This was a very unique tour experience. And in a good way! I have been on a bunch of bourbon tours…read moreat distilleries. This was by far one of the most memorable. From getting to taste the mash, to the whiskey, right off the steel, and then the thumb right out of the barrel to try and barrel proof. It was an amazing tour. Our guide was very engaging and had lots of great stories. I would highly recommend this to her if you're in the Lexington area

After reading so many positive reviews and recommendations, this was a "must-try" distillery for…read moreme. I made reservations in advance for the last tasting on a Saturday. If you're unfamiliar with the area, the distillery is located in the New Distillery District, which has several other local establishments, including bars and restaurants. On a Saturday, the area can get very crowded, and parking may be difficult to find. It was also a little confusing to locate the entrance to the distillery, and we actually had to call to figure out where the front door was. Fortunately, we found it just in time for our tour. Our tour guide, Slaid, started off by providing us with a ton of interesting historical information, which I really enjoyed. Unfortunately, as the tour continued, his demeanor seemed to change and came across as somewhat mean and arrogant. For the tasting, we were provided with glass shot glasses, which I thought was a nice touch. At one point, Slaid told us that if we didn't like something, we could pour it on the ground. I happened to be standing next to an open, empty barrel and jokingly asked if he meant that I should pour it there. His response was abrupt: "No, I never told you to do that!!" I was yelled at like a child. It was an awkward interaction. There were also a few moments where he was quick to call out other guests. For example, when someone was standing slightly near a display case, he loudly told them not to be anywhere near it. While I understand wanting to protect the displays, the way it was communicated felt unnecessarily harsh. Overall, I really enjoyed the historical information and appreciated the take home glass tasting glasses. Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of the tour guide's demeanor or the bourbons themselves. One other thing that I found a bit off-putting was receiving a message the following day asking us to tip our tour guide. None of the other distillery tours we experienced during our trip did this, so it felt somewhat unusual and, honestly, a little tacky. There were definitely some positives to the experience, but based on the tour itself, the bourbon, and the overall interaction with our guide, it wasn't one of my favorite stops.

One of the best distillery visits ever. Don't be put off by all the kitchy Australian-themed decor,…read morelike the kangaroo statue in front (selfie op), the koalas on the gin bottles, and the attempt at an Australian accent by the non-Australian bartender. (The owner is Australian but not the bartender.) You get used to it. There were a few preselected tasting flights offered. I don't know if the customer can choose their own selection but I wouldn't be surprised. They seemed pretty accommodating, letting me sample a couple of gins for free (but this was after I spent over $150 on bourbons). The bartender gave me so much info (tasting notes, history, etc.) before I even decided on my flight. I was really intrigued by the gins but I was in Kentucky for whiskey so I got the premium flight that features their higher end bourbon and whiskey offerings. Pretty expensive at $30 but it was 5 1/2-ounce pours so that's a lot of product. After getting my flight I took it to one of the tables to relax, sipping and comparing, reading my book, and enjoying the ambience. Such a pretty, colorful interior, the metal building spruced up with natural wooden tables, neon signs, and the large bar area with its dark purple walls, granite countertop and artfully illuminated bottles. The music soundtrack was great, eclectic and varied. A sign said scan the QRC for the soundtrack, so it's apparent they put some real thought into it. During the 1/2 hour or so I was there I was visited by no less than 3 staff members plus my original bartender, asking how I liked the bourbons, etc. Not just to be polite. They all asked probing questions: which one is my favorite, what do I taste, how do they compare, etc. All this attention was surprising (too many staff on a slow day?) but welcome, and forced me to contemplate what I was drinking more carefully. I liked everything and couldn't decide on one so I ended up with two 375ml bottles. One was the Cigar Lounge, 9 years, finished in barrels used for Cognac, Amburana, Jaca, Madeira, and Maple. One of the visiting staff suggested I take it into the humidor and try it again because it "really changes it." I'm not a cigar smoker but the wood-lined, walk-in humidor was pleasantly aromatic and I guess it did change the taste of the whisky, not that it needed any improvement. After finishing my flight it was time to eat. There's a resident food truck on premises (Billibong Provisions) selling Australian meat pies and not much else. I moved to the outside seating area and got a chicken/vegetable. It was very good with a flaky buttery crust and ample filling. And the iced coffee I had with it was excellent too. I was really intrigued by their gins. They offer 5 kinds, all made with different blends of Australian herbs. Each label featuring a cartoon koala engaged in different leisure activities (at a bbq grill, on a surfboard, chilling in a hammock, etc.) Having consumed over 2 ounces of spirits I couldn't do another flight though I really wanted to. But the bartender gave me two micro-pours for free. (She would have kept going but I reluctantly stopped her.) One was the RBF (Resting Beach Face), made with salt bush, oyster shell, sea parsley, and Tasmanian peaberry. Yummy. All the descriptions were so intriguing. Wish I could have tried them all.

Larrikin Distillery has become a regular stop for us anytime we're in the area, and for good…read morereason. The bourbon is excellent, but somehow the hospitality manages to be even better. It's Australian-themed, veteran-owned, and has exactly the kind of atmosphere that makes you walk in planning to have one drink and leave wondering how you became emotionally attached to a distillery. The whiskey is seriously good, the people make you feel like an old friend, and there's always a reason to come back (plus they often have their dogs representing- BONUS). If you like great bourbon, great conversation, and a place with actual personality, Larrikin is absolutely worth the stop. Fair warning though folks, one visit may result in a permanent addition to your bourbon travel itinerary.

Wild Turkey was an incredible stop on our bourbon trip--and it happens to be Jeff's favorite…read moredistillery, so expectations were pretty high going in. It absolutely delivered. Our tour guide was excellent: knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly proud of the history behind the distillery. The views are incredible too, especially overlooking the river and the old railroad bridge. Watching people bungee jump from the bridge added a pretty unforgettable moment to the day. We did the regular tour and then paid extra for the Russell's Reserve tasting, and that was well worth it. The tasting really took the experience up a level and gave us a much better appreciation for the Russell's lineup and the craftsmanship behind it. Between the history, the scenery, the hospitality, and the bourbon, Wild Turkey was one of the standout stops of the trip. If you're visiting bourbon country, don't skip it--and if you have the chance, add the Russell's tasting.

This distillery was at the top of our list from the very beginning, and thankfully, it did not…read moredisappoint! First of all, I absolutely loved the staff. One of the employees jokingly gave my spouse and another guest on our tour a hard time about wearing hats from other distilleries. She playfully encouraged them to get new hats, and we all found it hilarious (and my spouse purchased a new one - without pressure). It was a small interaction, but it really set the tone for how welcoming and fun the staff was. We did the production tour with our guide, Josh, who was by far my favorite tour guide of our entire trip. He made the tour fun, interactive, and engaging from beginning to end. He had such a great personality and was incredibly relatable. Honestly, if I could have brought Josh along for the rest of our trip, I would have had him narrate all of our other tours! Once we entered the tasting room, we were blown away by how beautiful it was. We were given four bourbon and rye samples, and they were all fantastic. Needless to say, Wild Turkey Distillery quickly stayed to the top of our list and became one of our favorite stops of the trip. I would absolutely recommend taking a tour here. And if you can, ask for Josh--you're in for a fun, interactive, and memorable experience!

Great place. Most imaginative bourbon and spirits selection of any place within 50 miles. Don't…read morecome here expecting the typical bourbon tasting experience like you would have at the big guys ( I.e. Woodford, Four Roses, Wild Turkey). David gives you the breadth of his knowledge of the industry and what he has learned over his many years of experimentation. This man is a true scientist of the industry and should be recognized as such. Don't overlook this place.

There's an old saying: "When someone tells you who they are, believe them". I can't think of a…read morebetter representation of this quote. I don't believe just anyone would enjoy this venue. Frankly it's a bit on the junky side. Most everything is covered in black (yeah I know). The tasting room is teeny tiny, itty bitty, small. The bathrooms are..... well, they're outside. You will not find a flower garden, fountain or artwork. You may see chickens or billy goats. I saw both. Our server was (Emma), a charming young gal with freckles that can clean a pot still, explain the grain bill of her product, and give you the business if so deserved. I've been to a few distilleries in the area and found the products selected for tasting conservative? Whiskeys that most people would find okay. Ha.... Not here. This distillery is where you will find your father's or grandfather's bourbon. It's in your face in the best way. I'm not going to cover the whiskeys I liked best but I will say there was absolutely no disappointment. However, the biggest surprise was the Rum. I'm not a rum guy but this deserves to be consumed neat. Being a total tourist and new to this area, I didn't discover this place till my last day. Noob mistake. After tasting I ended up purchasing several bottles here, where I walked by the competition. If you are a whiskey person and you want to taste bourbon, stop by. Dave, we never met but you did deny me on a tour this morning over the phone. I guess I shouldn't have waited till the last minute. Home run on the booze! I'll plan better next time! Keep on keeping on!

Great brewery with a laid back atmosphere and a solid beer selection. I'm not hard to please when…read moreit comes to craft beer, and I enjoyed everything I tried. One of the best parts is the location, there are plenty of great food spots within walking distance, so it's easy to make an afternoon or evening out of it. I'd definitely stop back the next time I'm in Lexington.

Groovy ambiance and dog friendly. Lauren took great care of us - including our yellow lab, Lucas…read more We ordered their hot pretzel with beer cheese and mustard.

My husband and I drive to Lexington at least once a month but never stop to check out the wineries…read morewhile we are on the way. We decided to try Prodigy because it was the first one we say on the road sign and it was open (a lot of places were closed due to the snow). The property is beautiful. It's very spacious and has a very nice view of an open field. We were also greeted by the sweetest cats. One walked right up to us when we got out of the car and immediately wanted to be petted. We were greeted at the tasting room by more affectionate cats and dogs! The tasting room has a bunch of decorated shelves with the bottles ready for purchase and a lot of horse themed items. We decided to go a tasting which comes with 6 different wines. The presentation was my favorite part because each wine was in a different beaker. We enjoyed the wine. My husband loved the blueberry wine so much, he bought a bottle right on the spot. We absolutely loved Prodigy and hope to come back soon.

Beautiful grounds. Eric B was amazing. Super fun and when…read morehe didn't know the answer he had a magic book to tell us! Great wines. Awesome views. Awesome vibes.

Service was amazing! It was quick and we had a nice time chatting with the bartender. The inside…read morehad open doors since it was warm out and created a nice environment. We also had food from their food truck which was the perfect snack to have while enjoying our drinks!

Lots of options for cider lovers if you need something different than the bourbon trail. Large…read morespace, inside and out. Only bummer outside is that the wasps love cider, too! My daughter and I shared a 3-taster flight since we were stopping in a road trip. We tried the pomme pomme, the royal red, and the browning orchard. The browning orchard was my least favorite. I preferred the semi-sweet pomme pomme. If we'd had more time, I definitely would have sampled more. Service was efficient.

Fun place to grab a drink with n Versailles. Friendly staff, friendly customers, great prices, no…read morefrills!

What a neat little bar in downtown Versailles. Listened to live music while sippin' a cold one…read more Such a nice little place to hang with friends and family to relax after a long week!