaurant, and drop-off back at your Lexington location. The closest distilleries to Lexington sit in Versailles (Woodford Reserve, 15 to 20 minutes), Lawrenceburg (Wild Turkey, Four Roses, 30 minutes) and Frankfort (Buffalo Trace, 30 minutes), with Castle and Key in the same Frankfort and Versailles cluster. The in-Lexington Distillery District adds Town Branch, James E. Pepper, and Barrel House for groups staying downtown.
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BourbonTown Tours, based in Louisville, has run 3,000+ private tours since 2012 and books tours from Lexington starting points. Rates 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: distillery tickets, tasting fees, trip planning by a Bourbon Experience Coordinator, the private vehicle with a professional guide who drives the tour, and a confirmed lunch reservation. Every tour is private to your group only. Never mixed with strangers. Sedan up to 3 guests, SUV 1 to 6, van 7 to 14. Groups over 14 travel in multiple vehicles or a bus or motor coach we contract.
What we tell Lexington-based groups planning a first trip: the Versailles side (Woodford Reserve, with Castle and Key a short drive away in the same cluster) is the strongest single-day option from Lexington. It is the closest cluster. If Buffalo Trace matters to you, reach out at least 10 weeks ahead.
Lexington Bourbon Tour Quick Facts
- Location: Lexington, Kentucky (Fayette County).
- Nearest airport: Blue Grass Airport (LEX), about 15 minutes from downtown.
- Versailles (Woodford Reserve): 15 to 20 minutes west.
- Lawrenceburg cluster (Wild Turkey, Four Roses): 30 minutes southwest.
- Frankfort (Buffalo Trace): 30 minutes west.
- Bardstown cluster: approximately 75 minutes west.
- In-Lexington Distillery District: James E. Pepper and Barrel House, with Town Branch around the corner (downtown, a short ride from central Lexington hotels).
- Tour price: $275 to $425 per person depending on group size, plus 6% KY sales tax and a 3% booking fee. Covers everything except lunch and driver gratuity.
- Vehicles: sedan up to 3 guests, SUV 1 to 6, van 7 to 14.
- Stops per tour: Custom tours typically run three stops, and we can add or subtract on your planning call.
- Day length: 6 to 8 hours, pickup to drop-off, with the distilleries and lunch inside that.
- Keeneland race meets: April and October; Lexington hotel prices climb, distillery routing unaffected.
Coming for a Keeneland meet in April or October, or flying into LEX? Send those dates first so we can check that week's distillery slots.
Or call us: 1-844-BOURBON
Which Distilleries Can You Visit From Lexington?
From Lexington, private bourbon tours route to five main distillery groupings. Each is workable as part of a one-day tour. The right grouping depends on your dates, your tour preferences, and what is actually bookable.
The Versailles Cluster(15 to 20 minutes west of Lexington)
- Woodford Reserve Distillery · historic distillery in Versailles with copper pot stills.
- Castle and Key Distillery · a short drive from Woodford Reserve in the same Frankfort and Versailles cluster; restored historic distillery (formerly Old Taylor) with botanical gardens and a strong gin program alongside bourbon.
The two-distillery day of Woodford Reserve plus Castle and Key plus lunch in Versailles or back in Lexington is a strong introduction to bourbon for first-time visitors. Castle and Key closes for weather at times.
The Frankfort Cluster(30 minutes west)
- Buffalo Trace Distillery · in Frankfort.
- Castle and Key · crosses with the Versailles cluster.
- Woodford Reserve · also in this cluster, about 25 minutes from Buffalo Trace.
- Whiskey Thief Distilling · a casual barn-style tasting stop that works at the end of a Frankfort day.
- Glenns Creek Distilling.
The Frankfort cluster expands the Versailles itinerary with Buffalo Trace. Groups set on Buffalo Trace should contact us at least 10 weeks ahead, and we book it once the tour is confirmed. Buffalo Trace is open Sunday 11 to 5, so a Sunday from Lexington can still anchor on it.
The Lawrenceburg Cluster(30 minutes southwest)
- Wild Turkey Distillery · hilltop visitor center with views over the Kentucky River.
- Four Roses Distillery · in Lawrenceburg, a short drive from Wild Turkey; it makes ten bourbon recipes from two mash bills and five yeast strains. It runs no tours on Monday or Tuesday, and on any day its tasting is usually the better choice than the tour.
The Lawrenceburg cluster is the right call for groups specifically interested in Wild Turkey (including the Russell's Reserve line) or Four Roses. Wild Turkey and Four Roses pair in a single morning, with the afternoon routed back toward Versailles.
The In-Lexington Distillery District
- Town Branch · the original Lexington brewery and distillery, downtown.
- James E. Pepper · historic distillery in the warehouse district.
- Barrel House · small-batch operation in the same area.
The in-Lexington Distillery District suits groups staying downtown who want a day without a long drive. The three distilleries are a short ride from central Lexington hotels, close enough together to combine on foot or with a single short drive between them.
The Bardstown Cluster(75 minutes west)
- Heaven Hill, Willett, Bardstown Bourbon Company, Maker's Mark and others.
The Bardstown cluster is feasible from Lexington as a long-day itinerary or as a two-day with overnight in Bardstown. We do not recommend Bardstown as a same-day round trip from Lexington unless the group has specific Bardstown commitments. The drive each way breaks the routing economy.
Tell Us Your Dates and Group Size
Tell us your dates and group size. We propose routing options across the Versailles, Frankfort, Lawrenceburg, in-Lexington, or Bardstown clusters based on what is actually bookable.
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How We Route a Private Lexington Tour Day
A Lexington tour day is built on this pattern:
- Morning pickup: from your Lexington hotel or Airbnb, or from Blue Grass Airport when that is arranged. Pickup time varies by itinerary.
- First distillery: typically Woodford Reserve as the morning anchor. Versailles is 15 to 20 minutes from downtown Lexington and Woodford Reserve handles the morning tour slot efficiently.
- Second distillery: Castle and Key (a short drive from Woodford Reserve) for groups staying on the Versailles side. Or transit to Buffalo Trace in Frankfort (25 minutes from Versailles) for groups with Buffalo Trace on the day.
- Lunch: restaurant reservation in Versailles, Frankfort, or back in Lexington depending on the routing. On Sundays, shorter distillery hours mean a three-distillery day runs on a box lunch built into the quoted price; a sit-down lunch fits a two-distillery Sunday.
- Third distillery: another stop in the Frankfort and Versailles cluster, Wild Turkey or Four Roses if pivoting to Lawrenceburg, or a return-to-Lexington distillery district stop.
- Return: the drive back to Lexington, paced to your last tour time.
- Drop-off (6 to 8 hours after pickup): back at your Lexington hotel or starting point.
For groups arriving via Blue Grass Airport (LEX): we pick up directly from the airport and route to the first distillery without a hotel stop, then end the day at your Lexington hotel for drop-off. The first-day-of-trip itinerary often runs 7 to 8 hours including airport pickup.
For groups staying in Lexington several days: we customize each day for a different cluster (Versailles day one, Frankfort or Lawrenceburg day two, in-Lexington Distillery District day three).
Lunch on a Lexington Tour Day
Lunch is a confirmed restaurant reservation, booked as part of the itinerary and matched to your party size. The meal itself is on your tab; a box lunch can be built into the quoted price on request. These are the tables we book on Lexington days:
- The Stave (Versailles side). Sits between Woodford Reserve and Castle and Key and is the popular pick.
- Wallace Station. The longtime Versailles-area deli and bakery.
- Staxx BBQ (Frankfort side). Fast and inexpensive barbecue on Buffalo Trace days.
- The Brown Barrel (Frankfort side). The sit-down pick in downtown Frankfort.
We confirm the reservation and the lunch slot as part of standard planning, and adjust for party size and dietary needs.
Visiting Lexington During Keeneland Race Meets
Keeneland race meets run twice per year in Lexington: a Spring meet from early April to late April and a Fall meet from early October to late October. Race days reshape Lexington logistics significantly.
What changes during Keeneland meets:
- Lexington hotel prices climb for race days, so book your Lexington hotel room early.
- Restaurant reservations become competitive across downtown Lexington and Versailles.
- Tour scheduling needs to account for race start times if the group has Keeneland tickets.
What does not change: Keeneland sits far enough from the distilleries that race traffic has no effect on distillery routing. The Versailles cluster runs normally throughout race meets.
What we do differently for Keeneland-week tours:
We coordinate distillery routing around race day schedules. Racing runs in the afternoon, which leaves room for one or two morning distillery tours before the races for groups holding Keeneland tickets. If your group is in town for two days, our standing recommendation is to give racing and bourbon separate days rather than compressing both into one. The Wednesday and Thursday race days are easier to work into a tour day than the weekend cards.
Race-day tours of the track itself sit on our Keeneland race track tour page.
Keeneland and Bourbon in One Trip
We route Lexington bourbon tours around race meet schedules. Tell us your race day and we build the day around it.
Blue Grass Airport (LEX) and Lexington Hotel Pickup
We pick up directly from Blue Grass Airport (LEX). LEX is about 15 minutes from downtown Lexington. A fly-in day starts at LEX with airport pickup, then routes directly to the first distillery.
Lexington hotels we pick up from:
- Central Lexington: 21c Museum Hotel Lexington, Hyatt Regency Lexington, Hilton Lexington/Downtown.
- Newtown Pike and interstate access: Marriott Lexington Griffin Gate Golf Resort & Spa, Embassy Suites by Hilton Lexington/UK Coldstream.
- On the Versailles side: The Kentucky Castle, for groups staying between Lexington and the Versailles distilleries.
- Hamburg and east Lexington: residential Airbnbs and corporate housing concentrations.
- LEX airport hotels: for early-departure or late-arrival flights.
For airport pickup specifically: collect your bags at LEX baggage claim, meet your guide at the door just outside baggage claim at the arrivals pickup area, load luggage into the vehicle, and route directly to the first distillery. Your luggage stays in the vehicle for the day and gets unloaded at your Lexington hotel at drop-off.
An Airbnb or a vacation rental works the same way as a hotel. We pick you up at your hotel or door in Lexington, and we coordinate the address, parking situation, and timing in advance.
Lexington Private Bourbon Tour Pricing
Custom private tours starting from Lexington or with Lexington pickup run $275 to $425 per person depending on group size, plus 6% KY sales tax and a 3% booking fee, and include:
- All distillery tour tickets and tasting fees at every distillery on your day.
- A private air-conditioned vehicle sized to the group: sedan up to 3 guests, SUV 1 to 6, van 7 to 14.
- A Bourbon Experience Coordinator who builds your Lexington day with you.
- A professional guide who drives your group and leads the tour all day.
- A confirmed lunch reservation at a Versailles, Frankfort, Lawrenceburg or Lexington restaurant matched to your party size and timing. You settle the meal at the restaurant, and a box lunch can be built into the quoted price on request.
- Pickup and drop-off at your Lexington hotel or Airbnb. Airport pickup can be arranged.
On a custom private tour, the price covers everything except lunch and driver gratuity. Because our vehicles leave from Louisville, a Lexington start adds one hour of vehicle time to the quote: $100 for an SUV or $150 for a van, plus 6% KY sales tax and a 3% booking fee.
Other ways to book:
- Custom Private Tour, with the route built around the distilleries you choose: $275 to $425 per person depending on group size, plus 6% KY sales tax and a 3% booking fee.
- Barrel Crawl: tastings only and no distillery tours, at a lower per-person rate. Same private-vehicle, private-group structure; see the Barrel Crawl page for what is included.
- Multi-Day Tours: quoted for your dates and group. Covers Versailles, Lawrenceburg and Frankfort across consecutive days.
- Transportation Only, driver and vehicle for a day you plan: SUV for 1 to 6 guests, $100 an hour. Van for 7 to 14 guests, $150 an hour. 4-hour minimum, plus 6% KY sales tax and a 3% booking fee. Billing runs from the time our vehicle leaves our garage until it returns. Distillery tickets and lunch are on you.
Price per person by group size
Rates in this table are per person and do not yet include the 6% KY sales tax, the 3% booking fee or the extra hour of vehicle time for a Lexington start.
| Guests | Per person |
|---|---|
| 2 | $425 |
| 3 | $389 |
| 4 | $375 |
| 5 | $355 |
| 6 | $325 |
| 7 | $305 |
| 8 | $295 |
| 9 | $285 |
| 10 or more | $275 |
Airport pickup days and Keeneland-week tours use the same table.
Your quote adds those three items to the table rate, so the figure you see before you book already carries them. You get the quote in advance, worked out from your group size and your dates. A deposit reserves your date. Your quote includes the full details.
Why Lexington Visitors Choose BourbonTown Tours
Before you pick a Lexington operator, check the record: 692 five-star reviews, and Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice in 2024, 2025 and 2026. BourbonTown Tours is based in Louisville and has run 3,000+ private tours since 2012, with Lexington pickups on the Versailles, Frankfort and Lawrenceburg routes. Every tour is private to your group only. Never mixed with strangers.
We visited two distilleries outside Lexington and had an absolute blast! They picked up our group of 10 right on time, guided us for half the day…
My group had a great experience with BourbonTown Tours from start to finish! From speaking and emailing with Ron to get our transportation and itinerary ironed out, to spending the day with our driver, Reid.
Our coordination leading up to our tour was great, communication was great. Our driver Tommy was professional, knowledgeable, and punctual. Would absolutely recommend them and use them in the future.
Related Kentucky Bourbon Resources
- Woodford Reserve Distillery Guide · the Versailles anchor.
- Castle and Key Distillery Guide · the restored historic distillery.
- Wild Turkey Distillery Guide · the Lawrenceburg hilltop.
- Four Roses Distillery Guide · the second Lawrenceburg stop.
- Best Times to Visit Kentucky Distilleries · including Keeneland timing.
- Private Bourbon Tours from Louisville · for groups starting from the west side.
- All Custom Tour Options · how a private day gets built.
- Barrel Crawl · a tastings-only day at a lower per-person rate.
- Best Bourbon Tours From Lexington · how the Lexington options compare.
- Buffalo Trace Distillery Guide · the Frankfort stop, about 30 minutes from Lexington.
- Keeneland Race Track Tour · racing and bourbon in one trip.
- Private Bourbon Tours in Bardstown · the cluster 75 minutes west.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do private bourbon tours from Lexington cost?
Private bourbon tours from Lexington cost $275 to $425 per person, set by group size, plus 6% KY sales tax and a 3% booking fee. The rate includes distillery tickets, tastings, the private vehicle, your guide and a confirmed lunch reservation in Versailles, Frankfort, Lawrenceburg or Lexington. Lunch and driver gratuity stay on your tab. Multi-day Lexington trips are quoted for your dates.
Which distilleries are closest to Lexington?
Woodford Reserve in Versailles is the closest headline distillery, 15 to 20 minutes west of downtown Lexington. Buffalo Trace in Frankfort and the Lawrenceburg pair of Wild Turkey and Four Roses sit about 30 minutes out, with Castle and Key in the Frankfort and Versailles cluster. Town Branch, James E. Pepper and Barrel House are downtown. Bardstown is 75 minutes west and works best as a two-day trip.
Do you pick up from Blue Grass Airport (LEX)?
Yes. We pick up at Blue Grass Airport (LEX), about 15 minutes from downtown Lexington. Your guide meets you just outside baggage claim, your luggage rides in the vehicle all day, and the day ends at your Lexington hotel. A fly-in day runs within the same 6 to 8 hours. Send your flight number with your dates and we set pickup around your arrival.
Can I visit Buffalo Trace on a tour from Lexington?
Yes. Buffalo Trace is in Frankfort, about 30 minutes west of Lexington, and we book the Trace Tour once your tour is confirmed. Reach out at least 10 weeks ahead if it is the stop you want most. Buffalo Trace is open Sunday 11 to 5, which makes it a strong Sunday anchor from Lexington. Woodford Reserve and Castle and Key fill the rest of the day.
How does Keeneland race week affect bourbon tour scheduling?
Keeneland's race meets run in April and October, and they change hotel prices, not distillery routing. Lexington hotels fill and rates climb on race days, so book rooms early. Racing runs in the afternoon, which leaves room for one or two morning distillery tours. Wednesday and Thursday race days combine with a tour most easily.
How long is a Lexington bourbon tour day, and how many stops?
A Lexington tour day runs 6 to 8 hours from pickup to drop-off. Custom tours typically run three stops, and we can add or subtract on your planning call. A typical day is Woodford Reserve, Castle and Key and one Frankfort or Lawrenceburg stop, with lunch between. On Sundays the day holds two distilleries with a sit-down lunch, or three with a box lunch built into the quoted price.
Are your tours private to my group only?
Yes. Every tour is private to your group; we never combine parties. You ride with the people you booked with plus your guide. The sedan seats up to 3 guests, the SUV up to 6 and the van up to 14. Groups over 14 travel in multiple vehicles or a bus or motor coach we contract. Tell us your headcount with your dates and we match the vehicle to the group.
Plan Your Lexington Bourbon Tour Day
Tell us when you want to come and who is in your group. We build the rest. We reply the same day between 8 AM and 8 PM Eastern. Requests after 8 PM get a reply the next morning.
Your custom Lexington itinerary includes:
- A confirmed routing plan for your stops, typically three, from the Versailles, Frankfort, Lawrenceburg, or in-Lexington Distillery District clusters, with tour times we have verified are bookable on your dates.
- A confirmed lunch reservation matched to your party size and the day's routing.
- Pickup and drop-off logistics for your Lexington hotel or Airbnb, with luggage handling if you are arriving on the day of the tour.
692 five-star reviews · Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · 3,000+ private tours since 2012
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