WHEN – April 7, 2023
WHAT – Bourbon and Bridles Experience
WHERE – Louisville, KY
WHY – We love learning about Bourbon and tasting all of the different kinds.
At the end of March, 2023 we left for a 5 1/2 week RV trip. Our main destination was Kentucky and Tennessee to do some bourbon and whiskey tasting.
BEFORE THE TOUR –
We took the Louisville Slugger Tour before heading to Churchill Downs. It’s a great tour and well worth the time.
Lunch time – we read about a Diners Drive-ins and Dives restaurant in the area and stopped there first for lunch. Momma’s Mustard, Pickles & BBQ. We had wings and fries and they were really good. I would highly recommend this place for lunch.
TOUR NOTES
When I booked the Bourbon and Bridles Tour, I thought I’d get to see a horse. No horses. I was a little disappointed but we did get to go down to the track. When we took this tour iin 2023, they were doing a lot of construction on the building so that could be why we didn’t get to the stables … or that was another tour.
The tour was different from going to a distillery because, of course there wasn’t a distillery at Churchill Downs, and we got to taste different brands of Bourbon. We tasted Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve, Michter’s Rye and Old Forestor (which we made into a Mint Julep. I love ryes, so I wrote “love” in my notes for the Michter’s.
Bourbon and Bridles Experience Gallery
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Pretty Tulips around the statue
Kentucky Derby Museum
Touring the Museum
Time to taste some Bourbon
Time for some fun
Kentucky Derby – Bourbon and Bridles
Bourbon and Bridles Tastings
Tastings and Notes
Making a Mint Julep
On the Track
Souvenirs from the Tour
Churchill Downs Twin Spires
Churchill Downs
We went home with a few goodies – A Kentucky Derby glass, Mint Julep mix and recipe, Woodford Reserve Bourbon Balls and a Modjeska, which is a caramel and marshmallow candy invented in Lousiville in the 1880’s.
VISIT THE SITE – Visit the Bourbon and Bridles site and book your own tour! The tour is only given on Tuesday and Friday at 2pm.
DISTILLERIES WE HAVE VISITED -
Kentucky - Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, Bulleit, Churchill Downs (Bourbon and Bridals Tour), Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Heavens Hill, Bardstown Bourbon, Four Roses Visitor Center in Bardstown, Barrel House Distilling for a flight and lunch, James E Pepper for a flight, Lux for a flight.
Tennessee - Jack Daniels, George Dickel, Nelsons Green Brier for a flight.
Sante Fe New Mexico - Santa Fe Spirits.
Washington - Adrift Distillery for a flight
I will be blogging about each Distillery. If you have any questions, please let me know. I'd be happy to share any information I have on the tours we took.
Thanks!
Karen
