Mountain Khakis Roamers: Gluck Takes on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail 

Hello! I’m Nancy Gluck, Office Administrator for Mountain Khakis. I am now 1 year into my adventure at MK and can’t wait to see what the future holds. With 20 plus years in office management experience I put the FUN in functional for the office and everything I do!   

 
I love traveling for many different reasons. I used to be all about the destination but now I’m realizing it truly is about the journey (I mean of course the destination is part of it!). Many people are familiar with the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. After all Kentucky produces 95% of the global supply of Bourbon and has 100 licensed distilleries operated by 84 companies in 42 Kentucky counties. Crazy right?  
I have been a (craft) beer enthusiast since my days at Clemson (Bud Light counts right?) but I have to come clean. I feel like it’s time to break up with beer and start dating bourbon.  

This is my second visit to Kentucky and if you've never been you're truly missing out. Besides it being the bourbon capital of the world, the people are genuinely some of the nicest you will ever meet.  I was joined on the trail by my very good friend Chad, who can be seen in the images below sporting his favorite Mountain Khakis gear. Now let’s get into the details & some pro-tips. 

Pro-Tips

1. Map it out! 

 Only book a few tours to distilleries you are really interested in. Each one has its own unique history, facility, staff, location, etc.  This trip we visited Maker’s Mark & Copper & Kings American Brandy.   Both were simply put, amazing. Definitely check them out.   I’ve learned the best way to check off lots of stops is what I like to call “hop & shop.”  

You simply map out where you want to go for the day, hop to the bar to try a flight & shop around after. I learned so much more from sitting at each bar, sampling a flight & talking to the staff and fellow bourbon drinkers. See Chad below posted up to the bar sporting an all-Mountain Khakis outfit!  
 

2. Don’t sleep on the food!

If they have a restaurant onsite do yourself a favor, go! Some of the best food I’ve had has been at these distilleries. For all you foodies out there I highly recommend The Bar At Willet & Copper & Kings Rooftop Bar. Be sure to make reservations!  

3. Go the week of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival.

In conjunction with this event a lot of distilleries release special bottles you can only get onsite in the shops. To make your experience even more a lot of places hold special events, deals on pours & bottles. For everyone trying to get that unicorn this is your moment.

4. Stay in Bardstown or Elizabethtown.

Both have really great Airbnb’s that I have stayed in at very reasonable prices so you and a group can sleep comfortably & have plenty of space. Both towns are located so everywhere is within driving distance that you would want to venture to.
Plus, both have that special small town feel you can’t replicate. Everything is walkable, the restaurants, coffee shops and bottle shops rival ones in big cities. I had the best coconut latte at Vibe Coffee.  

5. Go hunting.

Bourbon hunting is a pastime and not for the faint of heart. As I mentioned above both towns have what we like to call “bottle shops.” It's where you can stop in, sit at the bar, try bourbon or just simply go in and shop.

• I loved Evergreen Liquors in Bardstown where they have an entire notebook of bourbons to try that are incredibly hard to find unless you are willing to pay ample dollars on the secondary market.
• Another gem was The Blind Pig. They have a great selection, lots of local distillers onsite to sample, talk to & get bottles signed. It’s also where I found my coveted Willet “purple top” just sitting on the shelf!  
• Last but not least was John O’s in Elizabethtown. When I tell you they have a selection that will make your mouth drop I’m not kidding. We went in there at least 3 times to stock up on items you will never find in Charlotte, NC. And off to the back right corner is John O’s personal collection, try not to drool.

So, if you ever find yourself contemplating a trip to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, stop thinking and just go for it! Beyond the rich history and world-class bourbon, you'll discover unforgettable experiences, warm southern hospitality, and memories that will stay with you long after your last sip. Your wallet may be a bit lighter when you leave, but your belly and heart will be full. Cheers to the adventure ahead!

Here’s all the bottles I snagged!