Advice on when to visit KY?

[dcbt]

I'm considering a trip to Kentucky in the fall, but I hate crowds, waiting, traffic, and all that implies.  As such, I want to do my best to to avoid any and all of the massive festivals, fairs, whatever else.  From a bit of googling, here is what I found:

Kentucky Bourbon Affair June 14-19
Kentucky Bourbon Festival Sept 13-18

What else am I missing?  (I feel like I have seen other festival abbreviations thrown around on this site.)  Any suggestions on good times to go and 'avoid the crowds'?  Or am I overestimating the cluster-f of it all and these big festivals really aren't that crowded?

Thanks in advance.

Edited February 23, 2016 by dcbt
typo

[fishnbowljoe]

The Sampler is the last weekend in April. There's also this: http://bourboncitybbqfestival.com

The Sampler isn't too awfully bad crowd wise, but the KBF is usually the proverbial cluster-f you referred to. Not sure about the the Bourbon and BBQ festival. Maybe check out the Kentuky and/or Bardstown tourism sights. They might give you a better idea of other goings on you may want to avoid.

Cheers! Joe

[Paddy]

Horse racing at Keeneland (in October) will usually bring quite a few folks in, but really it is a beautiful time to be in the bluegrass! 

[cazolman]

Bourbon Chase is October 14-15. I am not sure how much traffic this adds? 

[smokinjoe]

There is a great "crowd" at the Gazebo in Bardstown twice a year that I am sure you would love !!!    BBQ included !!! 

[flahute]

11 minutes ago, smokinjoe said:

There is a great "crowd" at the Gazebo in Bardstown twice a year that I am sure you would love !!!    BBQ included !!! 

This will be my next Kentucky trip once the Bourbon Affair is under my belt.

[kjbeggs]

So glad to see you ask this DCBT, as we are trying to plan a visit this year too. Pretty much decided to try and miss the Ky Bourbon Festival, but not sure when the best time to go would be.

I'm also wondering if we are better off trying to get in on a packaged tour, or just try to do everything on our own?

Seems like most of the packages do not include Buffalo Trace as a destination.

[Richnimrod]

18 minutes ago, kjbeggs said:

So glad to see you ask this DCBT, as we are trying to plan a visit this year too. Pretty much decided to try and miss the Ky Bourbon Festival, but not sure when the best time to go would be.

I'm also wondering if we are better off trying to get in on a packaged tour, or just try to do everything on our own?

Seems like most of the packages do not include Buffalo Trace as a destination.

BT is worth doing for sure; very 'historic and antiquey'.     Personally, I'd stick with doing 'em on your own.    More time to shop.    Plus you can schedule meals and breaks as you need 'em, where you want 'em.

[kjbeggs]

Thanks Rich. Any route advice? Places to not miss? (or skip). How many places can you typically hit in a day?

 

[dcbt]

2 hours ago, kjbeggs said:

So glad to see you ask this DCBT, as we are trying to plan a visit this year too.

Cool, we'll have to keep each other apprised of our plans in case we actually overlap there.

[kjbeggs]

Just now, dcbt said:

Cool, we'll have to keep each other apprised of our plans in case we actually overlap there.

For sure. Any ballpark on dates you are looking at?

 

[dcbt]

22 minutes ago, kjbeggs said:

For sure. Any ballpark on dates you are looking at?

 

We are operating under the premise of October-ish right now.  You?

[kjbeggs]

1 hour ago, dcbt said:

We are operating under the premise of October-ish right now.  You?

Was thinking about the first week in September, assuming tours will be going on that close to the Bourbon Festival.

Step-daughter is getting married in November, so October will likely be hectic.

[Richnimrod]

3 hours ago, kjbeggs said:

Thanks Rich. Any route advice? Places to not miss? (or skip). How many places can you typically hit in a day?

 

Two distilleries a day isn't at all bad, assuming you're selective about geography and route.    Three can even be done with some careful planning.    I'd stop at 3, unless you're really pressed for time.

My 'best distilleries' to see (strictly MHO) follow:

Buffalo Trace, Wild Turkey, Four Roses, Heaven Hill, Barton (1792/Tom Moore), Maker's Mark, Jim Beam.     Others I'd hit if time permits:

Willett, Woodford, Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in Louisville.    Others (craft, Tennessee Whiskey) exist, of course; but one can only do so much in a single visit.

Hope this helps some.

[kjbeggs]

Just now, Richnimrod said:

Two distilleries a day isn't at all bad, assuming you're selective about geography and route.    Three can even be done with some careful planning.    I'd stop at 3, unless you're really pressed for time.

My 'best distilleries' to see (strictly MHO) follow:

Buffalo Trace, Wild Turkey, Four Roses, Heaven Hill, Barton (1792/Tom Moore), Maker's Mark, Jim Beam.     Others I'd hit if time permits:

Willett, Woodford, Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in Louisville.    Others (craft, Tennessee Whiskey) exist, of course; but one can only do so much in a single visit.

Hope this helps some.

Absolutely, thanks!

[fishnbowljoe]

Whenever y'all decide to go, here are my top picks.

 

Buffalo Trace. Old, huge, full of history, and they give great tours, especially if you get Fred as a tour guide.  The Hard Hat tour is great.

Wild Turkey. New, sterile, automated. Just the opposite of BT.

Maker's Mark. Beautiful place. Tour's are pretty good. The only drawback there is the somewhat fluffy, scripted presentation given by the tour guides.

Four Rose's. The distillery itself is kinda neat. Pretty place, great architecture and history. Four Rose's Cox's Creek is good too. Single story warehouse's and the bottling lines are there.

 

As for the rest.

Heaven Hill. IMHO, it's fairly decent. Not much of a tour, but the visitor center is great. I will say I haven't been on the behind the scenes tour.

Barton. Decent tour, but not a lot going on most times it seems. The last few times I've been there they weren't distilling. At least you get to see the bottling line, and they seem to always be bottling something.

Woodford Reserve. A bit too high brow for me. The times I visited there, I got the feeling it was more of a "happening"  people could brag about, than an actual tour for history and knowledge. People were on their cell phones constantly. I felt a little out of place in jeans and a decent polo shirt. The lunches they offered were small and way over priced. 

Willett's. The two times I was there it seemed like the right hand didn't know what the left hand was doing. We were told one thing by the person greeting us, and another by the employee at the counter. Not too friendly either.

Jim Beam. I can't really comment  on much here. I haven't been on a tour there since they actually started doing guided tours that include the distillery. The tours I went on were basically self guided. A short walk around the visitor center, and grounds around the old Beam house, then back to the visitor center. The visitor center is pretty cool. Not sure if she's working there any more, but Bettye Jo's daughter Erica, was a fantastic hostess at the visitor center. The automated pourers they have for your free tastings are pretty unique.

 

One other thing for everyone to consider. Most distilleries charge for tours now. IIRC, BT, Barton and FR's are the only ones that don't. Just something for y'all to be aware of.

Hope this has helped some.

Cheers! Joe

 

[Paddy]

Four Roses also charges a nominal fee now (I can't remember how much), but they do let you keep the glass! 

They'll also reach back behind the bar and pour you a sample of a barrel proofer, if you ask! 

[fishnbowljoe]

Thanks for the correction Paddy.   I wasn't quite sure. I didn't go on any tours last year during the Sampler, and I didn't make it to the KBF. 

Cheers! Joe

[$helby]

I also thought the tour of Alltech (Town Branch) in Lexington was pretty neat and very convenient .  You tour the distillery and also the brewery.  Very different than others mentioned above.     Tour finished with samples of Bluegrass Sundown liqueur.   And almost all tasters liked it.   Since it is small and in town, 40 minutes is enough time to see it all.   

[flahute]

I've had really good luck at Willett with a great tour guide and some special pours at the tasting afterward (special pours because my brother-in-law bought one of the really expensive 25yr ryes.) Willett is so over hyped now that the gift shop is constantly being overrun every time they release a barrel as young as 11 years old. This might explain why they are getting less than friendly there - they are dealing with flippers every day.

Four Roses is great and a must do. The grounds are beautiful. The old multi-story rickhouses on site are great to look at ( and are leased to Wild Turkey). You get up close and personal with distilling equipment there which is great. Gift shop is nice with multiple Private Selection Barrels on hand.

Wild Turkey is sterile as Joe said. The Visitor's Center is great though and worth seeing (Disclaimer, I'm an architecture nerd because, well, I'm an architect, and the visitor's center at WT is cool and won an AIA award.)

BT hard hat tour is the absolute best. You must do this. Period.

[flahute]

P.S. to add. I'd stick with 2 per day so you can go at a relaxed pace, get a leisurely lunch, and soak it in. 3 is possible if you pick ones that are right next to each other such as Heaven Hill, Willett, and Barton.

[bullitt]

Lot's of really good information here. I went the first week of March last year. Nice temperatures, no crowds just about anywhere we went. We comfortably did two tours a day. Some distilleries offer the upgrade tours which I recommend. I would also say to skip the packaged tours and do them "on your own". You'll find something to enjoy about all of them.