The perfect pairing
More to explore along the Bourbon Trail
KENTUCKY BOURBON PAIRS beautifully with beef, bacon, chocolate, country ham—and adventure. This is especially true in the fall, when a burnished palette of red, yellow and gold sweeps through the state, beckoning bourbon trailblazers off path and onward to an experience as captivating as a distillery.
Add these bourbon/adventure pairings to your fall getaway calendar.
Boone County Distilling Co. and Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
Boone County
Meet the ghosts at this Independence distillery—those pioneers of a century ago who crafted spirits here—on a 60-minute Grain to Glass Experience followed by a tasting, or opt for a 15-minute guided tasting. Served by Owen Electric, Boone County Distilling Co. is a member of both Northern Kentucky’s B-Line self-guided bourbon tour and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour.
“You get to meet people from all over on a tour,” says General Manager Bruce Eckstein. “The bourbon community is like a giant family—and who doesn’t want to be a part of that?”
Follow the foliage about 20 minutes south to Union and Big Bone Lick State Historic Site, also served by Owen Electric and now a National Historic Landmark.
The Megafauna Diorama Pit is located just behind the Visitor’s Center at Big Bone Lick State Historic Site. Photo: Kentucky State Parks
Watch the park’s roaming herd of bison from the new covered viewing platform. Check out the freshly repainted sloth, bison and other Ice Age beasts at the Megafauna Diorama Pit. Explore the museum—stopping for a selfie with the 8-foot-tall Harlan’s Ground Sloth replica skeleton.
Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience and My Old Kentucky Dinner Train
Bardstown
At America’s largest independent family-owned and -operated distillery, served by Salt River Electric, combine a bourbon tasting with a meander through the Heaven Hill Gallery, featuring company history and bourbon-related interactive exhibits.
More time? Go further in-depth with the You Do Bourbon or Bottled- In-Bond Tour & Tasting experiences, followed by lunch and handcrafted cocktails at Five Brothers Bar & Kitchen and a browse through the gift shop.
At Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, guests fill their own bottle during the You Do Bourbon tour and tasting. Photo: Heaven Hill Distillery
A vintage 1940s restored dining train, white linen-topped tables, picturesque scenery framed by large windows. Add a four-course gourmet dinner, points-of-interest narration or a possible murder mystery—and the mood is set for an enchanting evening aboard My Old Kentucky Dinner Train.
“For 2 1/2 hours, you’re in this magical bubble,” says Marketing & Events Manager Veronica Gettinger. “The thing that makes people’s hearts skip a beat is the beautiful combination of stepping back in time on this train car and being catered to with an incredible meal.”
Golden Pond Distillery and Trigg County Hiking and Biking Trails
Cadiz
JimBob Smith loves that his family-operated distillery, served by Pennyrile Electric, is located amid so many popular western Kentucky attractions.
When bourbon adventurers come for a free tour and tasting of the small batch, handcrafted fourth-generation moonshine at Golden Pond Distillery, they also have access to a wealth of area experiences—from outdoor fun at Lake Barkley State Resort Park and Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area to shopping and lakefront dining.
“Lots of the visitors here enjoy antique and gift shopping in downtown Cadiz or going to the lake to catch the sunrise or sunset,” says Smith. “And there are several great trails, including the paved Cadiz Railroad Trail, for hiking and jogging.”
Additionally, the paved Cadiz to Barkley Trail travels along U.S. Highway 68/state Route 80 all the way to Lake Barkley and offers a seamless link from Cadiz straight into LBL by way of a paved path that transitions into the Central Hardwoods Scenic Trail.
Southern Kentucky Distillery and Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park
Burkesville
The first establishment to legally distill alcohol in Cumberland County since Prohibition, Southern Kentucky Distillery, served by Tri-County Electric, invites guests on 60-minute grain-to-glass tours to enjoy a tasting of its signature spirits.
These include Slate Fork Moonshine, a sweet, homemade Southern Appalachia moonshine recipe in flavors including Strawberry Lemonade and Dingleberry; and Broadhead Bourbon, a four-year aged bourbon whiskey.
Head to the Appalachian foothills for an unforgettable experience with Southern Kentucky Distillery’s exclusive tours and tastings. Photo: Southern Kentucky Distillery
“Take a full distillery tour, linger in our tasting room and soak up the mountain views,” says the distillery’s Carrol Spears. “Pair your tasting with a stroll around the grounds, capturing the beauty of fall in every direction.”
That beauty extends 20 minutes south to Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park, also served by Tri-County Electric, and fresh-air pursuits at one of the nicest campgrounds in the state park system.
“We have 145 campsites, including our horse camping area that has 24 sites—all with water and electric—that will accommodate RVs, campers or tent camping,” says Park Manager Jenny Boils. “We also have six camping cabins (one accessible) with heat and air conditioning.”
Pauley Hollow Distillery and Performing Arts
Pikeville
At Pike County’s Pauley Hollow Distillery, LLC, autumn’s cooler temperatures pair perfectly with the distillery’s small-batch bourbon and seasonal cocktails, especially against the backdrop of the Appalachian mountains.
“Enjoy a tasting flight of our handcrafted spirits, including our Robert’s Reserve small-batch bourbon,” says Jessica Martin, who co-owns Pauley Hollow with husband, Josh Martin. “Take a behind-the-scenes tour of our production process and barrel houses, enjoy a cocktail and take in the views from our 105-year-old farmhouse tasting room. Fall is a great time to sip, stroll and soak in the scenery.”
Eastern Kentucky’s center for culture, education and entertainment, the Appalachian Wireless Arena hosts a variety of acts and shows, like musician Tyler Childers. Photo: Pike County Tourism CVB
It’s also the perfect time to catch a live music concert at the Appalachian Wireless Arena or a show at the Appalachian Center for the Arts. The latter, a cozy, 200-seat professional theater in downtown Pikeville, is known for a surprising variety of shows—everything from locally inspired plays to nationally touring stand-up comedians.
“A lot of the productions also weave in Appalachian themes, so you get that authentic sense of place,” says Jay Shepherd, marketing director at Pikeville-Pike County Tourism.
KATHY WITT is an award-winning travel and lifestyle writer based in northern Kentucky and the author of seven books, including Perfect Day Kentucky and Secret Cincinnati.
Featured adventures
Bardstown
Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience
- 1311 Gilkey Run Road, Bardstown
- heavenhill. com
- (502) 337-1000
Beginning in September, tours of the new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery (heavenhillsprings.com) are offered. October is the annual Haunt on the Hill event in celebration of distillery’s namesake, William Heavenhill, and December is the annual Holiday on the Hill event.
My Old Kentucky Home Dinner Train
- 602 North 3rd St., Bardstown
- kydinnertrain. com
- (502) 276-3018 (reservations)
Murder Mystery excursions are offered in October, November and December and Bourbon excursions are set for October and November.
Boone County
Boone County Distilling Co.
- 10601 Toebben Drive, Independence
- boonedistilling.com
- (859) 282-6545
The distillery celebrates its 10th anniversary this October and is planning a few specials.
Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
- 3380 Beaver Road, Union
- parks.ky.gov
- (859) 384-3522
The park celebrates National Bison Day on Nov. 1. Stop by the bison viewing area between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to learn about the herd, hear stories and view artifacts with the bison program coordinator. At noon, the Black Wolf Singers and Okandada will honor the bison with hand drumming, singing and dancing.
Burkesville
Southern Kentucky Distillery
- 4890 Albany Road, Burkesville
- skdistillery. com
- (270) 456-5151
The distillery offers live music, a classic car show and delicious offerings from local food trucks on select weekends in October, November and December.
Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park
- 5970 State Park Road, Burkesville
- parks. ky.gov
- (270) 433-7431
The park is hosting Haunted Hollow Halloween in the campground on Oct. 9–11 and 23–25. NOTE: Winter hours begin Nov. 1, with the campground closing for season and the lodge open Friday through Sunday.
Cadiz/Trigg County
Golden Pond Distillery
- 97 Canton Lane, Cadiz
- goldenponddistillery.com
- (270) 205-7685
During Land Between the Lakes’ Oct. 11 Moonshine Festival, the distillery will have live moonshine demonstrations, plus bluegrass music, food trucks and vendors.
Trigg County Hiking and Biking Trails, c/o Cadiz/Trigg Tourist Commission
- 5748 Hopkinsville Road, Cadiz
- gocadiz. com/things-to-do/hiking-biking-cadiz
- (270) 522-3892
The Trigg County Country Ham Festival, Oct. 10–11, features country ham cooking demonstrations, concerts, Kentucky’s largest ham biscuit, free concerts and more.
Pikeville
Pauley Hollow Distillery, LLC
- 91 Kate Camp Branch, Forest Hills
- pauleyhollowdistillery.com
- (606) 422-4947
Friendsgiving at the Farmhouse takes place noon–6 p.m. on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 29 and features fall-inspired craft cocktails, tasting flight specials and a “festive, rustic photo area for guests to capture their Friendsgiving memories.”
Appalachian Center for the Arts
- 218 Second St., Pikeville
- theapparts.org
- (606) 262-4004
The theater presents The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical (Oct. 10–19); The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Oct. 24); and Annie The Musical (Dec. 5–21). In the gallery, a new photography exhibit by Estill Robinson opens Oct. 1.
Appalachian Wireless Arena
- 126 Main St., Pikeville
- appalachianwirelessarena.com/shows
- (606) 444-5500
The Turnpike Troubadours’ Wild America Tour with Dawes and Rattlesnake Milk is scheduled for Oct 9. See the website for a full list of fall events.
More fun bourbon distillery/ adventure pairings:
Balance Distilling Company
- 3558 Will Bohannon Road, Smiths Grove
- balancedistilling.com
- (270) 719-0374
Pair with leaf peeping at Baker Arboretum:
- 4801 Morgantown Road, Bowling Green
- jerryebakerfoundation.org/baker-arboretum
- (270) 842-7415
B.H. James Distillers
- 220 W. Gallatin St., Adairville
- bhjamesdistillers.com
- (270) 893-8575
Pair with a tour of Franklin’s outdoor sculpture art, including the Fork in the Road and, in Blackjack Sculpture Park, the Cutting Edge of Simpson County (world’s largest butter knife):
- 4423 Blackjack Road, Franklin
- visitfranklinky.com
- (270) 586-3040
General George Stillhouse
- 1867 Junction Road, Falls of Rough
- generalgeorge.store
- (509) 461-8077
Pair with kayaking at Rough River Lake at Rough River Dam State Resort Park (served by Meade County RECC):
- 450 Lodge Road, Falls Of Rough
- parks. ky.gov
- (270) 257-2311
Old Pogue Distillery
- 705 Germantown Road or the Old Pogue Experience
- 102 W. 2nd St., Maysville
- oldpogue.com
Pair with photo op stops at the covered bridges of Mason, Bracken, Fleming, Lewis and Robertson counties. Pick up a brochure at area visitor centers or call Visit Maysville at (606) 563-2596.
Preservation Distillery
- 426 Sutherland Road, Bardstown
- preservationdistillery.com
- (502) 348-7779
Pair with a Canopy Tree Walk at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum (Salt River Electric):
- 2075 Clermont Road, Clermont
- bernheim. org
- (502) 955-8512
