United States Kentucky The 7 Best Distillery Tours in Kentucky Experience fun history at the iconic James B. Beam Distilling Co.’s distillery By Rich Manning Updated on 11/14/22 Share Pin Email Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. There’s more to the best distillery tours in Kentucky than just sampling delicious spirits. A great tour is about experiencing a spirit’s uncanny ability to provide a person with a sense of place, an appreciation of craftsmanship, and a window into history. When this happens, a tour can end up feeling like a warm gathering of friends. We’ve compiled a list of the best Kentucky distillery tours currently available to help you tap into this special vibe, whether you’re a casual bourbon fan or a passionate enthusiast. The 7 Best Distillery Tours in Kentucky of 2023 Best Overall: James B. Beam Distilling Co. Best Budget Tour: Four Roses Bourbon Best Craft Tour: Angel’s Envy Best Variety: Bourbon Tour (03): Buffalo Trace, Woodford, Four Roses, Wild Turkey, Other Best Non-Bourbon Tour: Copper & Kings American Brandy Best Behind-the-Scenes Tour: Maker’s Mark Best Kentucky Experience Tour: Bourbon and Derby: Maker’s Mark or Other + Churchill Downs The 7 Best Distillery Tours in Kentucky View All The 7 Best Distillery Tours in Kentucky Our Top Picks James B. Beam Distilling Co. Four Roses Bourbon Angel’s Envy Bourbon Tour (03) Copper & Kings American Brandy Maker’s Mark Bourbon and Derby See More (4) Final Verdict Methodology Best Overall : James B. Beam Distilling Co. Courtesy of James B. Beam Distilling Company Sign Up Now Why We Chose It A remarkable blend of history, education, and experience earns James B. Beam Distilling Co.’s offerings the distinction of top distillery tours in Kentucky. Pros and Cons Pros Extensive distilling history dating back to the 1780s and 1790s Military discount with valid ID Multiple experiences to choose from Cons Some experiences not offered regularly Tour Overview James B. Beam’s distilling legacy spans more than 200 years with the story beginning in the 1780s and their first whiskey being sold in 1795. This distillery has belonged to eight generations of the same family. The distillery is behind some of Kentucky’s most iconic bourbons, like Knob Creek, Basil Hayden’s, and Old Overholt, not to mention the family label. The importance of the distillery’s story and the craftsmanship behind its diverse product line make its interactive tours a must for bourbon enthusiasts. The basic 90-minute Beam Made Bourbon tour ($22) covers the Beam family’s rich history and provides a look at the distilling process through engaging, hands-on exhibits. The tour wraps up with a guided tasting at the property’s recently refurbished bar. Guests that want to take a deeper dive can sign up for Behind the Beam with Fred & Freddie Noe ($250), an intimate, four-hour behind-the-scenes look at Jim Beam’s operations. It’s capped off with a tasting of special labels with seventh-generation master distiller Fred Noe and his son, Beam family distiller Freddie. Guests can also sign up for a 20-minute product line tasting ($12), a cocktail class ($30), or a food-pairing experience ($50). The Beam Made Bourbon tour and 20-minute tasting are offered daily. Guests should check the website for the other experiences’ dates and availability. Best Budget Tour : Four Roses Bourbon Courtesy of Four Roses Distillery Sign Up Now Why We Chose It Four Roses lets visitors explore a history-rich distillery on tours that start at just $16. Pros and Cons Pros Cost-effective New visitor center at Lawrenceburg campus Cons Full tours not available from May to mid-July Tour Overview Four Roses provides two venues for bourbon enthusiasts to explore its distilling prowess. Its Lawrenceburg campus features a brand-new visitors center, complete with an interactive museum, retail shop, and bar. Its warehouse and bottling facility in Cox’s Creek, some 40 miles west, provides a more rustic experience. Both campuses offer tours and guided tasting experiences that provide a glimpse into a rich heritage of craftsmanship that dates to 1888. The Lawrenceburg tasting clocks in at 30 minutes, while the Cox’s Creek version wraps up in 45 minutes—perfect for guests with a packed schedule. Both locations also conduct longer tours with different focuses. Cox’s Creek’s 90-minute tour showcases how Four Roses ages and bottles its spirits. The 75-minute Lawrenceburg option features a walking tour of the Spanish mission-style distillery and an in-depth look at the distilling process. Four Roses’ shorter experiences cost $16, and the longer tours are $22. Cox’s Creek allows a maximum party of 10; Lawrenceburg’s cap is 18 for the guided tasting and 20 for the tour. Best Craft Tour : Angel’s Envy Courtesy of Angel's Envy Sign Up Now Why We Chose It This tour gives visitors an up-close look at Kentucky’s small-batch superstar. Pros and Cons Pros Can enjoy multiple expressions and cocktails Several experiences available Cost-effective basic tour Cons Bottle Your Own only offered Thursday–Saturday Haphazard cocktail class scheduling Tour Overview Angel’s Envy has only been around since 2006, but it boasts an intriguing legacy. Before launching this small-batch bourbon, Lincoln Henderson created several iconic whiskey brands, including Gentleman Jack and Woodford Reserve. Today, the Henderson family continues its legacy by upholding its commitment to award-winning craftsmanship.Angel’s Envy’s hour-long Signature Tour ($25) runs daily and guides guests through the distillation process in its downtown Louisville facility. Each tour concludes with a tasting of the brand’s port cask-finished bourbon and Caribbean rum cask-finished rye, along with a cocktail at its Finishing Room bar. Various cocktail classes are offered throughout the month, letting guests get behind the bar and learn from experts. Guests can also reserve a spot for the distillery’s Bottle Your Own experience, a one-hour session held Thursday through Saturday, where they can fill, cork, and label their very own bottle of port wine barrel-finished bourbon, a distillery exclusive. Cocktail classes (prices vary) and the Bottle Your Own experience ($149.99, maximum six guests) require advance reservations, which are recommended for Signature Tours as well. Best Variety : Bourbon Tour (03) : Buffalo Trace, Woodford, Four Roses, Wild Turkey, Other Sign Up Now Why We Chose It This offering lets bourbon enthusiasts build their own multi-stop itinerary around Kentucky’s biggest brands. Pros and Cons Pros Multiple historic brands to choose from No need to drive to the distilleries Unique experiences offered at each distillery Cons Lunch not provided All sales are final and cancellation penalties are charged Tour Overview This day trip makes it convenient to visit Kentucky’s bourbon heavyweights, letting guests build a three-stop tasting experience from a list of at least 11 Kentucky distilleries. There are several legacy brands to choose from, along with a number of distillers that are lesser known, yet rich in history, such as Limestone Branch Distillery and Preservation Distillery. Each distillery tour varies in length and offers unique experiences. Guests can tour production facilities, visit barrel warehouses, drink bourbon drawn straight from the barrel, and more, depending on the distilleries they choose. Each visit lasts between 20 and 75 minutes. Tours start from $239.99 and last from five to eight hours, again depending on the distilleries chosen. Guests gather at a set meeting place and are then driven to each destination, eliminating the need to drive. Tours are dependent upon good weather and a minimum number of participants; full refunds are provided if those conditions aren’t met. Best Non-Bourbon Tour : Copper & Kings American Brandy Sign Up Now Why We Chose It Tours at Copper & Kings introduce visitors to a different style of Kentucky distilling. Pros and Cons Pros Limited-release samples Chance to purchase a hand-filled, personalized bottle Cons Barrel-to-Bottle Experience only offered Friday–Sunday Personalized. hand-filled bottle price not publicized Tour Overview Unlike other big-name Kentucky distilleries, Copper & Kings’ focus isn’t bourbon. The Louisville-based distillery’s forte is pot-distilled American-style brandy, although it doesn’t entirely forsake Kentucky’s legacy spirit — the company matures its brandy in used American oak bourbon barrels. The $25 Copper & Kings Experience tour provides a look at the brandy-making process and how it differs from traditional bourbon distilling. The hour-long tour concludes with a quartet of samples drawn from the distillery’s portfolio of brandies and other spirits, like gin and absinthe. Guests can also pay $35 to partake in the Barrel-to-Bottle Experience. This hour-long tour emphasizes the craftsmanship behind barrel aging and allows guests to sample cask-strength, limited-release spirits. Guests can also pay extra to fill a personalized, hand-signed bottle with one of these unique expressions. The Copper & Kings Experience tour happens daily at the top of the every hour, starting at 10:00 a.m. with the last tour at 5:00 p.m. The Barrel-to-Bottle Experience is offered Friday to Sunday at 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. Both tours have a 12-guest maximum. Best Behind-the-Scenes Tour : Maker’s Mark Walter Bibikow / Getty Images Sign Up Now Why We Chose It True aficionados can take a deep dive into distilling’s technical side at this famed distillery. Pros and Cons Pros Different tours for different levels of interest National Historic Landmark Multiple tour times offered throughout the day Cons Behind the Bourbon Tour not available on weekends Tour Overview Maker’s Mark prides itself on having stuck to “old-fashioned” techniques ever since launching in 1953. Behind this old-school mindset is a deeply technical process that involves craftsmanship and attention to detail at every step of the way. It’s a process that’s made Maker’s Mark one of Kentucky’s most cherished brands. This process is also the backbone of the distillery’s Behind the Bourbon tour, an immersive two-hour tour designed for the serious bourbon geek. It covers the intricate details of bourbon production by breaking down the technical aspects of distilling, maturation, aging, and bottling. A tasting at the tour’s conclusion highlights the results of these efforts. Looking for something more casual? The distillery’s most popular offering, The Maker’s Mark tour, is a 75-minute guided tour through the distillery’s grounds at Star Hill Farm, a National Historic Landmark. Guests will learn about the brand’s history and the basics of bourbon-making before concluding with a guided tasting. The Maker’s Mark Tour ($22) takes place daily and has a 20-guest maximum. Behind the Bourbon ($55) is available Monday through Friday and has a 12-guest cap. Tickets must be purchased online; there are no on-site sales. Best Kentucky Experience Tour : Bourbon and Derby : Maker’s Mark or Other + Churchill Downs Woodford Reserve Bourbon Whiskey Sign Up Now Why We Chose It This tour hits the perfecta, exploring two quintessential Kentucky activities on one trip. Pros and Cons Pros Two iconic activities on one trip Can choose from four distilleries Can add a second distillery Cons No lunch provided Tour Overview Bourbon and horse racing practically define Kentucky tourism. This unique day trip lets guests experience both: It includes a distillery tour and bourbon tasting at one of Kentucky’s most popular distilleries and a visit to Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, where guests will partake in a 90-minute walking tour of the racetrack, engage in interactive exhibits, and meet the thoroughbreds that call the venue home. The tour’s default distillery option is Maker’s Mark, but guests can request to visit Bardstown, Woodford Reserve, or Buffalo Trace distillery instead. The base cost of this 10-person-maximum tour is $239. Guests can add a second distillery visit for $29.99. Guests can request a pickup from their hotel to the tour’s meeting point. Good weather is required for the experience; refunds are granted in the event of inclement weather. Final Verdict The best distillery tours in Kentucky offer terrific experiences that create unforgettable memories. James B. Beam Distilling Company’s engaging presentation of its 200-plus-year, eight-generation history makes it the state’s best. Hard-core bourbon-heads will love to geek out on Maker’s Mark’s Behind the Bourbon tour, while Copper & Kings American Brandy is a great option for travelers seeking something a bit different. Methodology We explored dozens of singular distillery tours and tour packages to build our list. Our criteria included brand recognition, type of tours offered, and price. For multi-stop tours, we compared the offering against the experience a guest would have booking directly with each distillery. Extra consideration was given to a brand’s legacy and its impact on the distilling industry, both inside and outside of Kentucky. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit