Things to do / Travel Guide
Smooth Kentucky bourbon is steeped in history and tradition. A special kind of whiskey, different from its American and Irish colleagues, bourbon is the most tightly controlled whiskey in the world. Once called “corn whiskey,” bourbon derived its name from the large Kentucky Bourbon County, where it was originally produced and distributed. Among other things bourbon must be made from 51% corn, distilled at less than 160 proof, aged in new charred white oak barrels, and free of artificial flavors and colors. Unlike Kentucky bourbons, Tennessee whiskeys, like Jack Daniels, go through the Lincoln County Process, where the whiskey is filtered through charcoal made from charred maple. So, what better way to warm up to Central Kentucky and Tennessee than taste-testing these liquids delights!
Jim Beam
One sip and you'll deem Jim Beam bourbon supreme (and if you drink enough you, too, will be speaking in rhymes). Jim Beam in Clermont, Kentucky, has been brewing bourbon for seven generations, more than two centuries, and has produced more than 10 million barrels. Their family recipe dates back to Prohibition and today Jim Beam's great-grandson personally oversees every barrel. They use a Hammermills grain grind, simmer the sour mash at low temperatures over a long time, and use a private stock of yeast for flavor-filled fermentation. Each flash-charred barrel is fermented for four years, two times longer than the federal mandate. Jim Beam Black variety, however, is aged for eight years, and its caramel, tobacco-leaf flavors earned it the Beverage Tasting Institute nomination for the leading North American whiskey. Tours of the distillery are available Monday-Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Wild Turkey
The 12 Kentucky distilleries that belong to Wild Turkey Bourbon, in Lawrenceburg, are responsible for 90%-95% of the world's bourbon. Their commitment to excellence and top-quality materials helps explain why. Using limestone-filtered water, grains (primarily Kentucky corn) checked for purity and ripeness, and distillery-cultivated yeast, Wild Turkey offers seven different Bourbon varieties. Their most common variety is the 101 proof (whereas the most common variety produced by other bourbon distillers is just 80 proof), affectionately named “The Kickin' Chicken” or the “Dirty Bird” by those in the know. Free tours of the distilleries are available Monday-Saturday.
Maker's Mark
The distinctive red wax on the Maker's Mark bottle helps to separate this unique award-winning bourbon. “We make our Bourbon carefully. Please enjoy it that way,” is the Maker's Mark slogan. And Maker's Mark, located in Loretto, Kentucky, lives up to its advertising, and makes its mark. Handmade from pure, iron-free, spring-fed lake water, Maker's Mark also employs yeast with cultures from the pre-prohibition era. Rejecting time-saving mechanized methods and pressure cookers, the distillery uses an old fashioned rollermill, an open cooker for a slow, deliberate cooking process, and 100-year-old cypress fermentation tanks. Maker's Mark is open year-round for free tours of the distillery's 19th- and early-20th-century buildings and Fermenting Room.
Four Roses
Famous whiskey connoisseur and author Michael Jackson croons praises of Four Roses' bourbon, and, logically their literature proudly displays his pronouncement: “A classic Bourbon. Very long. Very sweet. Very elegant.” Four Roses distillery is set on the scenic banks of Salt River, just outside of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Known for its smooth, mellow flavors and long finish, Whiskey Magazine gave Four Roses the 2005 Best of the Best Award for “Best American Whiskey Under 10 Years Old.” Warehouse tours are free of charge and by appointment only.
Jack Daniels
Jasper “Jack” Newton Daniels was just in his teens when he learned the art of whiskey-making from a Lutheran preacher and promptly purchased the Jack Daniels distillery located in Lynchburg, Tennessee (advertisements and signposts still say the population is 361 but it is now actually closer to 5,700). Today it is the oldest registered distillery in the U.S., and a National Historic Site. Jack Daniels does not make bourbon; they drip their liquor through 10 feet of firmly packed hard sugar maple charcoal, making a Tennessee whiskey that has earned them seven gold medals for international excellence. “Each day we make it, we make it the best we can,” they say, and their straightforward simplicity keeps folks coming back for the Jack. Tours of Jack Daniels distillery and a self-guided tour of 17 sites outside of the distillery are available.
George Dickel
George Dickel's unique Tennessee Whiskey is worth your while. Situated on the Highland Rim of Cumberland Plateau, halfway between Nashville and Chattanooga, George Dickel has been using the pure sparkling water of Cascade Springs since 1870. Their time-proven process includes souring the mash with spent beer, double distillation, a seven-to-10 charcoal mellowing filter, and 12-year oak barrel aging. Tours are available Tuesday-Saturday.
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