HAVING FUN ON THE KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL

 

If you love great food, cool architecture, beautiful landscaping, and a cocktail or two, the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky is for you! You do not have to love bourbon to make this trip! SO.MUCH.FUN! It was even a fun post to write!

 

Last August, we went with our dear friends down to Kentucky, staying in downtown Louisville, to take in some of the highlights of the bourbon trail. Keep in mind everything is very spread out so you will need might need 3-4 days to really soak the highlights in. Some distilleries were an hour’s drive from Louisville although there is a lot to do right downtown too.

After checking into our hotel, in downtown Louisville, our first stop was a tour and bourbon tasting at Woodford Reserve in Versailles, KY. What beautiful grounds. I will not geek you out with all the technical terms for making bourbon. Heck, I don’t even know what I’m talking about, but I do know that they put the mash to create it in these big bins which are so cool. Sometimes they’re steel sometimes they’re wood, but they are awesome! Trust me, you do not have to like bourbon to have a good time on these tours! It’s really a cool experience.


Outfit Deets:
Kimono HERE // Tank HERE // Jeans HERE // Crossbody HERE // Initial Necklace HERE // Heart Necklace HERE // Sandals HERE

On our way back to Louisville, we stopped at Castle and Key! Now that’s a beautiful property and what fun we had. We did not opt for a tour there but instead got lucky with one of the sweet volunteers there who snuck us inside and gave us a private tour! 


Cuties! Don't let go of the Bourbon, lol


Our amazing , sweet and knowledgable "tour" guide!


This place is awesome, and they also host events there like weddings. Just look how beautiful the gardens are.


Before going back to get ready for dinner, we had a reservation at

Michter’s cocktail bar. All these bourbon distilleries are so rich in history and that’s part of the charm. Look how cute this little area is where I got a kiss from Mr. Nine.



For dinner we headed to our friend’s favorite: La Bodeguita! It’s a wonderful Cuban restaurant and Rum bar! Yum!


 All Employees wearing Fedroa's. So cute!



Mr. Nine and I got up for a morning walk and snapped a few pictures like the big Louisville slugger bat in front of the museum. It’s so cool. 


Next step we headed to Brown Hotel the for the famous Louisville Hot Browns! Oh my goodness delish!

You can read about them here. Cool Story!


Then it was Evan Williams! Sweet little place! Looks like the bourbon is being poured into the glass from the 2nd floor. I love stuff like that! 

Crossbody Bag I LOVE HERE

We even got Stella a dog toy!
 
And how cool is this? We happened to be heading to Jim Beam on their 90th anniversary celebration day. August 17th, 2014! Another beautiful distillery. And the cool part, on the tour Mr. Nine and I got to make our own bottle of bourbon seal it with a thumbprint and have it engraved with the Roman numeral of our last name and the date. How fitting it was 

Knob Creek "#9!"


 Aren't our friends the cutest. They take even more photos than I do and how we appreciated it! The Tour at Jim Beam was even better than Woodford. Really fun!


And we had garnered a coveted reservation in their restaurant on the property, and it was the perfect timing because we sat in the restaurant during the only rain shower on our entire trip and by the time we came out, the sun was shining!


Going to see Churchill Downs was definitely a highlight and we got there right before the museum closed, so we snuck in to check out a few things and see some pictures. Would love to go to the actual Kentucky Derby and wear a hat someday! If you are in Louisville, you must go see it!



Dinner was at a Restaurant downtown called Proof on Main. We were still so full from our lunch at Jim Beam that we just got some wonderful cocktails and appetizers. 

My Dress HERE


Here is the really cool thing on the way back to the restrooms. You go through an amazing art gallery in the 21c Museum Hotel. We had so much fun with the interactive exhibits.

Anytime we are in a new to a city we like to just walk around and explore and how cool is it that we came upon this place with a secret Speakeasy called Hell or High Water. We did not have a reservation, but somehow we sweet talked our way in. And oh my goodness are we glad we did. It was one of the most charming speakeasies we have ever been in. The cocktails were amazing the little pie charcuterie was so good and let’s just say if you ever go there check out the wallpaper in the bathroom. It’s something all right!




Several Bottles of Bourbon Bought, a good nights sleep and a cute coffee shop in the morning and we were on the road. Fun trip!

Have you been anywhere along the Bourbon Trail??

And I will actually be back on Wednesday to join the Let's Look prompt this month.
Hope you ease into this week sweetly my friends! Cheers!

xoxo 



26 comments:

  1. It sounds like such a fun trip!

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  2. Sending this post to Michael now! We need to go back and get to that speakeasy! What a fun time. That garden at Castle & Key is incredible!

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  3. What a fun time, also beautiful pictures.

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  4. I've been to a few of those places. Woodford, Churchill Downs, and Louisville Slugger!

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  5. Anonymous10.3.25

    Looks beautiful. Thank you for sharing a little joy to my day.
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

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  6. The Bourbon Trail sounds like fantastic fun! What a great trip with so much to do and lots to learn about bourbon. Wonderful photos!

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  7. Anonymous10.3.25

    I have only been to Lexington, KY (which is an adorable little city), but never to Louisville or the Bourbon Trail. Anyway! It looks like you all had a wonderful time, and I love all of your beautiful outfits! Thank you so much for sharing, and have a glorious day, my friend! XO, Caroline

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  8. Gosh what a great time. We would love to do something like this
    Xoxo
    Jodie

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  9. What a fun trip with your friends and thanks for taking us along Andrea. I enjoyed looking at the photos and hearing about your trip over the summer.

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  10. It sounds like you had a fabulous time!

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  11. This looks like a fabulous trip!

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  12. What a fun trip! And to share it with friends who love the same things you do... a wonderful bonus! This rip would be righ up my hubby's alley! Loved it all!

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  13. Anonymous10.3.25

    This looks like a lot of fun! I'm not a bourbon drinker, but I'd be down for this trip!! That Louisville Hot Browns looks SO YUMMMMY!

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

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  14. We took our sons to the Louisville Slugger Museum when they were younger - it was really interesting. Louisville has so many interesting things to do. And despite living in Kentucky, we've never done the Bourbon Trail!

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  15. I'm putting this on our travel bucket list. Hubby is a big bourbon fan!

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  16. So I am bookmarking this for a possible anniversary trip this year: my husband was just talking about Louisville (but we decided on Nashville with the kids for spring break) and he would love all of these places you suggested!
    www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

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  17. This looked like such a fun trip. I've never been to Kentucky or on a Bourbon Trail. You all looked so cute in your photos!! I loved visiting with you guys!

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  18. I know my hubby would like to do this one day. It looks like such a fun trip!

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  19. I've never been to Kentucky but the Bourbon Trail looks like such a fun time! It looks like there are so many great restaurants to try! And I'd love to go to the Derby one day!

    Jill - Doused in Pink

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  20. Anonymous12.3.25

    Looks like a great time was had by all! How much of the booze and food that you photoed did you really consume?

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    Replies
    1. Well, Helllooooo! Every last sip and bite!

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  21. I somehow missed this post! Glad you loved my city!

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  22. Looks like an amazing trip! And so fun to get to share it with friends. We love Louisville and this post makes me think it's time we visit there again.

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  23. What a COOL place! Brian and I have both really started loving whiskey, so we would really enjoy something like this. It looks like y'all had the best time!

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  24. This looks like something that is right up my alley! Thanks so much for sharing this, and I will be featuring your post next week on my Time To Travel Thursdays link up!

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  25. So Fun! I looked at this trip for Ben and I but we never went!

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