What's new

Bourbon Trail here I come!!!

Rating - 100%
2   0   0
Joined
Jan 22, 2009
Messages
327
Location
Asheville, NC
So just had to post this as I'm quite excited. Tomorrow morning at 5:00am marks the beginning of a great spring break for my last year as an undergraduate. My best friend and I knew that we wanted to do a trip but we also wanted to make it drivable and we both LOVE bourbon AND live in Asheville so it's Kentucky baby!

Basically we hit the road at 5:30am and don't stop until we hit Buffalo Trace at 11am! Oh man it's gonna be fun we're also going Four Roses, Tom Moore (1792), Woodford Reserve and Makers Mark. I'll be sure to post some pics, since I'm hoping to pick myself up a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle 20 for graduation night celebration (if you've heard of this you probably already know how coveted it is...). Wish me luck!!!
 

Craig Mac

BoM 4/10 7/11 12/14
Rating - 100%
446   0   0
Joined
Aug 25, 2008
Messages
9,494
Location
Hampton Roads VA
Sounds fun!! Dig me some Makers Mark, had a roomate whose folks lived up the street from the plant and he always brought back a few bottles. Be safe bro!
 

hdroadglide

BoM x 2, BoY 2011
Rating - 100%
514   0   0
Joined
Sep 23, 2008
Messages
10,486
Location
south of KCMO
just saw that on the travel channel this week as one of the 21 place all men must go. they also said there was a bar in louisville that served flights of all the bourbons together so you could compare them....mmmmm
did the jack daniel's tour last year and it was cool. this sounds four times better.
 
Rating - 100%
4   0   0
Joined
May 1, 2007
Messages
690
Location
Bonaire, GA
Friend of mine and I are going to do that this summer. Let us know how it goes. I think you get a shirt and a passport or something too. I'm just going for the drunk and passout, but to each his own. :)
 
Rating - 100%
2   0   0
Joined
Jan 22, 2009
Messages
327
Location
Asheville, NC
Hello my brothers, I just got back from Kentucky last night and ohhh what a time it was! I hit SIX of the eight distilleries and each one had it's own awesome features to offer travelers.

The big surprise of the trip was Tom Moore distillery (makers of 1792) which gave an INCREDIBLY detailed tour. We met employees at every level including the master chemist and distiller and we were the only two people on tour! Pam, the woman who I talked to on the phone to reserve the tour was also the woman who designed the walkthrough and the one who gave us the tour, Pam you rock!!! I also may have picked up a few bottles of the stuff while I was there....



The big bourbon surpirse of the trip was the Vintage Bourbon 17 year old which cost me $42 (the Pappy 20 cost me $125) and had flavors I've never experienced before in a bourbon. The Pappy van Winkle 20, as expected, is by far the best alcoholic spirit that has ever washed across my tongue but it will be reserved only for very special occasions.

Jim Beam was the big disappointment of the trip since they did a self guided tour that included a movie, about ten minutes of walking around and a tasting at the end of JB black and Bookers. We didn't even get to go inside any part of the factory! This wasn't a big deal since I'm not a Jim Beam fan anyways but just be aware of this if you plan on making the trip out there!

Woodford reserve was absolutely gorgeous and we got to dip our hands in the sour mash at Makers Mark which was pretty sweet! Buffalo Trace was very much awesome since they make soooo many different types of bourbon (something like 19) and the smell there, the "Angels Share" was something I can't describe with words.

All in all it was everything I hoped it would be and I feel like quite the bourbon know-it-all at the moment :thumbsup:

More pics to come soon!
 
Top