From Stamps to Stories: My 972-Mile Bourbon Adventure On The Kentucky BourbonTrail

Send us a text


The Kentucky Bourbon Trail journey sparked Tiny's bourbon passion
and eventually led to the creation of the Scotchy Bourbon Boys
podcast. What began as casual bourbon drinking with friends
evolved into a full-blown obsession after completing the entire
trail in 2019, covering 972 miles and 18 distillery
locations.

• Originally started drinking bourbon while painting as an
alternative to absinthe
• Discovered bourbon flavors through a whiskey desk calendar in
2018
• Saved $5,000 for a year to visit the Kentucky Bourbon Festival
and complete the Bourbon Trail
• Completed all 18 locations of the 16 official distilleries in
nine days
• Met bourbon legends like Fred Noe, Freddie Noe and Jimmy
Russell
• Special experiences included dipping a Maker's Mark bottle and
using a bung hammer at Jim Beam
• Received a commemorative glass upon completing the trail
• The Kentucky Bourbon Trail has expanded from 16 distilleries to
60 experiences across 27 counties
• Buffalo Trace and Barton's chose to leave the official trail
but remain essential bourbon destinations

Remember to check us out at scotchiebourbonboys.com for all
Scotchy Bourbon Boys merchandise. You can find us on Facebook,
Instagram, YouTube, and X, plus all major podcast formats
including Apple, iHeart, and Spotify. Like, listen, subscribe,
comment and leave good feedback.

How does a former absinthe-loving artist transform into a bourbon
enthusiast? For me, it happened through an unforgettable 972-mile
journey across Kentucky's rolling hills and distillery
landscapes.

My bourbon adventure began unexpectedly when a desk calendar full
of whiskey facts challenged my skepticism about flavor notes like
"crème brûlée" and "cherry pie." This curiosity blossomed into a
meticulously planned nine-day expedition through the Kentucky
Bourbon Trail in September 2019. Armed with $5,000 I'd saved
specifically for this pilgrimage, I set out to collect stamps
from all 16 official distilleries.

The journey wasn't without challenges – from nursing a hangover
after overindulging at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival gala to
racing across time zones to reach Ozzy Tyler Distillery (now
Green River) before closing. Each distillery offered unique
moments: dipping my own bottle in Maker's Mark's signature red
wax, using a bung hammer at Jim Beam, and sipping whiskey with
legends like Fred and Freddie Noe.

What makes this story significant is how drastically the Trail
has evolved since my completion. What began as seven distilleries
in 1999 has exploded into 60 experiences across 27 Kentucky
counties, generating $9 billion annually for the state's economy.
The focus has shifted from stamp collection to personalized
adventures, with distilleries offering specialized tours,
cocktail classes, and dining experiences.

My commemorative completion glass – what I now call "the Eagle
Scout Award badge for bourbon" – represents not just a tourist
achievement but the beginning of a passion that spawned this very
podcast and community. Whether you're planning your own bourbon
pilgrimage or simply enjoying from afar, remember that good
bourbon equals good times with good friends.

Have you completed any portion of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail?
Share your experiences in the comments or tell us which
distillery is at the top of your bucket list!


Add for SOFL


If You Have Gohsts


Support the show


https://www.scotchybourbonboys.com


The Scotchy bourbon Boys are #3 in Feedspots Top 60 whiskey
podcasts in the world
https://podcast.feedspot.com/whiskey_podcasts/