{"id":16748,"date":"2025-07-31T16:11:12","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T16:11:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=16748"},"modified":"2025-07-31T16:11:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T16:11:12","slug":"bardstown-pours-on-the-charm-for-national-bourbon-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/31\/bardstown-pours-on-the-charm-for-national-bourbon-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Bardstown Pours on the Charm for National Bourbon Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"By Shana Lee<\/em>
\nThe Truth Travel Correspondent<\/em><\/p>\n

As a traveler with a deep love for food, culture and memorable getaways, I\u2019ve been fortunate to experience some truly special destinations. But this year, celebrating National Bourbon Day in Bardstown, Kentucky \u2014 the Bourbon Capital of the World \u2014 was an experience I won\u2019t soon forget.<\/p>\n

I arrived early Friday morning, checking into the beautiful Trail Hotel, Bardstown\u2019s first bourbon-themed boutique hotel. The attention to detail was immediately clear \u2014 from bourbon-inspired art in the guest rooms to the hotel\u2019s hidden speakeasy tucked behind a discreet entrance. The Trail Hotel quickly became more than just a place to stay \u2014 it was part of the entire bourbon experience.<\/p>\n

Within a few hours, my transportation for the weekend arrived \u2014 Kentucky Bourbon Boys, a private tour company specializing in fully customized bourbon trail experiences. My drivers, Tim and Mark, went far beyond simply getting me from point A to B. They shared local stories, bourbon history and personal insights that brought Bardstown\u2019s rich bourbon culture to life. Their warm hospitality and professionalism made my weekend all the more memorable.<\/p>\n

\"\"The weekend kicked off with the Bourbon Capital Mash Up at the brand-new Bespoke in Bond event space in downtown Bardstown. Nine Bourbon Capital Alliance partner distilleries came together to pour exclusive and vintage selections, paired with small bites prepared by local chefs. As a VIP guest, I had the rare opportunity to taste pre-fire Heaven Hill, vintage Maker\u2019s Mark, Barton 1792, Beam, and even a few \u201cdusty pours\u201d \u2014 the kind of whiskey most people only read about.<\/p>\n

On Saturday morning, I headed to Preservation Distillery for their Bourbon & Brunch event. Sipping a bourbon espresso martini alongside crispy chicken & waffles felt like the perfect way to start the day. The highlight was meeting Preservation\u2019s founder, Marci Palatella, who guided us through a formal tasting of the distillery\u2019s coveted Vintage Barrel Collection. Each pour told its own story, showcasing the art and patience behind fine bourbon-making.<\/p>\n

Later that afternoon, I made a stop at the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History, housed inside the historic Spalding Hall. The museum\u2019s collection of antique stills, vintage advertisements, presidential whiskey artifacts, and Prohibition-era memorabilia paints a fascinating picture of America\u2019s long love affair with bourbon. Walking through these exhibits added even more depth to the weekend\u2019s tastings.<\/p>\n

Saturday evening brought one of the most festive events of the weekend: Maker\u2019s Mark\u2019s Totally Bourbon Bash at the Brindiamo Penthouse. The event marked several occasions \u2014 National Bourbon Week, Bill Samuels Jr.\u2019s birthday, and Maker\u2019s Mark\u2019s famous Wall Street Journal feature from the 1980s. Among the night\u2019s highlights was an exclusive tasting of the upcoming 2025 Star Hill Farm American Wheat Whisky, a new release blending two unique wheat mashbills. Retro cocktails, including a tropical bourbon pi\u00f1a colada, added a fun and unexpected twist.<\/p>\n

To cap off the day, I returned to The Trail Hotel\u2019s speakeasy, a dimly lit, Prohibition-style lounge with vintage decor, live jazz, and a well-curated selection of vintage bourbon. With an Old Fashioned in hand, I found myself reflecting on just how special this weekend had been.<\/p>\n

\"\"Bardstown\u2019s legacy as the Bourbon Capital of the World is well earned. The town\u2019s connection to bourbon dates back to the late 1700s, and many of the world\u2019s most recognized brands still call Bardstown home today. Events like National Bourbon Week celebrate not just the spirit itself, but the craftsmanship, community, and history that make Kentucky bourbon a cultural icon.<\/p>\n

As I packed my bags to leave, I couldn\u2019t help but feel grateful \u2014 not only for the incredible bourbon I tasted, but for the people I met, the stories I heard and the deep sense of pride this town carries for its rich bourbon heritage.<\/p>\n

Bardstown, I\u2019ll definitely be back. <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Shana Lee The Truth Travel Correspondent As a traveler with a deep love for food, culture and memorable getaways, I\u2019ve been fortunate to experience some truly special destinations. But this year, celebrating National Bourbon Day in Bardstown, Kentucky \u2014 the Bourbon Capital of the World \u2014 was an experience I won\u2019t soon forget. I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16752,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[105],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[304],"class_list":["post-16748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-usa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16748","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16748"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16748\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16753,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16748\/revisions\/16753"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16752"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16748"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=16748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}