Kentucky's authentic bourbon road trip
Covington, Frankfort, and Bardstown tell the authentic Kentucky Bourbon story. Come find some of the best bourbon experiences around on a road trip that puts spirited fun within easy reach.
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Three Cities Tell The Authentic Kentucky Bourbon Story
Travel through Covington, Frankfort, and Bardstown while tasting the best bourbon and making lasting memories.
Trip Ideas For Your #CFBroadtrip

In 1818, Catherine Spears Carpenter Frye made bourbon history as the first person to write down the recipe for sour mash. A century later, Margie Samuels made her own historic contribution when, in the 1950s, she created the most iconic whiskey packaging in the industry with Maker’s Mark’s hand-dipped red wax seal. In 2016, Joyce and Autumn Netherly made headlines as Kentucky’s only mother/daughter bourbon distillery owners. As far back as the early 1800s, Kentucky women have been leaving their mark on the bourbon landscape. “The bourbon industry isn’t just for the boys,” said Stacy Prichard, vice president of distillery relations at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival , held every September on the grounds of Spalding Hall in Bardstown. “There are a lot of women in bourbon—many with chemical and engineering degrees. There are lots of women in leadership roles. Pretty much anything women want to do, they’re doing it.” 

Bourbon and chocolate. Bourbon and bacon. Bourbon and the Great Outdoors. Bourbon is the ultimate pairing partner. And in Northern Kentucky , bourbon sipping and strolling, tasting and touring go hand in hand—especially when the neighborhoods explored are architectural beauties with lots of character and independently owned shops and restaurants, like in Covington and Newport, or countryside charmers surrounded by gorgeous scenery, like Florence. Whether walking, shuttling, or ridesharing, these communities seamlessly blend bourbon adventuring and outdoor fun while also supporting safe and responsible exploration. COVINGTON: A WALKABLE BOURBON HUB Bourbon Experience: Stroll MainStrasse Village, a German-inspired, pedestrian-friendly, National Register of Historic Places neighborhood. Pop into Stoney’s Etc. toy shop, Hail Records & Oddities, and other unique shops, or take a snap of the Goose Girl Fountain, and relax at Goebel Park with its historic glockenspiel clock tower. Pop into B-Line ® stop, the Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar , and let the staff guide you to your perfect cocktail, mixed with one of a selection of more than 800 bourbons. Sip inside or enjoy on the patio. Alternatively, ride-share to Ludlow to experience one of NKY’s most original distilleries, Second Sight Spirits , with its Las Vegas show-inspired Swami still, crystal balls, and tours that include a tasting of the distillery’s Oak Eye Kentucky Bourbon, fine rums, moonshine, and fan-favorite hazelnut liqueur. Outdoor Adventure: Walk the Roebling Suspension Bridge for sweeping views of the Ohio River unwinding between Cincinnati’s stunning skyline and Northern Kentucky’s church-steepled landscape. At night, when illuminated, the experience is magical. Play a round of disc golf at Devou Park, a 700-acre playground with one of the most photogenic views in the region at its iconic city overlook. Follow the outdoor art on foot with walking tours in Covington’s Central Business District with its mid-1800s architecture to see murals, mosaics, statues, and sculptures, including Clive the Alien, a 50-foot green space invader hanging out—or over—the Midtown Parking Garage and keeping a watchful eye on the earthlings below. 

Not only does Kentucky make 95 percent of the world’s bourbon, but the Bluegrass state wholeheartedly celebrates it too, with world-class festivals and events one can find only in a Gateway to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, Kentucky’s Bourbon Heart, and the Bourbon Capital of the World. BOURBON WEEK Kentucky’s annual salute to all things bourbon gets underway with bourbon-related experiences, events, products, and opportunities for some one-on-one time with bourbon’s Master Distillers—all in celebration of the state’s bourbon heritage. Here’s how the Come Find Bourbon destinations are kicking off festivities in 2025: Covington celebrates with a bourbon and baseball mashup: Kicking off on June 12, The B-Line ® teams up with the Florence Y’all’s for a “Bourbon, Baseball, and Big Rewards” promo in honor of National Bourbon Day in Northern Kentucky that lasts through June 30. Join the fun starting with a B-Line promo at the Y’all’s game on June 12, featuring a special B-Line bourbon cocktail at the Thomas More Stadium’s bar, as well as a limited custom-branded bourbon baseball giveaway. Celebrations continue along the B-Line, adding more opportunities to win a Family Four-Pack of Y’alls tickets and a Luxury Table Experience at a future Y’alls home game. Downtown Frankfort Bourbon Week - A Bluegrass Experience , June 13-20: This bourbon-themed week kicks off on Friday, June 13, with music by New Orleans blues band Jackson and the Janks. Sponsored by Bourbon on the Banks and House of Commons: Bourbon Library, events include bourbon tours and activities showcasing the craftsmanship, history, and culture behind America's native spirit; bourbon-inspired goods from local artisans—from handcrafted souvenirs to gourmet treats; a Signature Cocktail Celebration, featuring “The Frankfort,” a custom-crafted drink similar in spirit to the iconic Manhattan, and a cocktail stroll. Bardstown – National Bourbon Week ™, June 9-15: Presented by Buzick Construction, this community-wide celebration of the city and its ties to bourbon’s history, growth, and evolution brings together world-class distilleries, exclusive tastings, unique educational experiences, and Bardstown’s vibrant, historic downtown. Activities include culinary offerings, cocktails, classes, tastings, and special events planned by a number of Bardstown-area distilleries. New this year: The Mash Up, a special evening pairing Bourbon Capital Alliance’s nine partner distilleries with a local culinary partner. “As we kick off the second annual National Bourbon Week™, we’re proud to celebrate not only Nelson County’s deep-rooted bourbon heritage but also the growing economic impact this event brings to our community,” said Stacey Phelps, president of Visit Bardstown . “This weeklong celebration is a true toast to the spirit, craftsmanship, and community that make us so special.” 
Plan a Mid-Week Road Trip Through KENTUCKY'S Bourbon Country
Why wait for the weekend when you can experience the best of bourbon now? Enjoy better deals and smaller crowds during your next bourbon adventure.
Come Find Bourbon in Covington, Frankfort, and Bardstown
Plan your #CFBroadtrip using the interactive distillery map below.
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Limewater Bistro and Bar is family-owned and -operated. It's located in Frankfort, Kentucky's historic Glen Willis house on the banks of the Kentucky River. It opened in August 2022 in a brick home that was built in 1815. Head here for food and drink made from fresh, homemade ingredients served in a beautiful setting. #CFBroadtrip #kybourbonroadtrip
@limewaterbistro @visitfrankfortky
The Pickle Factory in historic downtown Covington KY is a boutique hotel inside a former pickle factory. Rent the entire 8 BR/8 BA space to sleep up to 16 people or rent individual apartments to accommodate smaller numbers of guests. Pickle-themed art and pops of green nod to the building's past while free parking and WiFi are among its modern amenities.
Covington's Bonded Spirit Bluegrass Festival added new tickets! If you're all about the #music there are general admission tix available for $50. March 2- don't miss out!
https://www.smokejustis.com/events/bonded-spirit-bluegrass-festival-covington-kentucky-2024
#festival #bourbon #kentucky #bands #funtimes
@buffalotracedistillery announced yesterday that it will open a first-of-its-kind American whiskey experience at 32-33 Long Acre in the Covent Garden area of London, England in late 2023.
Add to that the direct flight between Covington KY and London on @british_airways that began service earlier this year, and you can take your #cfbroadtrip across "the pond"!
Add Bardstown-Frankfort-Covington-London to your #bourbon travel plans!
Celebrate #nationalbourbonheritagemonth along Kentucky's authentic #bourbon #roadtrip, featuring #distilleries and other fun bourbon-centric stops in Covington, Frankfort & Bardstown KY. Enjoy behind-the-scenes peeks at bourbon production from grain to bottle, tastings, tours, inhaling some of the angel's share of aging bourbon, and more.
#kybourbonroadtrip #cfbroadtrip
Happy #nationallemonjuiceday.
Our favorite way to use #lemonjuice is in a Whiskey Sour. Bardstown KY's @heavenhilldistillery shares this recipe for its "Forbidden Sour" #cocktail:
1 oz. Larceny #bourbon
1 oz. Pama pomegranate liqueur
1/2 oz. simple syrup
1/2 oz. lemon juice
Combine all ingredients into a mixer. Add ice and shake until well chilled. Fill a rocks glass with ice and strain cocktail into glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Cheers!
In our experience, cocktails taste best along Kentucky's authentic bourbon #roadtrip. Visit Covington, Frankfort & Bardstown soon!
#kybourbonroadtrip #cfbroadtrip
Caproni’s Restaurant & Bar in Maysville KY is an off-the-beaten-path culinary gem, just a scenic 45-minute drive along the Ohio River from downtown Covington. An OpenTable Diners’ Choice award-winner in 2023, it serves traditional Italian fare, Kentucky classics, steaks and seafood. And WOW: Check out its impressive wall of #bourbon!
#kybourbonroadtrip #cfbroadtrip
Looking for a place to stay in Bardstown KY? Check into Bardstown Motor Lodge, a new boutique #hotel with a Mid-Century vibe. The lounge pool offers sunny seating areas, a tanning deck, cabanas, and a poolside bar. You’ll also find fire pits and a retro-style rec room. The hotel offers 30 guestrooms and 5 suites.
#kybourbonroadtrip #cfbroadtrip
Swanky new accommodations await in @visitfrankfortky
This "lipstick room" is in the Penthouse overlooking downtown Frankfort, one of the new VRBOs run by the new HOC: The Bourbon Library. With 6 BRs and 5 BAs, it can house a group of your friends and is within walking distance to @buffalotracedistillery
#cfbroadtrip #kybourbonroadtrip
Steal a little #bourbon on an official thieving tour. Several distilleries in Frankfort KY offer this unique and surprisingly legal activity. Build your own blend and brag to all your friends! It's just one mind-blowing activity you can enjoy on Kentucky's Authentic Bourbon Road Trip. Discover more at ComeFindBourbon.com.
#kybourbonroadtrip #cfbroadtrip
It's hot outside, so cool off on a boat tour! Ride the nation’s only boat-based bourbon tour with Kentucky River Tours in Frankfort and discover the Kentucky River’s role on bourbon history. There are several different tour options, including a 50-minute Kentucky River Bourbon History Tour that features six riverfront distilleries. #kybourbonroadtrip #cfbroadtrip #river #boat #boattour #distillery
Walk right into heaven when you #VisitBardstown. #HeavenHillDistillery that is. Learn #bourbon #history, #taste America's Native Spirit, #sniff bourbon components, and so much more. The bourbon exploration doesn't stop there, Bardstown has it going on all over town.
#kybourbonroadtrip #cfbroadtrip
Find trip ideas at ComeFindBourbon.com
In honor of #nationalbourbonday our friends in #visitnky added 5 more stops to #thebline :
@knowledgebarandsocialroom
@revivalvintagespirits
@lissesteakhuis
@pompilios1933
& Caproni's Restaurant
That's 5 more great stops for your #cfbroadtrip #kybourbonroadtrip! Find trip ideas at ComeFindBourbon.com.
The Jim Beam American Stillhouse in Clermont KY is a short drive from Bardstown, so it's easy to include in your #kybourbonroadtrip itinerary! @JimBeamOfficial offers 13 different tours starting at $18/person. Reserve a spot online at the Jim Beam website to be sure you don't miss out on the opportunity to participate in your top choice during your visit. Visit ComeFindBourbon.com for trip ideas and itineraries. #cfbroadtrip
@BritishAirways now operates out of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), the 27th American destination served by the airline. Currently, service runs 5 times each week in summer and 4 times a week in winter. The new nonstop flights help connect explorations of #bourbon #whiskey and U.K. #whisky.
DYK the world's largest collection of bourbon -- at 6,412 different labels and counting! -- is at Prohibition #Bourbon #Bar in Newberry, KY (near Covington).
Build your own tasting flight of four half-ounce pours, opt for a recommended flight, or better yet let co-owner Peter Newberry choose a mystery lineup. Cheers!
Rethink your approach to remote work.
Come to Covington, Frankfort, and Bardstown, Kentucky where modern hotels offer great workspace solutions with high-speed connectivity so you won’t miss a beat. Then, whenever you can take a break, grab a bite to eat, or quit for the evening, you’ll can tap into all that authentic Bourbon Country has to offer.
Learn more at ComeFindBourbon.com shorturl.at/enHY9
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