One Bourbon, One Bourbon, One Bourbon

                        One of Kentucky’s most long standing traditions is in bourbon and Bourbon Country. This corn-based, caramel colored icon has been a staple in Kentucky since the early 1700s. There is even a yearly festival held in Bardstown, dubbed the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, that draws people from all over the state, country and world.

            The Bourbon Trail takes you right through the heart of Bourbon Country and provides some of the most beautiful scenery the state has to offer, from white-water rapids to green fields of grazing thoroughbreds. But the trail offers more than just a pretty picture. Six of the state’s powerhouse distilleries lie within the trail, including Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark and Woodford Reserve.

            While bourbon can be made anywhere that it is legal to distill spirits, it is generally associated with Kentucky in particular and has been reported that 97% of all bourbon is aged and distilled near Bardstown, the self-proclaimed “Bourbon Capital of the World.” Kentucky bourbon was even deemed the official spirit of the United States by Congress in 1964.

            Many Kentuckian’s roots are connected to this historical tradition and process. Scott McVay, life-long Kentuckian, said, “Through tracking my ancestry I’ve discovered that my family was actually a part of the earlier folks who began making bourbon as an easier way of transporting goods to market.”   

            The aforementioned bourbon festival is “six full days of smooth Bourbon, delicious food, and great entertainment, with a healthy dose of Kentucky hospitality thrown in for good measure,” according to its website. Patrons can enjoy over thirty different events within the festival, such as “Bourbon, Cigars and Jazz” or “Bourbon Cocktail Mixology.”