For that reason, people line up early, literally hours early, at the Buffalo Trace entrance so they make it to the gift shop before allocated supplies run out! It's crazy. But we know how they play this game and we arrived about 45 minutes before the door opened. As we attempted to turn in, we were directed down the street as they are still recovering from the serious flooding that occurred earlier this year. WE parked and headed for the entrance and there were a couple hundred people already lined up waiting to get in!
So we got in line and I recognized the people in front of us from our campground. They were camping in an Airstream right next to us. So we struck up a conversation and they are from Minnesota. They both work remotely from their camper, which is very common these days, and they were here just for the allocated bourbon also!
Time flew by quickly and before long it was 0900 hrs and they were processing people in the building. While we waited we notice the sign indicating what they had for sale today. This confirmed what the oddsmakers said that today would be E.H. Taylor small batch and Weller. The other products listed are not allocated and are readily available.
We got through there quickly and made our way outside and down the path to the gift shop. Inside the gift shop we made our way to the racks in the back and there was ample supply of both E.H. Taylor and Weller.
But here is the kicker - you are only allowed to purchase one bottle of each allocated bourbon every 90 days, and they track it closely and automagically based on your drivers license that we had to show when we entered and the wrist band they issued. So Doreen was able to buy one of each and so was I. Doreen's portion is going to my son-in-law Keith who is a bourbon connoisseur.
So that was nice. We were in and out of there in no time. They were offering free samples on the way out and of course we took advantage of that!
J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery
We headed for the truck and proceeded across the street and down the block to the J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery, our next stop.
So just for the record, they cannot slap the "bourbon" label on just any brown looking alcohol! To be called "bourbon", it must adhere to strict regulations, primarily that it be made in the United States, distilled from a mash of at least 51% corn, aged in new, charred oak barrels, must also be distilled at no higher than 160 proof and put into a barrel at no higher than 125 proof, and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof, according to the World Whisky Day. It also cannot contain any added coloring or flavoring according to Of Whiskey and Words. There are some other caveats involving bourbon, but these are the big ones. There are many factors that affect the flavor, smoothness and finish of every bourbon and that is what is interesting about the tastings.
We completed our tasting and then toured the distillery and bottling operations. For a price you can create your own unique blended bourbon complete with your own unique bottle.
We really enjoyed the tasting and the friendliness of the staff. I bought a bottle of the double staved 6 year old bourbon to add to the home collection, which was very smooth and flavorful.
Rebecca Ruth Candy Tour
We headed back to the campground to spend some time with Liberty and have lunch before our next destination, which was the Rebecca Ruth Candy tour.
Ruth Hanly Booe and Rebecca Gooch founded the company. Rebecca Gooch sold her part to Ruth who continued the operation. Ruth is considered "The Mother of Bourbon Balls". Where else do you build a chocolate operation but right in the midst of bourbon country! She started making chocolate candy in 1919 which was located in the old Franklin Hotel. She made her candy on an old curved marble bar top that was salvaged from a burned out Capital Hotel. That bar top is on display here!
Daniel and Rebecca Boone's Grave
Next stop was Daniel and Rebecca Boone's grave, located in the Frankfort Cemetery. Their gravesite is on a hill overlooking Frankfort and the Kentucky River. Apparently the city fathers thought it would help to promote the new cemetery to have famous people buried there. Missouri was Daniel Boone's chosen home, where he and his wife died and were buried. Representatives of the cemetery convinced Boone's son to allow them to rebury his parents' remains in the new cemetery. So now you know!
The Memorial pays tribute to 1109 of Kentucky's Veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their Nation. It was constructed in 1988 and overlooks the state Capitol in Frankfort. At the entrance to the memorial you can look up names on printed documents.
Thus, each individual is honored with a personal tribute. The names of POW/MIA (Prisoners of War/Missing in Action) are engraved on the stone that is located behind (south of) the gnomon. In this location, the gnomon shadow will never fall on these names.
We finished up today grilling some pork chops and watching the geese cruise down the river past our camper.
Tomorrow we will hit Buffalo Trace again for hopefully two different allocated bourbons and then head down to the Four Roses Distillery for a tour there.
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