What words and images come to mind when you think of Kentucky bourbon? You likely think of rolling hills, horses grazing in the distance, and a tradition as rich in stories as it is in oak barrels. But, if you’ve ever traveled the state to its Western side, then you know Kentucky bourbon culture is as varied as the state itself.
Head to Western Kentucky, and you’ll find the “Wild West of Kentucky Bourbon.” Offering fewer big names, more scrappy, small distilleries, and an outlaw spirit that permeates through each barrel of bourbon aged, here are five of the best bourbon distilleries (plus an outpost that’s opening soon!) that should be added to the top of your must-visit list the next time you find yourself in the Bluegrass State.
Casey Jones Distillery
Location: Hopkinsville, KY
More Info: caseyjonesdistillery.com
Named for a Prohibition-era distiller who kept the tradition of copper stills alive throughout the 1920s (despite being sent to prison twice), Casey Jones Distillery is known for both its bourbon and moonshine. It’s truly a Kentucky liquor experience. It is a repeat award-winner with the American Craft Spirits Association, and you can taste these bourbons for yourself with daily tours and experiences at the distillery. There are over 20 different bourbons to sample, including small batch, single cask, and even rye-forward versus corn-forward bourbon whiskeys.
Dueling Grounds Distillery
Location: Franklin, KY
More Info: duelinggroundsdistillery.com
The award-winning Linkumpinch bourbon may not be easy to pronounce, but Dueling Grounds Distillery knows once you take that first sip, you’ll be back for a second! This cask-strength, single-barrel bourbon is one of the highlights of a visit to the distillery, but you’ll find it hard to pick a favorite when you start sampling the other liquors and liqueurs (there are even fruit liqueurs for those who have a softer palette).
Dueling Grounds Distillery offers a true experience. Its pizza kitchen is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and it hosts a weekly Sip & Savor with specialty cocktails and food each Sunday afternoon from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Green River Distilling Company
Location: Owensboro, KY
More Info: greenriverwhiskey.com
Green River Distilling Company has proudly dubbed its product “The Whiskey Without Regrets” — a bourbon whiskey crafted on the same grounds it’s been made on since 1885. The distillery has the distinction of being the 10th oldest distillery licensed in Kentucky, though it took a hiatus for a few years, finally reopening in 2022. Today, it’s revisiting its 140-year-old tradition and distilling six different liquors, including single-barrel bourbon, full-proof bourbon, and rye whiskey.
MB Roland Distillery
Location: Pembroke, KY
More Info: mbroland.com
Considered a “grain to glass” distiller, MB Roland Distillery makes its bourbon using the local white corn surrounding its rural location. It was founded in 2009 when the owners (one of whom is a lifelong local of the area) bought an Amish dairy farm. MB Roland Distillery is now distilling both bourbon and moonshine on its grounds. It’s open for standard tours and other behind-the-scenes experiences, where you can learn an in-depth history of the tradition of bourbon making, meet the founders or distillers, or even bottle your own bourbon on-site.
The Bard Distillery
Location: Graham, KY
More Info: thebarddistillery.com
The Bard Distillery is one of the most unique distillery settings in all of Kentucky. Located in a 1920s schoolhouse in a historic coal mining town, it isn’t the most obvious locale for bourbon-making. But there’s something about the juxtaposition that makes the blends even smoother.
The company only started brewing in 2019, but it has already produced multiple award-winning bourbons, including the Cinder & Smoke. The Bard Distillery is open daily for tours, and interestingly, it might be the only distillery in Kentucky with a female NASCAR driver among its owners.
COMING SOON: Rhythm River Distillery
Location: Henderson, KY
While most Western Kentucky distilleries boast rural settings, Rhythm River Distillery is primed to open in Downtown Henderson. Founded by Andrew and Meredith Powell, the distillery will open in the former Henderson Municipal Power and Light (HPML) building, a formidable brick building in an industrial part of town. The company will produce bourbon and rye whiskeys alongside other spirits. The building itself will feature glass windows that offer sweeping views of the nearby bridge, and river. The target open date is early 2025.
This article is sponsored by the Wild West of Kentucky Bourbon in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Tourism.
