Starting the Bourbon Craft Whiskey Trail

Bardstown is the second oldest city in Kentucky and was a center of commerce in the late 18th and well into the 19th Century.  Today it is a charming city of about 12,000 and the Bourbon Capital of the World.  Kentucky produces 95% of the world's bourbon and much of it comes from Nelson County of which Bardstown is the county seat.  Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Maker's Mark, Barton 1792 and Willett are a few of the distilleries operating in and about Bardstown.  We made a quick stop at Barton 1792 and purchased a couple of bottles of their unique Bourbon Ball chocolate flavored bourbon.  Tastes better than the bourbon ball candy.  From there, it was a short ride to Willett Distillery which is across the road from Jim Beam.  Willett is a family owned and operated, small batch distillery which was re-established after the end of Prohibition.  There were only four of us on the late morning tour.  So, we got to take our time and ask a lot of questions.  Willett has a unique bottle which is shaped like their pot still.  It was too cute to pass up so we purchased a couple of bottles of their fine bourbon.  Willett became our first stop on the Bourbon Craft Whiskey Trail.  Only 12 more distilleries to visit before our BCWT Passport is complete.  The rest of the day was spent driving through Kentucky, West Virginia and Maryland to Columbia.

Carla Taking a Sample From the Fermentation Tank

Cooling Coils in the Fermentation Tank

Willett Pot Still

Willett Distillery