The Bourbon Trail from Frankfort
Frankfort sits in the middle of bourbon country. You can tour a distillery in town in the morning and be in Versailles, Lawrenceburg or Midway by lunch, then sleep downtown and walk to dinner.
Frankfort stops on the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is run by the Kentucky Distillers' Association. Its separate Craft Tour was folded into the main trail in 2024, so small distilleries and big ones now share one list. These three Frankfort distilleries are on it:
Castle & Key Distillery
A Frankfort stop on the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Whiskey Thief Distilling Co.
The distillery's own Franklin County page lists Mon to Sat 10 AM to 5 PM and Sun 11 AM to 5 PM, last tour 4:30 PM, and says to call 502-552-1001; no online booking for this location.
J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery
Its own visit page says reservations are highly recommended and lists Mon to Sat, 8:30 AM to 5 PM.
Buffalo Trace
Buffalo Trace Distillery on the river north of downtown is Frankfort's best-known distillery, but it is not part of the Kentucky Distillers' Association's official trail, so it won't show up in a trail passport. Its tours are free and run seven days a week. Reservations are recommended and walk-up spots are limited, so book ahead. More on planning it in A Bourbon Day in Frankfort.
Trail distilleries within 35 minutes of Frankfort
Drive times are from downtown Frankfort and run longer at rush hour.
| Distillery | Town | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegrass Distillers at Elkwood Farm | Midway | about 20 min |
| Woodford Reserve Distillery | Versailles | about 22 min |
| Larrikin Bourbon Co. | Lawrenceburg | about 27 min |
| Bulleit Distilling Co. | Shelbyville | about 29 min |
| Wild Turkey Distillery | Lawrenceburg | about 30 min |
| Four Roses Distillery | Lawrenceburg | about 31 min |
| Jeptha Creed Distillery | Shelbyville | about 33 min |
Woodford Reserve and Four Roses book tours online, and most Woodford experiences need a reservation. Check each distillery's site for current tour times before you go.
Plan the day
Two or three distilleries is a full day. Pick a designated driver or book a driver before you start tasting. Stay downtown so the evening is walkable: see where to stay, then dinner and a bourbon bar to finish.
Check the events calendar for tastings and distillery events the week you visit.
Trail membership checked on kybourbontrail.com and each distillery's own site on October 22, 2026.