Western Kentucky is now a part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Locations in Marshall and Christian counties are among seven of the state’s so-called micro or craft distilleries added to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour.State officials joined distillers to make the announcement today in Lexington. Silver Trail Distillery in Hardinand MB Roland Distillery in Pembroke are the far western Kentucky stops. Christian County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Cheryl Cook says she’s glad to see emphasis put on western Kentucky.
“Sometimes we get left out when people think about tourism, but we have so much to offer here, and having the extra people to get here and see the bourbon distilleries, then they’ll also get to visit and see the other things that we have that are so wonderful," said Cook.
MB Roland owner and operator Paul Tomaszewski says the move is good for the industry.
“When you go to Kentucky, it’s going to be anywhere you go, you’ll be able to travel less than an hour and go see a distillery," he said. "And pretty much all of us are highly unique, so it will be a unique experience to go see different ones.”
Tomaszewski says most craft distillery bourbon tastes different from large industry bourbon because most small scale distillers use a pot still. He says the craft distillers also source their grain locally, adding regional flair to the flavor.
The Trail started in 1999 to promote the state’s bourbon industry. The craft distillery tours officially kick off October 18. The other tour locations are Barrel House Distillery, Lexington; Corsair Artisan Distillery, Bowling Green; Limestone Branch Distillery, Lebanon; Old Pogue Distillery, Maysville; and Willlet Distillery, Bardstown.
