Destinations United States Kentucky Explore This Guide Overview Planning Your Trip Best Time to Visit Weather & Climate Lexington Blue Grass Airport Guide Getting Around Day Trips & Itineraries Best Day Trips 48-Hour Itinerary Things to Do Top Things to Do The Best Hikes Where to Go Shopping Complete Guide to Kentucky Horse Park Best Museums Top Parks to Visit Best Horse Farms Food & Drink Foods to Try Best Restaurants Best Distilleries Nightlife Guide CLOSE Part of Your Trip to Lexington: The Complete Guide The 6 Best Distilleries to Visit in Lexington, Kentucky By Taylor McIntyre Taylor McIntyre Taylor McIntyre is a senior visual editor at Dotdash Meredith, working on Travel + Leisure and TripSavvy. Her work has been featured in ArchitecturalDigest.com, Touring Bird, Port Magazine, StyleCaster, and more. Travel's editorial guidelines Updated on August 26, 2024 Photo: TripSavvy / Taylor McIntyre When people think of Kentucky, they think of whiskey, but not just any whiskey. This is bourbon country—and Kentucky's legacy is well-earned. There are more whiskey barrels in Kentucky than there are people, with more than 11.4 million barrels of the brown stuff—according to the Kentucky Distillers' Association—compared to just over 4.5 million people. People from all over come to experience the famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and Lexington is an integral stop along that trail. There are eight distilleries in Lexington proper, including the renowned Woodford Reserve and smaller family-run distilleries, and a dozen more nearby. Here are six of the best distilleries in Lexington. 01 of 06 James E. Pepper Distillery TripSavvy / Taylor McIntyre Address 1228 Manchester St UNIT 100, Lexington, KY 40504, USA Get directions Phone +1 859-309-3230 Web Visit website This Lexington staple first began distilling in 1779 during the American Revolution. However, it shut down during the 1960s when the bourbon industry experienced a recession. In 2017, the brand was able to reopen in its original home distillery, which is located in the now popular distillery district. You can tour the site and taste their award-winning "1776" rye whiskey. It's also a great location to check out other local spots like Ethereal Brewing and Crank and Boom Ice Cream, which are both next door. 02 of 06 Woodford Reserve Courtesy of Woodford Reserve Address 7855 McCracken Pike, Versailles, KY 40383-9781, USA Get directions Phone +1 859-879-1812 Web Visit website Woodford Reserve is perhaps the most well-known distillery out of Lexington. This site began distilling back in 1812 and is now considered a National Historic Landmark. Now that Woodford has perfected making bourbon, this distillery focuses its future on making the practice more sustainable. More than 98 percent of all waste material is recycled, 10 acres of land are dedicated to native species conservation, and 97 percent of all food scraps are composted. This tour takes guests through the past and future of bourbon distilling and allows them to taste all their favorites along the way. 03 of 06 Buffalo Trace Distillery TripSavvy / Taylor McIntyre Address 113 Great Buffalo Trce, Frankfort, KY 40601, USA Get directions Phone +1 866-729-3722 Web Visit website Located in Frankfort, Buffalo Trace is one of the most popular distillery tours in the Lexington area, and it's easy to see why. As one of the oldest continuously running operations in the country (one of the few that lasted through prohibition), Buffalo Trace is also unique in that it keeps the mash for its products top secret. (However, the distillery's website has a simulator for guests to make up their own mash and test out different combinations.) While Buffalo Trace is their flagship brand, the distillery is also home to several other well-known brands, including cult-favorite Van Winkle, Sazerac Rye, and E.H. Taylor. 04 of 06 Town Branch Distillery Courtesy of Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company Address 401 Cross St, Lexington, KY 40508-2806, USA Get directions Phone +1 859-255-2337 Web Visit website Town Branch Distillery is a part of the larger Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company. So if you’re not the biggest fan of whiskey or just craving something different between all your bourbon tastings, you can explore the brewery side! It’s one of the few distilleries in the world that doubles as a brewery. With seven beers available year-round (and five seasonally) and eight other liquors, everyone will find a favorite beverage. Town Branch is also located in downtown Lexington, making it one of the most accessible distilleries to visit. 05 of 06 Castle & Key Distillery TripSavvy / Taylor McIntyre Address 4445 McCracken Pike, Frankfort, KY 40601, USA Get directions Phone +1 502-395-9070 Web Visit website Castle & Key might be one of the newer distilleries in Lexington, but the brand itself holds important bourbon history. Formerly the Old Taylor Distillery, the ruins included limestone castle and old railroad tracks left abandoned and falling apart until 2014. The new owners have refurbished the historic buildings and created an outdoor space that is free and open to all visitors. This back patio sits along a river and includes a botanical walk and a bar serving up Castle and Key cocktails. The Manhattan comes highly recommended! 06 of 06 Four Roses Distillery Courtesy of Four Roses Distillery Address 1224 Bonds Mill Rd, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342, USA Get directions Phone +1 502-839-3436 Web Visit website Four Roses is a veteran in the distilling world, making whiskey since 1888. It's unique because it's the only distillery with five different yeast strains and two different mashes, ultimately coming together in 10 different bourbon recipes, later mixed by hand to create their flagship bourbon. Four Roses offer tours that take guests through their complex process and a visitor center where you can enjoy a tasting or a Four Roses original cocktail. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit