Back to the Bourbon Trail

We spent another day distillery hopping - reminded us of the many times we've been wine tasting over the years.  First stop was a familiar name.

Something wasn't right - there wasn't a car around.  Ron got out of the truck and learned from a guard that the Visitors Center was closed for "refreshment" but we were invited to visit the pop-up location at the historic Station Master's House a few miles away.  So off we went.

The inside was small but there was a bar in the back where you could buy a cocktail or shot.  This guy was busy!

We like to look around the gift shops and this one, although small, had some cool things.

There was a cool outbuilding as we walked back to the truck.  Can you just imagine a few people rocking in their chairs with a glass of whiskey in their hands?

And then if was off to our next stop.

The Four Roses distillery was built in 1910 with Spanish Mission-style architecture and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  It was originally called the Old Prentice distillery and was owned by J.T.S. Brown.

There are conflicting accounts of the brand's origin.  Four Roses owner Kirin Brewery names Paul Jones Jr. as the founder of the brand.  The company says the brand name was trademarked in 1888 by Jones, who claimed it had been produced and sold as early as the 1860s.  An alternative account has the brand founded by Rufus Rose, speculating it was probably named in honor of him, his brother, and their two sons.  The company website makes no mention of anyone named Rose.

The grounds are beautiful.

And, of course, so is the gift shop.

We stopped in the bar for a drink (where is the picture of that?) and looked at the many, many bottles that were on display.

We really liked their logo - and their bourbon is pretty good, too.

Off we went to the next stop.

The Woodford Reserve Distillery, formerly known as the Old Oscar Pepper Distillery and later the Labrot & Graham Distillery, is outside of the town of Versailles.  Distilling began on the site of the current day distillery in 1812.  Although the site has not been continuously operational as a distillery since, the main structure, built in 1838, stands as one of the oldest distilleries in Kentucky.  It is designated as a National Historic Landmark for its well-preserved distillery architecture and its role in the development of the bourbon industry.

Look at all those bottles!

Their visitors center was beautiful - and so many people it was hard to get pictures without being photo bombed.

In a contract with Churchill Downs, Woodford Reserve has been declared the "official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby" and is used in a $1,000 mint julep cocktail that is sold to patrons on Derby Day.  Funds from that program are donated to charitable causes.

Although Woodford Reserve is the Derby's official bourbon, its sister brand, Old Forester, serves mint juleps as the "official drink" and is featured in the more moderately priced juleps at the event.  

Woodford Reserve honors "The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports" with the release of the 2023 commemorative Derby bottle.  The special release celebrates the 50th anniversary of one of the most iconic moments in sports history - Secretariat winning the 1973 Derby, still the fastest at 1:59.  The bottle features the artwork of Kentucky native Jaime Corum, known for her stunning horse portraits.  Her painting captures Secretariat in the Winner's Circle at Churchill Downs, entitled "Secretariat - Still the Greatest".

Yes, we bought one

Secretariat went on to win the Triple Crown that year and is regarded as one of the greatest racehorses of all time.

We were about out of time so with that, we completed our bourbon trail experience.  But we weren't done with Kentucky just yet.