This Series is from the book, The Bourbon Journey, by Mark E. Meade.
To purchase a copy of the entire book, go to The Bourbon Journey by Mark E. Meade (thebourbonflight.com).
My wife, Jennifer, and I were blessed to be able to take early retirement two years ago. I woke up on the third day of retirement and realized my sanity was at risk. I quickly learned something new about myself – I need to be challenged in a meaningful way every day. At the time I had been reading a lot of material from the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) about our bourbon industry, which was fascinating. We were rebounding from the tourism impacts of COVID and had just crossed 2 million annual visitors to the Bourbon Trail™. Some 70% of the visitors originated from out of state. I was blown away and realized that I had my challenge. I decided to research and write a book to help folks plan their visits to our distilleries. The Bourbon Journey was about to begin.
My wife and I had visited five distilleries at that time. I didn’t realize we were closing in on a total of 100 distilleries in the state. Maker’s Mark was the first we visited, and I still consider it one of the most beautiful places on earth. It compares favorably to the many stunning wineries we have enjoyed in Napa, Sonoma, California’s Central Coast, and Oregon’s Willamette Valley. There are many parallels between our nation’s wine and bourbon production, including supporting agriculture, rural settings (for many wineries and distilleries), friendly people, abundant hospitality, and natural beauty.
Maker’s Mark is arguably the most recognized bourbon in the world. They ship about 24 million bottles worldwide each year. Their trademark hand-dipped red wax seal on the bottle is widely recognized. Their promotion of the brand is impressive, winning many awards for their marketing campaigns. They recently added several new premium offerings including Maker’s Mark 46 and Private Selection. We have now been to Maker’s Mark about ten times, starting with a surprise trip for my 50th birthday, and this stop never gets old. They are in the small town of Loretto, which is about 25 minutes by car due south of Bardstown.
Their marketing prowess was put to good use when they crafted the overall visitor experience at their distillery. It starts with the architecture, landscaping, and of course, the people working at the distillery. If you are only booking one tour during your visit to Kentucky, you would make an excellent choice by selecting Maker’s Mark for that lone stop.
Go online and join their Ambassador program before you visit. Joining is free and there are several benefits to doing so. You’ll get behind-the-scenes access and will be the first to learn about new expressions of their bourbons, as well as learn about VIP events that are hosted around the state.
The distillery sits on the 1,100-acre Star Hill Farm. Take care on your drive as the roads leading into the distillery are narrow, but thankfully the traffic is typically light. When you exit your car in the parking lot, you will be pleased you took the time to visit. The sights, aromas, and sounds surrounding the campus are serene. This property was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in June 1980 in recognition of their century-long history of making bourbon here.
Their tours and experiences are extensive. The Maker’s Mark® Tour is their most popular, and readily available tour. But there is a lot more to consider beyond the basics, and these offerings change over time. The Star Hill Farm Tour and Behind the Bourbon experiences offer a unique view that takes you well beyond the basics of bourbon production. The Whisky Creek Walking Tour and The Remarkable Experience take you outside to explore the farm and surroundings. The Oak Experience and Star Hill Farm to Glass & Table Experience explore the American oak tree that is key to the barrels used for all bourbon aging and explore food pairings with bourbon, respectively.
Maker’s Mark is open every day of the week with the last tours starting at 3:30 p.m. ET. Like most of their peers, they are closed on major holidays including Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Their extensive experiences typically book about 6 weeks out. You must make reservations online as they are not available after you arrive.
Mark Meade is the author of The Bourbon Journey, a travel guide focusing on our iconic bourbon distilleries and bourbon tourism. This column is a natural progression from the book. All rights reserved.