Kentucky haul and tours
Kentucky haul and tours.
Delayed post from week long vacation around Bardstown at the end of Sep. It wasn't just for bourbon tours. A good mix of state parks, stalls and markets.
Tour wise, stopped off at Preservation Distillery, Heaven Hill, Makers Mark and Peerless.
Also did the Pappy tasting at the Parlor Room.
Preservation Distillery: Really interesting to do a tour with a smaller distillery and pretty eye opening when compared to how many barrels the big hitters can put out each month. 6 tastings included. They have quickly become one of my favorites. Old Man Winter and Very Olde St Nick Winter Maple were fantastic.... brought a bottle of the Winter Maple. Tried Immaculata at the bar. That one beats the other two.
Heaven Hill: Polished and professional at the new distillery. Enjoyable tour and a fun start with an old fashioned. Tasted the Heaven Hill BiB, Grain to Glass Rye, Old Fitz 7 and a 4 grain distillery only (okay, but not worth the premium price tag). The main gift shop had a good supply of EC18 and EC21.
Makers Mark: One of the highlights and top tours for me. Did the longer, slightly premium oak tour. Something a little different, seeing the grounds and a lot of info about their future plans goals and aims. Then the standard distillery stuff, but with an extended stop in a rickhouse. Tour round the cellar. Started with a cocktail and then pours of the 46 Cask Strength, Barrel thieving taste, private select and the Star Hill Farms 2026. Picked up both the 2025 Keepers Release and 2026 Stewarts Release.
Peerless: One I'd wanted to try go on back in April but had sold out. Again, I enjoyed seeing a distillery of a smaller size. Fun tour with some interesting history and information about their process. Started with a pour and had a second during the tour. Then more of a flexible tasting at the end in the bar. Being able to pick between a good number... and get an extra at the end was great. The Campfire Apple Crisp single barrel rye was something special
The Parlor Room: I'm never going to find Pappy at msrp and can't justify secondary prices. So getting able to taste the 10, 12 and 15 was an experience. Whitney is very knowledgeable and has great stories and insight. The 15 year was my top. But all three were strong pours. Finished with an old fashioned and more of a chilled out chat.
Evergreen in both Bardstown and Nulu had some good store picks as always. Kroger had some good choices.
Getting a Liquor Barn store pick (near the Louisville Goodwill) was a surprise find. The extra proof really brings out more flavor.
Liquor world and Smiley Wine and spirits had some of the rarer bottles at secondary if you're after that kind of thing. $250 for Kentucky Boy and $300 for Old Fitz decanter as examples.
In terms of the other distillery shops. Jim Beam had some of their more premium bottles readily available. Lux Row had the Penelope estate collection and the reserve 13 year. Limestone had their 10 years, Recollection batch 1 and 2 and a top single barrel.