7855 McCracken Pike, Versailles, KY 40383 |
Telephone: 859 879 1812
Tour Hours:
Tue - Sat, 9AM - 5PM
Closed major holidays
Tour: 10AM, 11AM, 1PM, 2PM & 3PM
Sundays (April to October),
12:30PM - 4:30PM
Tour times are 1PM, 2PM and 3PM
Admission: $5 (free for people under 18)
In-Depth Tour:
Woodford Reserve "Corn to Cork Tour" gives in-depth tour of bourbon making process including mechanical, chemical and technical aspects of the production. This tour is offered Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:30AM. Reservations are required in advice by calling 859 879 1922. (Ticket: $5 per person, tour takes about 1 - 2 hours)
Located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region, Woodford Reserve Distillery visitors center provides a panoramic view of the entire 78-acre site, filled with unique exhibitions, historical photos and artifacts that celebrate the living history of Kentucky Bourbon.
Distillery tour begins near the cypress fermenting tanks, where sour mash bubbles throughout the week. As you being the tour, you may notice the aroma of the "sour mash" coming from the 14 foot high cypress fermentation tanks.
The oldest section of the distillery is the distilling room with three copper pot stills, dating back to 1838. Tour allows visitors to witness the exact art of coopering and see the steps taking to create the charred oak barrels used to mature the bourbon.
The Warehouse C is the oldest surviving stone-aging house in the United States built in the late 1880s. Distillers at Woodford Reserve don't rely on the calendar when it comes to determining when the barrels are ready to be bottled. Each barrel is sampled throughout maturation in order to ensure the consistent aroma and taste.
At the end of the tour, visitors over 21 years old can sample the original Woodford Reserve Bourbon Ball cocktail. Also find hundreds of unique gift items at the gift shop, all designed to represent the true spirit of Kentucky.
- 1 oz Woodford Reserve Bourbon
- 1 oz White Creme de Cacao
- 1/4 oz Hazelnut Liqueur
Shake all the ingredients in a shaker. Serve in your favourite glass. Garnish with chocolate shavings.
In May 2000, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt announced the designation of the Woodford Reserve distillery as a National Historic Landmark. Bluegrass region of Kentucky is located atop a huge limestone aquifer, which acts as a filtration system removing unwanted minerals from the water used to produce bourbon. Kentucky's natural environment also gives its abundance of white oak trees to make barrels.
Directions from Louisville:
Take I-64 East to U.S. 60 (Frankfort/Versailles exit). Turn right towards Versailles. Travel for 2.6 miles to Rt. 3360 (Grassy Springs Rod). Turn right and follow the road until it ends. Turn right onto McCracken Pike to the Visitors Center.
Directions from Lexington:
Follow U.S. 60 (Versailles Rd) from Lexington towards Frankfort. Shortly after passing the intersection of U.S. 60 and state road 1685, turn left onto Rt. 3360 (Grassy Springs Rd). Follow this road until it ends. Turn right onto McCraken Pike to the Visitors Center.
More:
Woodford Reserve Bourbon Academy
Bourbon Cocktails
Kentucky Bourbon Trail
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