We've taken it pretty easy this week. I've been working on school related paperwork for the kids and have been slowly getting into the mindset of returning home. There's still a lot to do to prepare but I'm getting excited for it. I wonder how it will be. Will it be like we never left or will it be like we just got off a carousel? I guess we'll see soon enough!
While we've been here in Kentucky my husband and I have had fun visiting places with the kids. We've also been taking time for ourselves to explore the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Basically what that means is that we've driven from distillery to distillery to take tours. Most of the big distilleries are relatively close to each other so it's not hard to visit several in one afternoon.
I've really had a great time learning about the history and science of making bourbon. Each distillery is different and so are their tours. Some give a very basic explanation of the process while others have created an almost theme park-like experience for visitors. All of them share bits of information about their particular operation and products but some really go above and beyond to create a living history lesson. I think I've learned more about Kentucky culture on these tours than in all the other places we've visited so far combined! On more than one occasion I've found myself wishing the kids were with us so they could see and hear what we were experiencing too. Here are some tidbits we picked up along the way.
Kentucky countryside between distilleries
We saw several quilt barns too.
1. It must be made in the United States.
2. You must use a brand new charred white oak barrel for aging. You may not use it again afterward.
3. It must be made from a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn.
4. Only water may be added to it.
5. It must be distilled to no more than 160 proof (80% alcohol by volume)
6. Entered into the barrel for aging at no more than 125 proof (62.5% alcohol by volume), also called "white dog".
7. Bottled at 80 proof or more (40% alcohol by volume)
- Wild Turkey was also in the aforementioned blog post. We started noticing that wherever we saw a sign for a distillery, there was always a church nearby... coincidence? You can draw your own conclusions.
Interestingly enough, one theory about the origin of bourbon is that it was created by a Baptist minister.
- Woodford Reserve is one of the few distilleries left that is still owned and operated by an American company. The building is the oldest in the United States and it has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Woodford Reserve is also "The Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby" and their bourbon is made in old-fashioned copper pot stills (as opposed to modern column stills) and then aged in a 100 year-old stone warehouse instead of the large wood ones more commonly used by the other makers. When we visited this one the emphasis was on how they held to traditional practices, which was interesting.
- Evan Williams- This tour took place in downtown Louisville in a building that was located near the original site from the 1700's.
Another theory we heard about the origin of bourbon is that Evan Williams created it. He was the first major distiller and one of the founders of Louisville. This tour was one of my favorites, which I wasn't expecting when we drove up to the storefront. At Evan Williams you start with a short movie recreating one of Louisville's original town meetings. Then you walk along hallways that have been built to look like original storefronts in various time periods on each floor. By the time we were finished we really had learned a lot about Louisville history and the part Evan Williams played in it.
Did you know that in America's early history, each state printed their own money and often times the states wouldn't recognize another states currency. Whiskey could be used as cash during this time period and everyone accepted it.
The vapors that are released from the barrels as they age is called the "Angels Share." At one of the distilleries the guide told us the legend that if you give the angels enough, they'll protect the bourbon warehouses from fires- bourbon is extremely flammable. At another distillery the guide told us what the vapors were called and then followed up by saying "...those greedy, greedy angels." Haha!
The bourbon that is absorbed into the barrels as they age is called the "Devils Cut."
This is an example of the ratios of grains that go into making bourbon. Corn is always the main ingredient.
One of the hallways with the historic storefronts.
During prohibition, the only way you could get alcohol was if a doctor prescribed it. When the 18th Amendment went into effect, thousands of Kentucky natives who had depended on the bourbon industry for generations were left with no way to support their families. These are some of the bottles used by the local pharmacy during prohibition. I had to laugh when I saw that one that advertised "to increase liver health".....
- Jim Beam- It was pretty busy when we arrived, so we weren't able to take a tour. We did check out the gift shop and smoke house, though. At the smoke house you can order barbeque and ice cream for lunch. It smells heavenly! Jim Beam also sells benches and other items made from the used bourbon barrels, which was really cool....but expensive.
The grounds were so picturesque!
One of the bourbon barrel benches
The aging bourbon is stored in warehouses like this. These are painted black, but as the bourbon ages a natural black fungus starts to grow all over the place anyway. See how it's darker at the bottom? We've noticed that many farms here in Kentucky have black barns too.
Mmmm. I can smell the barbeque on the smoker now,,,,
More Kentucky sightseeing...
- Makers Mark, also a National Historic Landmark, really began as a partnership between husband and wife. Bill Samuels Sr. purchased the distillery and perfected the product. His wife, Margie, came up with the ideas for marketing and dipping the bottles in wax and stamping them with a makers mark to show people it was a quality product, like pewter craftsmen did. Mrs. Samuels was so influential in the industry that she was the fifth woman to be inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2014.
The family also has a connection to Frank and Jessee James as well as Abraham Lincoln. Recently Makers Mark partnered with Dale Chihuly and is showcasing art glass sculptures around the property. Everything is beautifully displayed and I highly recommend checking them out!
Here, we were able to taste the sour mash as it was fermenting... it was sour. This is a step in the process of making alcohol. Look at the yeast in action!
You can't see it here but behind this blue sculpture is a newly built storage facility to keep products aging for long periods of time in a natural temperature-controlled setting. It was constructed to impact the environment as little as possible by being built into a limestone hillside. The landscape above it was left alone and continues to grow.
Can you see the barrels behind this glass basket? This is in that limestone warehouse.
The water that runs in these canals comes from the same source used to make the Makers Mark bourbon.
- Buffalo Trace has the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating distillery in the United States and is also listed as a National Historic Landmark. They got their name from the American Bison who used to roam the area. Like Four Roses, they were able to remain open during prohibition because of their medicinal use permit.
Regardless of how bourbon came to be, it's a big deal to a lot of people here in Kentucky and I've really enjoyed learning about it. I hope you have too.
Today is our youngest son's birthday so we're off to celebrate our not-so-little-anymore guy. Until next week!
- Jen
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