The Bourbon Capital Region {Major Distilleries} BYOB (Course #253)

The “Bourbon Capital Region” is generally located in and around the City of Bardstown, Kentucky. This area is first to be recognized as an “established region” by association in the early 1950’s. It is the largest Bourbon making region by volume and also incorporates the the cities and towns of Clermont, Boston Loretto and Lebanon in addition to Bardstown.

The “Bourbon Capital Region” includes eight major and medium distilleries and two other important facilities within its radius. In Bardstown itself you have Heaven Hill’s Bourbon Heritage Center, bottling facility and warehouses; the Barton/1792 Distillery; the Willett Distillery; the Bardstown Bourbon Company Distillery (which makes Bird Dog, Calumet, Lexington and Sam Houston) and the LuxRow Distillery.

The Jim Beam Distillery in just outside Bardstown in Clermont which is located 14 miles northwest and the Booker Noe Distillery in Boston is located 10 miles due west of Bardstown. The Maker’s Mark Distillery is also outside of the City of Bardstown, located 14 miles southeast of Bardstown in Loretto and the bottling plant for Four Roses in Cox’s Creek, Kentucky is located just 5 miles due north of Bardstown. A little further away in the southeast direction is the Limestone Branch Distillery (which makes Yellowstone Bourbon and Minor Case Rye) located 23 miles southeast in Lebanon, Kentucky.

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There are twelve basic classes that make up the General University Requirements (G.U.R.’s). They are Whiskey 101; Bourbon 201; Tennessee Whiskey 202;

“Tenn-tucky” {the 5 Whiskey making Regions in the Mid-South States}; International Whiskys; “The Big 3”; The Bourbon Capital Region; The Bluegrass Region; The Whiskey Row Region; and Milestones in Bourbon History.

In order to qualify for the first level of recognition the student must take Bourbon 201 and any other 4 Tasting Classes. After completing these you earn a ”Certificate of Completion” in Basic Whiskey Studies and the title of ”Apprentice Bourbon Taster.”

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