We have literally been talking about doing the Kentucky Bourbon Trail for years. Between school, weddings, work, vacations, and limited budgets we never seemed to get down there. Luckily, my cousin Pamm and her fiancee Matt got married in Lexington this past weekend. We finally had the excuse we needed to get down to bourbon country, and let me tell you, it was everything I hoped it would be and more.
We didn't have time to do the full trail, so we settled on going to the Woodford Reserve Distillery since it was the closest. (Hardly settling...)
Woodford is the oldest distillery in the country. It is nestled between horse pastures down a gorgeous tree-lined road. They still make bourbon the traditional way - from local grains and well water and using a proprietary strain of yeast that's about as old as me. The mash ferments in huge cypress vats made from hundred year old wood. It is distilled in three antique copper stills from Scotland, and each oak barrel is aged in an historic stone warehouse for up to nine years.
Admittedly, we are beer and spirit enthusiasts, so we geeked out on this experience a little more than the average bear. But I think that anyone with an interest is bourbon, history, chemistry, architecture, or just gorgeous ass landscapes should make a trip if they get the opportunity. We can't wait to go back.
Here are a couple snapshots from the wedding.
