It looks like you’ll need a bigger bucket for your Kentucky Bourbon Trail bucket list as the Trail has added new stops, new experiences and new adventures.
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® – KBT has added 15 new stops for 2025 with more on the way. More stops mean more opportunities for visitors worldwide to explore Kentucky Bourbon and the many local communities throughout the state. The latest expansion includes new distillery offerings and satellite tasting rooms, bringing the Kentucky Bourbon Trail to 60 total destinations in 27 of Kentucky’s 120 counties. The growth is part of the new KBT campaign that encourages visitors to “Build Your Own Bourbon Trail®” tour.
If you keep up with distilled spirits news, you’ve likely seen that sales of distilled spirits have slowed but interest in distillery tourism is still seeing steady growth. Since its launch in 1999, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail adventure has seen tremendous growth, elevating tourism for the Kentucky and consistently breaking attendance records with more than 2.5 million visitors annually.
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“As Bourbon tourism continues to thrive, our members are creating more opportunities for the world to experience the heart and soul of America’s spirit in a variety of ways that meet every visitor’s interests,” said Colleen Thomas, KDA Vice President of Operations.
“What began as a small group of distilleries now has grown into an ever-expanding bucket list destination with global appeal,” she said. “Each new addition is more than a stop on a map – it’s a celebration of Kentucky Bourbon’s rich history and proud heritage.”
Check Out All 15 New Stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
- B.H. James Distillers – Adairville
- Bardstown Bourbon Co. – Louisville
- Becker & Bird Winery & Distillery – Augusta
- Bespoken Spirits – Lexington (Coming Soon)
- Bluegrass Distillers – Midway
- Buzzard’s Roost Spirits – Louisville
- Chicken Cock Distilling – Bardstown
- Garrard County Distilling Co. – Lancaster
- Heaven’s Door Distillery – Pleasureville (Coming Soon)
- Larrikin Bourbon Co. – Lawrenceburg
- Monk’s Road Boiler House Tasting Room & Chop House – Louisville
- RD1 Spirits – Lexington (New Location Coming Soon)
- Southern Kentucky Distillery – Burkesville
- Wenzel Distilling Co. – Covington
- Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. – Louisville
Kentucky Bourbon Trail Attracts Visitors from All Over the World
More than 80% of all KBT® visitors come from outside Kentucky. Research shows Bourbon Trail™ visitors have a much higher household income than typical Kentucky tourists, trend younger, stay longer, come in larger groups, and spend more money in Kentucky communities.
Bourbon is a $9 billion economic and tourism powerhouse for Kentucky, generating more than 23,100 jobs with $2.2 billion in salaries and benefits. The industry continues to break records in aging Bourbon barrel inventory (14.3 million) and production (3.2 million barrels filled in 2023).
Even as all alcoholic beverages are seeing a slowdown in sales, Kentucky Distillers’ Association – KDA President Eric Gregory said he does not believe Bourbon tourism will be impacted by headwinds like shifts in consumer trends, snowballing taxes, and the threat of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.
“Kentucky is the one, true and authentic home for Bourbon,” said Gregory. “While we keep breaking attendance records, there are plenty of people around the world who have never made the pilgrimage to the Birthplace of Bourbon — and many more who are planning to return.
“Now with 60 different destinations — from small craft distilleries to iconic Bourbon landmarks and urban satellite tasting rooms — there is more for fans to see and taste on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail tour than ever before. We’re proud to welcome them to our beloved Commonwealth.”
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® now offers more ways to experience Bourbon. By region, the new experiences include:
Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association – KDA is the Worldwide Voice of Bourbon™. Its diverse and growing membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from historic, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are fostering the next generation of the Commonwealth’s timeless craft. Kentucky Bourbon is a $9 billion economic engine generating more than 23,500 jobs and attracting over 2 million visits annually through the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail® experience. A 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, the KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving.
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– The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Celebrates its 25th Anniversary and Announces Major Changes on the Way Jun 2024
– Sneak Peak: Kentucky Bourbon Trail Celebrates 25 Years with a Completely Re-Imagined Bourbon Trail [Video] Jun 2024
Learn more about the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.
View all ‘Kentucky Bourbon Trail’ distilleries.
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