Insider Tips from Distillery Tour Guides
Wondering what to expect when touring a genuine bourbon distillery? We asked three experts along Kentucky’s authentic bourbon road trip for insights. Whether you’ll be visiting a distillery for the first or umpteenth time, these tips can help you prepare for the best possible experience.
The Insiders
· Carus Waggoner, owner, tour guide (“and janitor!” he says) at Second Sight Spirits near Covington, has been producing spirits in Kentucky for nine years. He previously helped open Las Vegas Distillery in Nevada.
· Ralph Burgess, visitor experience associate at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, has been guiding tours for two years and has personally toured at least 15 distilleries.
· Josh Hollified, general manager at Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience in Bardstown, has worked in the bourbon tourism industry for about 12 years and has personally toured at least 20 distilleries.
Plan Ahead
Distillery tours have become so popular that making reservations in advance is key to ensuring that you can experience a tour during your visit. Many distilleries offer several different tours; check distillery websites for tour descriptions. “See which tours are offered and choose the one that resonates best with you,” says Hollifield.
Local visitor centers in Covington, Frankfort, and Bardstown can also help with planning and providing up-to-date information about the distillery tours.
Pace yourself. Come Find Bourbon’s original itinerary suggests a route to minimize drive times, but it’s always a good idea to map out the driving distance between distilleries to make sure you have allowed sufficient time between tours—you know if you like to linger in gift shops or post lots of selfies. “Kentucky is a big state,” says Waggoner. “It’s gorgeous, the landscape is beautiful, you’ll meet nice people, but you may not realize how far spread out it is.”
Arrive on time for any tours you’ve booked.
Be Prepared
Burgess offers a pre-tour checklist:
Bring a camera to take photos and videos, in line with the distillery’s policies.
Dress for the weather since many distillery tours explore the site indoors and outdoors.
Wear comfortable shoes because distillery tours often involve lots of walking. Closed-toe shoes may be required, depending on the distillery and/or tour specifics.
Stay hydrated.
Stay Safe
Follow instructions from your tour guide as well as warnings on posted signs. Don’t wander into unauthorized areas. When tasting bourbon, drink responsibly. If you’re going to indulge, it’s best to rely on a designated driver or hired tour guide. “Be responsible. We want to see you again in the future,” says Waggoner.
Ask Questions
Don’t be shy! “Any question is welcome,” says Waggoner. “It’s a sign you care, you’re invested, and we’re connecting on some level. The fact that someone doesn’t tune out and really wants to know something is the best compliment I can get.”
“I’ve found that when you get so many people from different facets of life and career, you get so many different perspectives and types of questions,” says Hollifield. “Whatever your specialty or priority is, don’t hesitate to ask. We may get a question about engineering, another about chemistry, another about tasting. Different things resonate. Just keep in mind that tour guides aren’t production specialists and may not be able to answer some questions in depth.”
“It’s pretty common among tour guides that they love to talk and answer questions,” says Burgess. “That’s why we do it! Most of us have a burning passion for bourbon and are happy to discuss what we love.”
Distillery tours commonly cover the following topics:
Distillery and brand history
Products made (many bourbon distilleries also produce other spirits)
Bourbon definitions and requirements
Ingredients and sources
Mash bill
Distilling stages and equipment
Barrel specifications
Proof of distillate
Aging
Production (including how many barrels are filled and/or emptied in a day)
Be Considerate
Most people at a distillery are friendly and happy to be there. Don’t ruin the mood.
Be respectful of everyone involved in the tour and at the distillery.
Remember nobody likes a know-it-all.
Even though you may not like a particular bourbon, respect that people took time to make the handcrafted product and that others may love it.
Find Differences
Touring multiple distilleries will reveal bold and nuanced differences between producers.
“You’ll find out each distillery’s superpower,” says Waggoner. “Every distillery has its own specialty. We have the same type of company with many variations within it. The differences within the industry surprise a lot of people.”
“From production processes to architecture, each distillery has something special that sets it apart,” says Hollifield.
Here’s a peek at just a few differences among three distilleries…
• Second Sight Spirits is an artisan distillery with a one-of-a-kind still based on a big Zoltar machine. Part of the Kentucky Bourbon Craft Tour, its focus is on presenting local products in innovative ways.
• Buffalo Trace is the oldest continuously operating distillery in the U.S. It was just one of six distilleries that was legally allowed to operate throughout Prohibition. It has the nation’s largest inventory of older aging barrels.
• Heaven Hill is the second-largest holder of American whiskey in the U.S. Founded in 1935, it is still family owned and operated. Tastings showcase a wide variety of mash bills. The visitor center houses a complimentary museum.
Taste Spirits
Aromas wafting around a distillery will whet your anticipation to sample its spirits. Tours typically end with a tasting of products in a line-up that the tour guide will lead you through. It’s an opportunity to discover how and why bourbons taste different from one another and what makes each one special.
Expand Your Focus
Experience bourbon beyond the distillery for a real taste of Kentucky. Visit bars, restaurants, shops, museums, farms, and more. “It’s a natural instinct to line up a bunch of distillery tours in a row,” says Waggoner. “But if you go to too many distilleries, it starts to sound like you’re just being talked at. Go find those hidden gems. Bourbon pairs well with food, friends, and places.”
Have Fun
Relax, there’s no pop quiz at the end of a distillery tour.
You never know who you’ll meet on a tour. People from all over the world come to Kentucky to see how America’s Native Spirit is made.
Come Find Bourbon supports responsible bourbon enjoyment. Must be 21 to participate and always enjoy your bourbon like a true Kentuckian, responsibly. Come Find Bourbon is a marketing partnership between meetNKY, Visit Frankfort, and Visit Bardstown.
