Kentucky Bourbon Trail on pace to surpass record-high number of distillery visitations in a year
KY distilleries are asking visitors to book tours well in advance because of the popularity of the visits
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is on a pace to surpass the record-high number of distillery visitations in a year, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association said.
The continued rise in bourbon tourism means that distilleries along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour will likely exceed the record 1.7 million combined visits set in 2019, prior to pandemic-related shutdowns, the association said this week.
Many of Kentucky’s iconic distilleries are asking visitors to book their tours well in advance because of the popularity of the visits, it said.
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Bottles of Knob Creek brand bourbon for sale at the James B. Beam distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, on July 26, 2022. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is on a pace to exceed the record number of distillery visitations in a year. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
As a result, the KDA has launched a campaign asking people to "Book Now, Bourbon Later."
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"The last thing we want is for any bourbon fan to miss out on the experience they want," said Kentucky Bourbon Trail Experiences Director Mandy Ryan. "Since most of our larger brands cannot accommodate walk-in visitors, reservations are the key to a successful Kentucky bourbon adventure."