Kentucky Bourbon Trail

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail^® is a collection of distilleries handpicked by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA), designed to give you a front-row seat to the bourbon-making magic that’s been bubbling in the Bluegrass State for centuries.

From iconic giants to newer craft distilleries, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail^® offers a mix of tours, tastings, and unique experiences that let you see, smell, and sip the spirit that’s made Kentucky famous. It’s more than just a tour, it’s a celebration of tradition, craftsmanship, and the community that keeps bourbon culture alive and kicking.

Plus, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail^® isn’t just about the bourbon, it’s about the stories, the history, and the people who pour their hearts into every bottle. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail promises a journey that’s as rich and layered as the whiskey itself.

Founded: 1999

A Quick Sip Through History: Kentucky Bourbon Trail^® Timeline

Alright, grab your favorite glass and let’s pour through some bourbon milestones that shaped the Trail into what it is today.

1774: The first settler arrived in the Harrodsburg, southwest of Lexington, KY, and brought with them the knowledge, and equipment to start distilling whisky from locally grown corn.

1840: The name Bourbon began to appear on Kentucky whisky.

1880: The KDA was formed by a group of local distillers.

1964: An act of Congress designated Bourbon “a distinctive product of the United States.”

1999: The KDA lights the fuse and creates the Kentucky Bourbon Trail^®. The idea? To bring bourbon lovers together and showcase the state’s finest distilleries.

2016: For the first time, trail visitors logged more than 1 million distillery tours.

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail^® is a must-visit for anyone curious about bourbon, boasting a roster of legendary distilleries and welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

Kentucky Bourbon Trail^® Facts to Know Before You Go

• Bourbon has to be made in the USA. Kentucky is the bourbon capital, producing 95% of all bourbon produced in the United States, but technically, bourbon can be distilled anywhere in the US.
• Distillers on the trail produce bourbon from locally grown corn, 21 million bushels of it, an increase of 300% since 2009.
• There are currently (2026) more than 16 million barrels of bourbon aging in 100 distilleries in the state of Kentucky.
• Distillers produced more than 3 million barrels of bourbon in 2024. Due to market conditions, production has slowed in the last couple of years, with 2025 numbers to be released in the fall of 2026.
  • 2024 – 3.03 million barrels
  • 2023 – 3.2 million barrels
  • 2022 – 2.7 million barrels
  • 2021 – 2.6 million barrels
  • 2020 – 2.4 million barrels
• Bourbon tourism contributes more than $10 billion annually to the Kentucky economy, supporting close to 24,000 jobs, and producing more than $370 million dollars in local and state tax revenue. Annual bourbon exports exceed $500 million.

Frazier Kentucky History Museum

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail^® Welcome Center is located in the Frazier Kentucky History Museum in Louisville. There, you can learn about the history of bourbon production in Kentucky, find trip planning resources, and book tours and tastings at local distilleries.

Be sure to book early. Some experiences sell out weeks, or even months in advance during peak times.