Before I get into today’s post I would like to send my heartfelt condolinces out to Betty Thomas and the whole Thomas family and all of Bob’s friends. We lost Bob and he will be sorely missed by all of us. Hands down, the nicest man I have ever known.
I was going to camp last night but the skies were looking pretty dark and it was still pretty hot at 6:30 so I headed for town. The Super 8 here was $55 tax included, the room was a good one, & I ended up sleeping in a little. I said that there was something I wanted to do today and the earlier I get to Lexington the better so I got up on the slab again for about 100 miles. My aunt lives in Lexington and I’m headed for her house to drop the trailer then go over to a couple of the distilleries on the Bourbon Trail. I’ve always wanted to do that and I have the time on this trip so I’m taking advantage. The first place I stopped was Four Roses; I’d never heard of them before but they make a good enough Single Barrel Bourbon that I bought a little bottle before I left. This is also the only place I took “the tour”. I’ve been through the distillery at Jack Daniels and this one was about the same. After talking to other people that had been to more than one tour – they confirmed they were all pretty much the same – “Seen one…..”
Four Roses Distillery – Built in 1910
From the Four Roses I went over to Wild Turkey – they have a very nice gift shop and I was just looking around when one of the clerks asked me if I wanted a tasting (free). I said sure but I know what Wild Turkey tastes like so I tried a couple of their products I’ve never had. One was American Honey & it’s a blend of honey (go figure) and Bourbon. The other was their spiced Bourbon and although both were actually pretty good, I was going to buy a bottle of the American Honey but figured I’ve already got one bottle of Bourbon, I don’t need to be hauling a liquor store around with me. Besides, they said it’s their second best seller – right after their 101 proof, so I think I should be able to find it when I want some. A good sipping dessert type drink. The view from their new tasting room is quite nice.
View from the tasting room at Wild Turkey – Angel’s Roost I think it was called
The rest of these shots are all from Woodford’s Reserve. I said I only went on the Four Roses tour but that is incorrect – the only way to get down to where I could take pictures was to get on the tour bus so that’s what I did. I guess I forgot because I didn’t really “learn” anything…. Ha ha. Anyway – this distillery is listed as a National Historic Landmark so I wanted to get some pictures. Woodford’s Reserve isn’t my favorite but in the tasting they have something they call double barreled that is put back in another barrel and aged for another year.
YUCK I didn’t even finish my sample!!
Limestone buildings (circa 1878) are part of the distillery here at Woodford’s Reserve. The rails that you see the barrels on runs over 500 feet from where the barrels are filled. Each barrel weighs over 500 lbs.
Where the barrel railroad ends – the barrel house where they age the Bourbon (6-9 years)
There are more barrels of Bourbon aging in Kentucky than there are people living in Kentucky
These didn’t fit in the old limestone barrel house and will be sent to one of several more modern facilities
