The 5 Kentucky Distilleries We Send First-Time Visitors To, and Why
Updated November 2026 · BourbonTown Tours
The top 5 Kentucky bourbon distilleries to visit are Maker's Mark in Loretto, Woodford Reserve in Versailles, James B. Beam in Clermont, Buffalo Trace in Frankfort and Wild Turkey in Lawrenceburg. Each gives a visitor a reason to go beyond the name on the bottle: bottle dipping in red wax, a site that dates to 1812, the Knob Creek bottling line, a National Historic Landmark campus, and a hilltop over the Kentucky River.
BourbonTown Tours has run 3,000+ private tours since 2012. Below is what makes each of the five worth a stop, how to choose between them, and the visitor tips we give every group. Beyond these five, our directory of bourbon distilleries in Kentucky groups every distillery we visit by driving cluster.
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Top 5 distilleries quick facts
- Maker's Mark: Loretto, about 30 minutes south of Bardstown. Allow two hours. Dip your own bottle in red wax.
- Woodford Reserve: Versailles, about 15 to 20 minutes from Lexington. Site dates to 1812. Tours by reservation.
- James B. Beam: Clermont, between Louisville and Bardstown. Anchor tour about 75 minutes. Knob Creek bottling line.
- Buffalo Trace: Frankfort. Trace Tour about 75 minutes. Open 9 to 5 Monday through Saturday and Sunday 11 to 5. Book 10+ weeks ahead.
- Wild Turkey: Lawrenceburg, about 30 minutes from Lexington. Standard tour 60 to 75 minutes.
- One day or two: Maker's Mark and Buffalo Trace sit about an hour and fifteen minutes apart, so the five take at least two days.
Discovering Bourbon's Best
Bourbon, America's native spirit, has been made in Kentucky for more than two centuries; the Beam family dates its bourbon to 1795, when Jacob Beam is said to have sold his first barrel. A distillery visit is the best way to see how it is made, from grain and mash to the barrel and the bottle, and to taste the differences between houses side by side.
The distilleries sit in five driving clusters: Louisville, Bardstown and beyond, Frankfort and Versailles, Lawrenceburg, and Lexington. Our five picks span four of them, which is worth knowing before you try to fit them into one trip.
Distillery Profiles
1. Maker's Mark Distillery, Loretto
Maker's Mark occupies 1,100 acres of Star Hill Farm at Loretto, about 30 minutes south of Bardstown, and the property is a National Historic Landmark. The modern distillery dates to 1953. Its secondary grain is red winter wheat rather than rye, which is why the bourbon lands softer and sweeter. Every barrel is rotated by hand through the warehouses as it ages, and the red wax on every bottle goes on by hand, so when you dip your own bottle you are repeating a step the distillery does on every bottle that leaves. Our rate covers the Maker's Mark visit; the bottle you wax-dip is a separate purchase. Allow two hours. Our Maker's Mark distillery guide has more on the Loretto visit.
2. Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles
Woodford Reserve sits on 78 acres along Glenn's Creek in Versailles, about 15 to 20 minutes from Lexington. Elijah Pepper started distilling on the site in 1812, and his son later hired Dr. James Crow, whose work is credited with making the sour mash method standard. The limestone warehouses, built in the 1800s, still hold aging barrels. The flagship tour follows Woodford's five sources of flavor: grain, water, fermentation, distillation and maturation. The property is a National Historic Landmark, and Woodford has been the Kentucky Derby's official bourbon since 1999. Woodford is open seven days a week from March to December and Thursday to Monday in January and February, and tours need a reservation. For more on a Versailles visit, read our Woodford Reserve distillery guide.
3. James B. Beam Distillery, Clermont
The James B. Beam campus in Clermont runs past 400 acres. The Beam story told on this campus begins with Jacob Beam's first barrel, said to have sold in 1795, and runs through seven generations of the family. The campus sits south of Louisville on the road toward Bardstown, so it connects a city start to a Bardstown afternoon. The anchor tour runs about 75 minutes through the production buildings and rackhouses and ends on a structured tasting. The reason many groups come is the Knob Creek bottling line, where you fill a bottle of Knob Creek and seal it by pressing your thumbprint into the warm wax; the bottle is bought separately. The Kitchen Table serves lunch on the campus. Our Jim Beam distillery guide has more on the Clermont tours and the Knob Creek bottling.
4. Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort
Buffalo Trace describes itself as the oldest continuously operating distillery in America. It holds National Historic Landmark status and is home to Pappy Van Winkle, Blanton's and Eagle Rare. The tour we book is the Trace Tour, which runs about 75 minutes, takes in an aging warehouse and ends with a tasting. The gift shop sits inside Warehouse A, an 1881 aging warehouse; it is open 9 to 5 Monday through Saturday and Sunday 11 to 5. Allocated bottles appear sometimes, never as a promise. If Buffalo Trace matters to you, reach out at least 10 weeks ahead. See the Buffalo Trace distillery guide.
5. Wild Turkey Distillery, Lawrenceburg
Wild Turkey sits on a Lawrenceburg hilltop above the Kentucky River, home of Wild Turkey 101 and Russell's Reserve. A father and son from the family that has worked here since 1954 have each held the master distiller role. The standard tour runs 60 to 75 minutes through fermentation, distillation and bottling, closing with a guided tasting of the core range. The visitor center that opened in May 2024 has two floors, a pair of bars and a patio over the river, and it is open to you even on a day with no tour ticket. More on Wild Turkey's tours and its riverside visitor center is in our Wild Turkey distillery guide.
Choosing Between Kentucky Distilleries: Selection Criteria
With this many distilleries to choose from, a clear idea of what you want makes the choice easier. These are the criteria worth weighing.
Location
Location decides more of your day than any name on your list. Maker's Mark and Buffalo Trace sit about an hour and fifteen minutes apart, so those two rarely share a day, while Buffalo Trace and Woodford Reserve are about 25 minutes apart. Pick the cluster first, then the distilleries inside it.
History
For many bourbon lovers, the history is part of the draw. Some sites go back to the 18th or 19th century: Woodford's to 1812, and the Beam family's bourbon to 1795. If bourbon's roots interest you, put the historic sites first.
Distinctive Experiences
Beyond the tasting, some distilleries offer something to do: dipping a bottle at Maker's Mark, filling a Knob Creek bottle at James B. Beam, or a cocktail class at Bulleit. Our guide to the best hands-on bourbon experiences lists them.
Signature Bourbons
Each distillery pours its own bourbons, and tasting them at the source is the best way to learn what sets one house apart: the wheated Maker's Mark against the high-rye mash bills elsewhere, or Four Roses' ten recipes side by side.
Tours
Do not skip the tour itself. Seeing how bourbon is made, from fermentation to the rickhouse, gives every pour that follows more meaning.
Visitor Tips
1. Plan Ahead
Some distilleries require reservations or keep limited hours, and some close on set weekdays: Four Roses, for one, runs no tours on Monday or Tuesday. Woodford Reserve, the second stop on this list, takes tour reservations every day from March to December, but only Thursday to Monday in January and February. Sunday hours are shorter and vary by distillery. If we plan your day around any of these five, we reserve the tickets as soon as your tour is confirmed.
2. Wear Closed-Toe Shoes
Closed-toe shoes are required. Tours cross production floors and warehouses with stairs and uneven surfaces, and at Wild Turkey you should expect real walking. Our page on what to wear on a bourbon tour has the detail.
3. Stay Hydrated
Summer in Kentucky is hot, and a rickhouse sits at whatever temperature the day outside is. Drink water through the day. We stock water in every vehicle.
4. Observe Safety Rules
Distilleries are working buildings. Follow the guide's instructions, smoke only in the designated areas, and respect the areas where photographs are not allowed.
5. Ask Questions
Distillery guides know their craft. Ask about the production process or the history of the brand when something catches your interest.
6. Arrive Early
An early start gives the day room. Buffalo Trace is open 9 to 5 Monday through Saturday and Sunday 11 to 5, so an early arrival buys you the retail floor before the first group moves.
7. Budget Wisely
Know what the day costs before you go. A private tour covers everything except lunch and driver gratuity, with distillery tickets included; bottles are always on the guest.
8. Don't Forget Souvenirs
Distillery gift shops sell bottles and memorabilia. Pick one bottle as a memento of the visit, and remember that allocated bottles are sometimes on the shelf, never a promise.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit all five of these distilleries in one day?
No. The five sit in four driving clusters, and Maker's Mark and Buffalo Trace alone are about an hour and fifteen minutes apart. Custom tours typically run three stops, and we can add or subtract on your planning call. Split the five across two days: Bardstown side for Maker's Mark and Beam, Frankfort side for Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve and Wild Turkey.
Which of the five is best for a first-time visitor?
Maker's Mark, if you want one stop that shows the whole process and lets you do something with your hands. The tour walks from the cypress fermenters to the warehouses, and any guest can dip a bottle in the red wax. Allow two hours there. Read the Maker's Mark distillery guide before you go.
How far ahead should we book Buffalo Trace?
At least 10 weeks. Buffalo Trace books out further than any other stop on this list, so it sets the booking clock for the whole trip. Maker's Mark opens its tour bookings about six weeks ahead, and most of the year a trip needs 2 to 4 months of lead time. Fall and spring weekends need more notice.
Which pair of the five fits best in one day?
Buffalo Trace and Woodford Reserve, about 25 minutes apart in the Frankfort and Versailles cluster, with Wild Turkey in Lawrenceburg as a third stop. On the other side of the state, Maker's Mark pairs with James B. Beam and the Bardstown distilleries. We build the day inside one cluster so the hours go to distilleries, not the highway.
Are distillery tickets included on a private tour?
Yes. On a BourbonTown Tours private tour, distillery tickets and tasting fees are included, and we book them once your tour is confirmed. Private tours run $275 to $425 per person depending on group size, plus 6% KY sales tax and a 3% booking fee. Lunch and driver gratuity are the only things the rate leaves out. Bottles you buy or dip are yours to pay for.
Are these distilleries open on Sunday?
Some are, with shorter hours. Buffalo Trace is open Sunday 11 to 5, and Sunday hours elsewhere are shorter and vary by distillery. A Sunday works as two stops around a sit-down lunch or three with a box lunch built into the quoted price. Tell us your dates and we confirm each stop is open before we book it.
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.