May 21, 2023, as part of our Kentucky Bourbon Trail completion weekend, Wayne and I visited Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, KY. It was our next-to-last stop on the trail.
Tour of the Four Roses Distillery
Their visitor center and campus is very lovely with the light yellow buildings and Spanish mission style design. Gracie was a very knowledgeable and fun guide. It was interesting since we just attended an education session with Brent Elliott, Master Distiller, the previous week. What we heard on the tour helped us to solidify their history and approach to bourbon.
At the conclusion of the tour, we enjoyed a guided tasting of four of their expressions: Four Roses Bourbon, Four Roses Small Batch, Four Roses Single Barrel, and Four Roses Small Batch Select.
We also learned from Bill McBrayer that the area was formerly McBrayer Kentucky and there is a McBrayer sign near the railroad track. We visited the “sign” after departing Four Roses.
Gift Shop
They have a truly beautiful gift shop with items for just about everyone’s taste. We got a variety of goodies to commemorate our visit. Loved the red T-shirt and the Four Roses history book is fantastic. Wayne got an awesome bow tie made of barrel wood … it creates a great conversation when worn. Of course, a pin for my hat, an ornament for our bourbon tree, and some glasses. Now and then we find some interesting cigars at distilleries and these looked like a great option.
We were fortunate that they had the Four Roses Single Barrel Select and Small Batch Select available that day.
Distillery Trail Statistics
Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, KY was our 49th distillery. A member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, it was our 17th distillery on the Signature Trail and our 41st stamp of 42 total.
Pro Tip: Plan to visit other nearby distilleries. With advance planning, it is possible to create a terrific weekend trip with the distilleries in the Lawrenceburg area.
February 18, 2023, Wayne and I decided to venture to Graham, KY in Muhlenberg County. The reason for this trip was to make a visit to The Bard Distillery, which is on the Kentucky Bourbon Craft Trail, Western Region. Little did we know that we would fall in love with the people and the distillery and make many more visits.
History and Beginnings
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Bourbon Trail is learning the history of the distillery and what brought the owners to be in the distilling industry. This is especially interesting with the Craft Distilleries who are typically following a life-long or possibly a learned passion for spirits. For Tom and Kim Bard, they took different paths but ended at the same destination… A love and commitment for the history and people of Muhlenberg County in Kentucky.
Tom, a mechanical engineer, grew up in Muhlenberg County and is the 4th great grandson of William Bard – the founder of Bardstown, KY. Tom spent many years in motorsports including being a crew chief. On the other hand, Kim is from Tallahassee, FL and spent her early career in education, but has been known for being a race car driver in the Nascar Busch series. The stars aligned, they were married and now live on the family farm in Kentucky. For more on their legacy, see the distillery’s About page.
Tour of the The Bard Distillery
When you first arrive at the distillery, you can’t help but notice the art-deco building sitting on the hill. It was a beautiful old school that had been abandoned in 2004. Thankfully, Tom and Kim had a vision for a distillery and entertainment venue and purchased the property in 2015. Based on what we heard on this tour as well as subsequent visits, we know that they are taking time to properly renovate while lovingly paying homage to the historical buildings that they treasure.
The Graham School BuildingThe Graham School Gymnasium
For now, the old gymnasium is their hub of operations and doubles for an event space. Luckily, it is in amazing condition and the floors are beautiful.
On the stage of the gym is where the distilling takes place! They shared with us on that first tour that they cannot wait to get their Vendome Copper & Brass Works still that will reside in the main school building. If you know anything about the industry, you know what a long wait time is usually expected to get a custom made Vendome!
At the conclusion of the distillery tour, we enjoyed a guided tasting of several of their award-winning spirits – each one was terrific.
Gift Shop
They have a terrific little gift shop and we were each able to get a shirt plus a very nice sign to display (and Kim and Tom signed the sign for us).
Happy to acquire another distillery ornament for the tree and distillery pin for my hat!
We loved all their spirits and bought our fair share – including their last bottle of Founder’s Select. Even things that we wouldn’t normally consider – such as flavored or creamed, were awesome! Since this first visit, their Cinder & Smoke Oloroso has become one of our favorite bourbons.
Distillery Trail Statistics
The Bard Distillery in Graham, KY was our 33rd distillery. A member of the Kentucky Bourbon Craft Trail, Western Region – it was our 13th distillery on the Craft Trail and our 3rd of 5 in the Western Region.
We returned 5/28/23 for the release of their Central City 150 and enjoyed a Smoked Old Fashioned while visiting. A pre-dawn return trip 09/23/23 to purchase the Cinder & Smoke Excelsior aged 17-years. Plus, most recently on our pre-eclipse outing! Always a joy!
Please visit The Bard! You will not be disappointed!!
A fun addition is Old Glory Distilling Co in Clarksville, TN. That plus MB Roland and Casey Jones will complete the Stateline Whiskey Tour. You will receive a souvenir shot glass at each stop and a finisher’s stave at the last one.
Happy Trails! Rebecca
All photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer unless otherwise noted.
Saturday, April 6, 2024 we decided to enjoy the beautiful day and revisit some awesome stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour Western area. Besides loving these distilleries, there were some events and special Total Eclipse bottle releases happening as well that we didn’t want to miss.
MB Roland Distillery in Pembroke, KY
MB Roland Distillery is located on a lovely farm just south of Hopkinsville, which also means that they are just north of the Tennessee state line. Via their Facebook postings, we knew that they were releasing the MB Roland Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon and “Smallest Small Batch” hand selected and blended by Jackie Zykan. Bonus, she was to be there for bottle signings 11-3. In addition, we wanted to acquire a bottle of their total eclipse commemorative Black Sun Bourbon etched bottle.
Jackie Zykan signing bottlesWayne, Rebecca, and Jackie
We were fortunate to arrive early and have an opportunity to talk with Jackie. She is not only incredibly knowledgeable and possesses an amazing palate, but she is super nice as well.
After our chat, we decided to do a small tasting to help us determine what other bottles we wanted to take home with us. They have endless options and you are sure to find one or two that hits the mark for your taste. In addition to the ones that Jackie signed and the Black Sun Bourbon, we also got one finished in brandy and a single barrel named “Butter and Biscuits” as it was very clear how it got its name!
Casey JonesDistillery in Hopkinsville, KY
From MB Roland, it is a mere 22 mile drive north to the Casey Jones Distillery. We had a mission to collect as many eclipse specialty bottles as reasonable and we knew that Casey’s had a few options. We were able to sample several items and that helped us confirm that we would acquire the three eclipse options as well as an amazing single barrel four-grain.
Rebecca, AJ, and Wayne
We had the opportunity to meet with their Master Distiller, AJ, and get a picture with him. He was thrilled that we loved their spirits and encouraged us to stop in their bar for a specialty cocktail before leaving. That was certainly on our agenda just as soon as we grabbed some of the BBQ that we had been smelling on the smoker! Smokin O’s BBQ had burgoo, BBQ nachos, pulled pork, chicken, brisket, and ribs – amazing! We enjoyed our food selections with a cocktail (Bloody Mary for Wayne and the Total Black Out for Rebecca).
Casey Jones Single Barrel Eclipse Cask: Originally barreled for the 2017 Eclipse, it was now bottled for the 2024 Eclipse. The mashbill is 50% corn and 50% cane recipe. It was aged just shy of 7 years in a Kelvin Cooperage #4 char, medium toast cask, offered uncut at cask strength.
Total Eclipse Bourbon: This is a 4 grain mashbill with 75% corn, 10% wheat, 10% rye, and 5% malted barley.
Total Eclipse Moonshine: Distilled from a century-old family recipe of 50% corn and 50% cane sugar, this particular moonshine was first created during the 2017 eclipse.
The Bard Distillery in Graham, KY
It was somewhat a “given” that we would stop by The Bard Distillery as we would literally drive by the exit on our way home. From Casey’s, it is less than 40 miles to the north – and again – on our way home to Southern Indiana. We had our fingers crossed that we might catch a lull on a Saturday so we could chat for a bit. That’s exactly what happened – we arrived just after two large groups had departed!
We always enjoy visiting with the team, seeing what might be new in the gift shop, and getting a bottle or two to replenish our shelves. We were in need of their Cinder & Smoke Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey finished in Spanish Oloroso casks. Apparently, we weren’t the only ones with that great idea as they were temporarily sold out. Just another reason to make a visit in the near future!
That said, we were able to catch up with Kim Carter Bard and Amy Bryant while enjoying that day’s specialty cocktails. In addition, we were blessed to receive a special behind-the-scene’s peek at things to come for the distillery. All I will share is that you will want to see it unfold! Just brilliant. We are very excited for Kim, Tom, and the entire team!
Kim invited us to follow her to Greenville, KY to check out a great spot there. And we were off to do just that!
Sip&Spin Coffee & Records in Greenville, KY
Greenville, KY is a picturesque town in Muhlenberg County with a traditional town feel and many historic buildings. The Sip & Spin Coffee & Records is no different. Located in the historic Roark building, the location has served several purposes including an undertaking business, antiques, and the printer for a local paper, “The Record.” Many historical items are on display today and it is fascinating to walk through. If that isn’t enough, they have fabulous coffee and live music on Friday and Saturday evenings.
We truly enjoyed relaxing there and chatting with Kim as well as Ben Duvall, the owner of the establishment. We look forward to returning on a Saturday in the near future to enjoy the music and people of Greenville.
The Bourbon Trail is so much more than collecting stamps and bottles of spirits. Whether you are just starting the Trail or are well into it, always remember to savor each moment and take it all in. It is a culture. It is making new friends. It is supporting up and coming businesses. It is a way of life and we love it!
Pro Tip: Add Old Glory Distilling Co in Clarksville, TN. That plus MB Roland and Casey Jones will complete the Stateline Whiskey Tour. You will receive a souvenir shot glass at each stop and a finisher’s stave at the last one.
Rebecca & Wayne enjoying a Chocolate Cherry Cordial
February 23, 2024, Wayne and I decided to enjoy the Frankfort and Lawrenceburg areas in Kentucky. We only had one scheduled visit that day and it wasn’t until 5PM. It is amazing all the places you can visit in a single day.
Our first stop was at Wild Turkey. We cannot wait until their Visitor Center “refresh” is completed and they are offering tours again. We were told that would be very soon. Meanwhile, the people at their outpost are terrific.
We selected a few items to purchase and then enjoyed a fantastic cocktail – a Chocolate Cherry Cordial made with Russell’s 10 Year. I asked if Jimmy Russell might stop in and was told that our best bet would be after lunch. We decided not to wander too far so we could make a return trip later in the day.
We departed and just went with the flow. Our first stop was Lawrenceburg Bourbon, which is just down the road. Then we revisited Four Roses, Woodford Reserve, and Castle & Key. It was a lovely day to enjoy the beauty of the area. We had worked a good “loop” and the timing seemed good to return to Wild Turkey. As we approached the building, a few folks said – “Hey, someone is in there signing bottlesand taking pictures.” In our minds, that could only be one person!
Visit with Jimmy Russell
We walked in to see Mr. Jimmy Russell and his lovely wife Joretta greeting visitors. We waited for our opportunity to speak with them. They were incredibly gracious and you could tell that Jimmy loved meeting people and sharing stories.
We took photos with him and he signed items for us. We stayed and talked with him whenever someone else wasn’t waiting for the opportunity. This was truly a dream come true and I admit to getting a bit emotional to finally meet him.
Jimmy got into a great conversation with Wayne about Judge McBrayer. He had someone grab publication where he looked up an article about Cedar Brook and was trying to find something about the Judge but couldn’t put his finger on it. It was a special conversation.
Wayne asked him if he loved the aromas of walking through a distillery as much as we do. He share that he really doesn’t notice the great smells because his nose is trained to look for something that is wrong or out of place. Then he knows there is an issue. Wayne also asked which of their bourbons was his favorite. He quickly noted that the Russell’s 10 Year is his pick!
He also signed my Bourbon Trail hat! This really made my day. I could have stayed longer but we really needed a bite to eat before our scheduled evening event.
What a fantastic experience to meet the “Buddha of Bourbon” who has enjoyed an amazing 60+ years making Wild Turkey whiskey! It should be no surprise that he is a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. He was also granted a Lifetime Honorary Membership to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association’s Board of Directors. Read more of his story here.
Great Finds to Bring Home
In the morning, we selected the Russell’s Single Barrel and the Russell’s 10 Year. In the afternoon, we ha the opportunity to acquire the month’s personal selection by Eddie Russell of Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel.
We also got this amazing crystal decanter and a terrific Wild Turkey sign for our Bourbon Room.
July 31, 2022, Wayne and I visited Second Sight Spirits for the first time. We were in Cincinnati for a weekend event with the Reds and planned three distillery visits within our allotted time. Second Sight was our final stop on a Sunday afternoon.
Located in Ludlow, KY which is just south of Cincinnati, OH, on the south side of the Ohio River, this quaint town is approximately 2 square miles and was incorporated in 1864. Elm St., where Second Sight is located, is definitely a happening part of this small community.
Distillery Tour & Visit
We learned that founders Rick Couch and Carus Waggoner have been friends since grade school. Their backgrounds of Rick being a mechanical engineer and Carus an industrial designer let them to careers on the Las Vegas Strip. Carus shared stories of their time in Vegas and working on Cirque Du Soleil’s LOVE as well as Viva Elvis. I won’t share the full story of how they got involved with assembling a very large still, you will need to go on the tour to hear all about that!
He shared their story of living their vision of creating an artisan distillery to focus on local products in a fun and innovative way. We followed their distillation process, toured the rick closet and storage area. All that they do is accomplished in a very small footprint.
The energy and creativity of Rick and Carus are found in every aspect of their business. Not only do they create a fun and creative experience for visitors, but every employee that we have spoken with always says it is truly a family and they love being a part of it. The culture that they have created helps them to achieve their goal of being a company that excites, engages, and entertains.
Time and time again, when people ask about our favorite distillery or experience along the Trail, Wayne always says that his most memorable and most unique is Second Sight Spirits. We highly recommend that you carve out time in your Trail planning to include a visit to Ludlow, KY!
Photos from the tour: Worm crafted from an old street lamp and other parts found on Craig’s List. Their Rick Closet – perfect for their small barrel sizes. Special spices and grains in containers. Founder Carus Waggoner sharing their story. The Mystic Mustache Ride (yes, it runs) in the bar area of the lounge.
Gift Shop
They have a great selection of shirts. We purchased a pin for my distillery hat, an ornament for our bourbon tree, a glass, and T-shirts.
Bottles Available for Sale
In addition to their Oak Eye Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey, Second Sight Spirits also produce a Hazelnut Liquor (Queen MAB) and several varieties of rum including: unbarreled rum, spiced rum, smoked cherry rum, and bourbon barreled rum. We opted to bring home a variety of their spirits.
Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.
For this tasting, Wayne and I tasted the Oak Eye Kentucky Bourbon from Second Sight Spirits in Ludlow, KY. We have had this bottle for quite some times as we purchased it on our first visit to the distillery July 30, 2022.
What is Kentucky BourbonWhiskey? Bourbon whiskey must be made in the USA from at least 51% corn. It must be distilled at 160 proof or less. It then must be placed into a new, charred oak container at a proof of 125 or below. In addition, it must be free from added substances (except water) and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof. To add “Kentucky” to the label, it must be aged for at least one year in the state of Kentucky. For additional information, read Bourbon Whiskey, part of the Sunday Spirit Notes.
Second Sight Spirits
Oak Eye Kentucky Bourbon
Mashbill – 72% Corn, 16% Wheat, 5% Rye, and 7% Malted Barley Age – 1.8 years Proof – 92.1 Barrel – 15 gallon with Char Level 3 and 115 entry proof Price Paid – $33 for 375ml
Color – copper
Aroma – honey, grains, barley, sweet cereal.
TastedNeat – wheat, barley, honey with cinnamon and nutmeg on the lingering finish.
Tasted with dried cranberry – added pops of citrus (perhaps orange zest) but no longer grain-forward.
Tasted with a pecan – the grains return in a strong way but the fruit is gone and the original cinnamon finish is very light.
Tasted with dark chocolate – as with chocolate, it is creamy; however, it reduced a lot of the original character of this spirit. That said, it is very smooth and stands up as a solid bourbon.
Discussion and Final Notes
Nice color, great nose, and the viscosity produces lingering legs. If you enjoy tasting multiple grains in your bourbon, you will certainly enjoy this pour. While it drinks terrifically as a neat pour, we can envision it being great in an Old Fashioned with walnut bitters.
If you have the opportunity to try a pour of Oak Eye, please do! Better yet, make a trip to Second Sight Spirits and enjoy the entire experience of what founders, Rick Couch and Carus Waggoner, have brought to Ludlow, KY.
Cheers, Rebecca & Wayne
Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer
NOTE: The bourbon in this review was purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.
February 1, 2024, Wayne and I ventured to Owensboro, KY to partake in Green River Distillery’s launch of their rye whiskey. We had secured the final VIP Tour of the day and arrived early to take in the festivities.
When we arrived and checked in, we were greeted with a donut. What?? But not any ordinary donut. These were by the local Gramps Coffee and Donuts. Each donut was dipped in a delicious homemade glaze that is made with the newly released Green River Rye Whiskey. It was then topped with pecans and a dab of whipped cream for that small creamy bite. Wow – just wow!
We then ventured to the bar to see what specialty cocktails were available. Not surprising, one of the featured drinks was an Old Fashioned made with the Green River Rye – it was very good. Read our tasting notes here.
VIP Distillery Tour
We had the last VIP tour of the day, and it was with none other than the amazing National Brand Ambassador, Caryn Wells. The tour was fantastic. Caryn shared history with us along the way. We got to drink the “high wine” off the still (just over 140 proof) and it was fantastic.
She shared a wonderful “full circle” story while we were in the fermentation room. Originally, there were Cedar fermentation tanks in that room. However, they were sold by Charles Medley to Maker’s Mark back in the 90’s. Ironically, Maker’s Mark Master Distiller at the time, Steve Nally, supervised their disassembly and reassembly. For those who do not know, Steve is now the Master Distiller at Bardstown Bourbon Company – the parent company of Green River since July of 2022. Pro-tip: Caryn shared that if you visit Maker’s, look for the wood that is slightly slimmer than the others, that is from Green River.
We then went to Rickhouse B where all the single barrels are selected. It was there that we got to try the rye. In addition, we were able to barrel thieve rye and bourbon. Amazingly good and we were able to keep the Glencairn as a souvenir. We learned that they rye is a blend of 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old barrels.
Back in the guest center we chatted and talked more about whiskey with Caryn and the other tour guests that we met. It was getting late, and they needed to close but first we had to each get our bottle of newly released Green River Rye Whiskey in commemorative packaging. The packaging was quite creative and both Caryn and Aaron, their Master Distiller, signed our boxes and bottles.
We had a truly wonderful evening and it was difficulty to say goodbye. Wayne and I look forward to our next visit at Green River Distilling.
Gift Shop
We have been here several times and always make a stop in their gift shop. We picked up another bottle of Green River Rye Whiskey and Wayne was able to get some very nice Green River socks and a package of their coffee. We then noticed that they had a few of the limited edition signed event prints and got one of those as well. We look forward to having it framed to hang in our bourbon room.
Commemorative Packaging for the Green River Rye Whiskey
Distillery Trail Statistics
Green River Distilling is the closest distillery to us and one of our favorite places to visit. This was our 7th visit and our 112th distillery experience. Our first visit was November 13, 2021 where Caryn Wells led us through a guided tasting and discussion about this history of the distillery.
For this tasting, Wayne and I tasted the latest release from Green River Distilling – their Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. We purchased this bottle when we attended their Rye Launch Party on February 1, 2024. Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.
Green River – the whiskey without regrets!
Green River Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Mashbill – 95% Rye and 5% Malted Barley Age – A blend of 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old barrels Proof – 95 Price Paid – $37.99 Other – One of the coolest bottles around with the horseshoe base as a throwback to their historical DSP-KY-10
Color – golden amber
Aroma – doesn’t have a typical rye note on the nose; a lot of sweetness comes through such as honey, brown sugar, and a sweet fruit.
TastedNeat – citrus, like a sweet orange marmalade with honey and graham crackers, fresh rye grass but not as expected for a 95% rye, fruitiness but with a nice rye spice and oak finish.
Tasted with dried cranberry – reduced the sweetness and mostly muted the rye spice.
Tasted with a pecan – A new type of sweetness now, such as caramel and chocolate, but with pepper, cinnamon, and maybe some oak on the finish.
Tasted with dark chocolate – creamy sweetness of caramel, but with a stronger presence of baking spices and then pepper for the finish.
Discussion and Final Notes
This is rye provides a really nice ride. It is a 95% rye that drinks quite similarly to a bourbon. You know it is rye from the rye grass, slight mint, and rye spices; however, the sweet citrus fruit – such as orange marmalade plus the graham cracker tricks your mind to thinking about bourbon.
If we had friends over that said they absolutely do not like rye, I would pour them a taste of the Green River to see if we could change their mind.
This whiskey is also at a great price point of under $40 and should be readily available through regular distribution channels. I believe Green River is now in 25 states, so look for it on the shelves of your local liquor store.
Cheers, Rebecca & Wayne
Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer
Spirit Requirements
What is a Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey? Rye whiskey must be made from at least 51% rye. It must be distilled at 160 proof or less. It then must be placed into a new, charred oak container at a proof of 125 or below. Straight rye whiskey is a subcategory of rye whiskey that has been aged for at least two years in new, charred oak barrels and doesn’t contain any additives. If aged less than four years, the label must include an age statement. To add “Kentucky” to the label, it must be aged for at least one year in the state of Kentucky. For additional information, read Rye Whiskey, part of the Sunday Spirit Notes.
NOTE: The whiskey in this review was purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.
January 27, 2024, Wayne and I took a 250 mile journey to Augusta, Kentucky. It is about two hours Northeast of Louisville and less than an hour Southeast of Cincinnati. Augusta is a very small town along the south bank of the Ohio River with a population of approximately 1100 people. It is interesting to note that Augusta has a ferry that has operated since 1798 and that is now on our “must do” list when we make our return visit. Fun fact: George Clooney graduated from Augusta High School and his aunt, Rosemary Clooney, called Augusta home the Rosemary Clooney Museum is open to the public.
Distillery Visit
On this trip to Augusta Distillery, we opted to not take the “pardon our dust” tour and instead did a terrific tasting flight. The flight included Augusta Old Route 8, Buckner’s 10-year Single Barrel, and River Proof Series 24 (a wheated bourbon). We enjoyed each of them and decided to take one of each home with us. We later did a more in-depth tasting of the three expressions and you can read about that here.
Their build-out plans look amazing! We look forward to visiting them again once they are further along.
Gift Shop
We love a great gift shop and for a new facility, they had a really nice offering and a good variety. From shirts to hats to glassware. Our purchases included a Glencairn and a Christmas Ornament. They didn’t have a distillery pin for my hat but perhaps they will in the future.
Bottles Available for Sale
They had a terrific display of their offerings.
Distillery Trail Statistics
Augusta Distillery is our 55th new distillery and our 109th distillery experience. It was added to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour after we completed our book with 42 distilleries. Even so, we were able to get the book stamped: it is our 26th craft distillery and our 44th Kentucky Bourbon Trail stamp.
Pro Tip: Old Pogue Distillery is a mere 17 miles due East. Be sure to give them a visit as well!
Your Bourbon Journey 