9 Aug 2025 - Buffalo Trace Day #2 & Four Roses Distillery Tour

 

We had a nice day today starting out, again, at Buffalo Trace.  The allocated bottles were projected at Eagle Rare and Blanton's.  We arrived about the same time as yesterday and our friends from Minnesota were waiting for us in line LOL!  So our conversations continued and the time went quickly.  By the time the line started to move there were probably 200 people in line.  

They allowed so many in then the line stopped again.  The next time they allowed a group in we were the very last ones in the door.  

Doreen and I at the tail end of the line inside the reception building

A view out the door,  The people continued to stream in.

As projected, Blanton's and Eagle Rare for the allocated bottles.

We processed through the line quickly, got our magical wrist bands,  and made our way to the gift shop again.  There we found ample supply of the allocated bottles with an employee there busily restocking the shelves.  We picked up two of each and a case of Buffalo Trace bourbon for the Milwaukee crew.  

Blanton's and Eagle Rare, my fav.

Blanton's with it's information hand-written

As we exited the parking lot I noticed the massive line still waiting to get in the door.  Realizing it is Saturday morning, there are many more people here wanting to score a bottle of the allocated bourbon.  Crazy!  This was taken approximately 0930 hrs.

We headed back to the campground which is just 5 miles away, and spent some time with Liberty before departing for our next tour at Four Roses Distillery.  

Liberty kind of controls what we do and for how long.  She is pretty old and suffers from a heart condition requiring that she take a couple medications.  One of them is a diuretic which makes her urinate more frequently than normal.  For now she is good for about 4 hrs max but we don't like to push the envelop on that.  She has never messed in the camper but we are also diligent about letting her out.  So when we plan our travels and sightseeing, we factor in our drive times to make sure we can do what we want to do including travel or take her with us if we are able.

The drive to Four Roses was interesting as it took us down US Rt 127.  As soon as we turned onto 127 the traffic was crazy and I remembered I had read about The "World's Longest Yard Sale," also known as the 127 Yard Sale, which takes place along U.S. Route 127 and includes Kentucky. The 2025 event is scheduled for this weekend, August 7-10. It spans 690 miles through six states: Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama! 

This picture does not show it but everyone along the route was having a yard sale!!

 The drive to Four Roses was about 22 miles and we arrived ahead of our tour time.  This is a beautiful old distillery out in the rural Kentucky landscape.  The grounds are manicured and the buildings majestic.  

We made our way into the Visitor Center and checked in at the desk.  They were expecting us and we had the opportunity to select a cocktail or a mocktail for our "Sip and Stroll" summer tour. 

We had some time before our tour started so they suggested we visit the nearby lounge and sample some of their bourbon.  

Doreen's slushie drink and my Old Fashioned

Before long our tour guide summoned us and we were issued headphones and a received.  They worked out well as no matter where the tour guide was everyone could hear him.  The tour guide started his briefing inside a very comfortable room and he gave use some history of the company.  We were also given our cocktails or mocktails to sip while we toured.  

Soon we headed out on a tour of the distillery, whick started in 1888.  It was allowed to product alcohol "for medicinal purposes" during prohibition 1920-1933.  It's been bought and sold a few times including by Seagrams.  Here is an iconic photo of a sailor kissing a woman at Times Square on V-J Day, and you will see Four Roses Bourbon advertised at the top!

Here are some pictures of the tour.  Production is shut down right now at most distilleries so they can do maintenance, 

A look in the laboratory where they test the yeast

The front of the distillery with the Spanish Mission architecture

Valves and gaskets being replaced during the shutdown

Tanks used to store the distilled alcohol before it is shipped to where they pump it into barrels for aging,  Notice everyone carrying their "Sip and Stroll" cups

We concluded the tour in the tasting room which was prepared for us in advance.  Each seat had a flight of four different Four Roses bourbons, some water and a package of oyster crackers to cleanse the palate between tastes.  

This chart helps explain the mash bills and the yeasts

 that make up the different Four Roses recipes.

Of the four that we sampled, this single barrel was my favorite, so we picked up a bottle in the gift shop to take home and share with friends

We enjoyed our tour at Four Roses but it was time to head back to the campground to let our Miss Liberty.  We relaxed this afternoon and then bought dinner from a food truck that comes in the campground every Saturday night.  They served Asian food and it was plentiful and good.

Tomorrow (Sunday) we will visit the Castle & Key Distillery and a nearby Glenn's Creek Distillery