Gorgeous farm based distillery. They do tours and tastings or you can just buy a couple pours or cocktails at the bar in the gift shop. Staff is very friendly. Parking lot is gravel and there is a small bump up to the inclined concrete pathway. Aside from the gravel and ramp it is accessible. The farm tour may not be. And last but not least there is a cat, Char, who looks his name. He's a cutie, just a bit shy at first. The bourbon and rye is way pricey but the distillery is worth a visit. read more

Not worth a stop, place was clean and staff were friendly.... Right across from Trail Hotel

We had a lot of fun at this Distillery. We went to a few bigger ones which is also very amazing. But we definitely wanted try in a smaller Distillery or two, we only wanted this one. The whiskey is really good and I love the presentation on the tastings. If we had more time. It would have been nice to have a drink at the bar. The whiskey is a little bit on the pricier side for me but was worth the price. The tour price was very very reasonable. read more

See all

All the locals said this was a hidden gem in Bardstown. Craft distillery with a great history and amazing story how the owner started the company. Cute little gift shop and tasting room. Not high end decor but felt comfortable and homey. Staff were very friendly and nice. Very welcoming as soon as you walked in the door. Tasting flight was good. 6 quarter ounce pours. They were good. The rye and the old man winter were my favorites of the flight. Because this is a craft distillery the bottles are a little more expensive in the gift shop. read more

Preservation Distillery - Tasting flight - Distilleries Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

See all

I have seen less than a handfull of distilleries in the Louisville area so I really don't know how unique this really is -- for my limited experience, it was fascinating. Super small, and though our large party did not get a tour of how it's made we did enjoy a tasting across several of their different small batch offerings. Yes, we saw the cat and the longhorns as well. Service was spectacular and I hope I large group wasn't too crazy for them. It was also the first time passing through Bardstown and that alone was worthwhile. Seems like a great little town to explore with a lot of history as well. read more

See all

Have been multiple times but this was the first for an expanded tasting. Great place with awesome service. Amy, Rachel, and the staff are all welcoming and accommodating. Great place to stop in have a tasting or two and grab some great bourbon. Don't forget to try their tequila. It's pretty fantastic. Nice open floor plan. Great tasting room. Even some comfy couches to enjoy and relax in the atmosphere. read more

See all

Visiting Preservation Distillery + Farm was like stepping into a bourbon lover's dream wrapped in rustic charm. Nestled on 40 acres of farmland just outside Bardstown, the distillery blends heritage, sustainability, and craftsmanship in a way that feels both authentic and elevated. We happened to walk in right before the 4pm tasting with Michael and it did not disappoint. He did a great job storytelling each spirit and teaching each of us how to sniff, view, and sample the bourbons. From the moment you arrive, the repurposed tobacco barns and antique Dodge truck set the tone--this place honors tradition while crafting something new. The visitor center is warm and welcoming, with a tasting bar and outdoor seating that invites you to linger. What sets Preservation apart is their commitment to small-batch, in-house distilling. Unlike many sourced brands, their new releases showcase a bold identity and impressive depth, even at just 6-7 years aged. A woman owned distillery made it even sweeter! Whether you're a seasoned bourbon enthusiast or just curious about Kentucky's distilling heritage, Preservation Distillery offers a memorable experience that's equal parts education and indulgence. read more

See all

I'll start with the bad... We missed the cat. The good is everything else! From our friendly hello as we checked in to our enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide, we had a great time on our visit. There are a few buildings you'll have to walk between, but not a long distance and no stairs. You'll end your tour in the tasting area and exit to the gift shop. We did the basic tour, which is 6 pours (3 chocolate peanuts, and a water). None of them were bad (at least, to a bourbon drinker) and a few of them were especially stellar. Our guide, Amy, also showed us how to avoid the initial burn of your first bourbon sip (take the tour to learn the secret!). They are a tiny place, so make reservations for your tour (they take day of, if there's space) or go taste in the gift shop at the bar. Enjoy this small batch craft bourbon in the heart of Kentucky! read more

Very lovely and friendly greeting at the check in desk. Small place - we didn't do a tour but not sure what we would have toured. We had a tasting with Kate as our guide. She was informative and gave the history of each bottle and the owner's story. Prices were a bit steep and there was nothing I couldn't live without so we left empty handed. read more

See all

My favorite tour in Bardstown! Craft and vintage whiskey throughout the journey, thoughtful insights throughout. Nathan was exceptional, super knowledgeable and personable. Highly recommend! read more

Preservation Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

The tour was a treat Blake was engaging and very entertaining. Nice tasting grounds are lovely. It's a unique distillery among many big corporate distilleries. read more

Preservation Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

Beautiful distillery with a great group of employees! Our tour guide (Quentin) was very engaging and personable and led a great tour. We did the Premium Cask Overproof Experience and it did not disappoint! We got to sample 6 bourbons/ryes/whiskeys that all had their own unique flavor. read more

See all

Cannot even begin to say how amazing this tour was. Truly the staff was amazing and cared so much! This trip was for my wife's birthday so I mentioned it when we signed up. When we walked in our tour guide knew it was us and went all out. Your was great and at the end they had setup a spot at the tasting table just for us with flowers, more candy for the tasting, and a special tasting of bourbon! Such an amazing place! read more

Preservation Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

The bourbon- Rita is delicious!! The people are amazing and will help you. No food Ambiance is great read more

Preservation Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

See all

Service is excellent. The server CJ is awesome and very informative, she helped me learn the proper way to drink bourbon when no other establishments had. The interior is relaxed. Overall I really enjoyed my experience here. The bourbon and staff are great. read more

Preservation Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

The walking tour is amazing and the location is very convenient being next to the bluegrass parkway. They have a great 17yo old pour that is remarkable. read more

We visited several distilleries today and this was the only place that did not greet us or give us the impression they wanted us to visit and taste and spend money here. There are several other options in the area. If you have choices or are short on time SKIP this one. read more

Stopped at Preservation to buy a bottle of Preservation Bourbon (great bourbon). Wife and I decided to take a seat at the bar and try the Rye also and we're glad we did. CJ waited on us and was absolutely fantastic, she was very informative, polite and gave us samples of other whiskeys as well. Because of her we ended up walking out with the Preservation Bourbon and a bottle of Rare Perfection 15 year. If you're ever in the area I highly recommend stopping at Preservation. read more

Move small distillery. I enjoyed the fact that they have tequila as well. Friendly folks and willing to discuss their processes of making bourbon. I didn't do a tour, just a taster or two to include tequila. read more

The moment we walked it was welcoming!! Greeted immediately!! The ambiance was wonderful!! Our tour was great! The gentleman, Que, who conducted the tour was engaging and knowledgeable! The bourbon was great!! read more

My father in law booked a tasting/tour at Preservation during our trip to Bardstown. The grounds are beautiful and we got a chance to see the long horn cattle (and the two new babies named soup and salad LOL). Kate was our tour guide and she was wonderful. Preservation is a woman owned distillery (heck yeah Marci), and Kate did a great job sharing the history of the farm, as well as all things bourbon. After a tour of the grounds, we went inside for the tasting. We got to try four different whiskeys. Kate taught us how to smell and taste the samplings. I never knew I had a dominant nostril?! We had sweet popcorn in between samples to cleanse the palette (if you have an allergy, let them know - the popcorn is cooked in peanut oil and you will get chocolate instead). They have a nice selection of goodies you can buy to remember your visit (shirts, hats, candles, cups, books, booze of course). Their bourbon leather candle smells soooooo good. I learned so much about bourbon on this little tour. It's smaller than the big name distilleries, but still very informative and fun! Highly recommend this place. Cheers! read more

See all

This was by far the best experience of our whole trip to Bourbon Country. The grounds are gorgeous. They have a cat, Char, who was super friendly and really stole the show. The tour was informative and you got to see everything. The tasting was great, even for this non-bourbon drinker. I tried everything. Our tour guide (Sam, I think) was funny and friendly. After some shopping in the store and at the bar, we shifted to picnic tables for our lunch. It was perfect weather to enjoy our picnic and drinks from the bar. The hardest part for my bourbon fiends was deciding what to buy! LOVE that this is woman-owned and operated. The story is amazing. It's a small operation and so it didn't feel like we were being rushed through anything. A definite must visit. read more

Tour: was small, engaging and informative. Premium Small batch Intimate Bourbon Tasting was immersive and a lot of fun and drink. There was so much information and Ami (our tour guide) was incredible. read more

We enjoyed everything about Preservation. It is great to see a woman owned distillery doing great things in a field historically dominated by men. The Whiskey. All of the whiskey we tasted was delicious. It is important to note that they do not have any bourbon they have actually made themselves for sale or tasting at this time. The owner purchased a lot of orphan barrels back in the day and those are sold as Old Saint Nick. Very nice and with that a high price. Think $300 to get in the bourbon door. I look forward to coming back when they are producing their own. The tour is limited but very well done. Close to Willett and Heaven Hill. Worth the stop if you are in Bardstown. read more

Preservation Distillery - Some pricey special releases. - Distilleries Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

Hope all is well with these guys. Something seems off. I absolutely love their whisky so we planned a trip around a visit. They cancelled a few weeks before our trip, so no big problems. Supposedly a water leak. I don't really believe this as they certainly could have allowed us to purchase on the site. We did stop by and didn't see any work going on. Hope they open back up soon. read more

As a guy who likes a little bourbon I think this was the best distillery in Kentucky. Knowledgeable people but knowledge does not make a great bourbon. This place has excellence in every pour and every bottle. The place is comfortable and friendly and my wife and I loved it read more

We didn't have time to take a tour here, however we stopped in just to have a taste their bourbon on the recommendation of a friend. The staff was accommodating even though we just popped in. The bourbon was very nice and very enjoyable but somewhat pricey. Perhaps next time we can plan on bringing a bottle back home. read more

Preservation Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

See all

Visited this distillery at the KY bourbon fest. The reps weee very informative and educated me about their spirits. Didn't visit the distillery so I can't speak to the ambience read more

We had a really great experience here! I had a relatively big group, around 8, we were coming in with prior to my wedding, as a sort of welcome-to-Kentucky local distillery tour. Everything was perfect. I wanted something close to the Bardstown area where we were all staying, and this was definitely the place. I went to make an online reservation, where I could choose the date, number of people, and whether each tour guest was a DD or would be partaking in the tasting (DDs got a discount). My friends are difficult, and after I had already confirmed the reservation I needed to make a change. Making the change was really easy, and I'm so thankful to the staff for their helpfulness and flexibility. The tour was really cool, we learned a lot. It was difficult to hear at times, but that wasn't too bad. The property is really pretty, and it was neat seeing the different animals they have on site. The tasting was really interesting as well, you could really tell the difference between the bourbons we sampled, and the guide that took us through the tasting was really helpful. Overall, awesome experience. Definitely add this distillery to your list! read more

We stopped to finish up our central craft distillery tour. Staff were very nice. Atmosphere was cool and well maintained. They are on the same level as willet for pricing of their products. We will be coming back for a tour in the near future. read more

Out of participating in a few Distillery Tours in Kentucky, Preservation was BY FAR our favorite one. The property itself is so beautiful, and secluded! We loved more of the one on one vine with our Awesome Tour Guide, Carly! We recommend it for any Bourbon Lovers! read more

See all

Visited with friends and had an amazing time. Small and mighty woman-owned distillery that is worth the trip. Our guide Hannah was knowledgeable, funny and excelled at bringing to life what makes this spot unique. Also, don't miss the coffee! As a woman, gotta say it was terrific not to hear any sort of "fellas, you know how your wife will feel about this" type of jokes that are so present at most other stops on the trail. It's subtle, because there was absolutely no bashing of any sort-more of an assertion that everyone does-and should-love bourbon. Highly recommend! read more

Preservation Distillery - Hannah our fab tour guide, her colleague and two members of our group having a great time! - Distilleries Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

This place is awesome. Did a tasting at their bar. Both ladies were sooooo much fun. Although I did not purchase a bottle, their product and staff is top notch read more

Preservation Distillery is a really cute spot! It's quite small compared to many other distilleries, but they're still offering up tours, tastings, and a cute gift shop! Plus, the location is absolutely beautiful. It's an artisan craft distillery, meaning they're crafting up small production bourbon and whiskey, which is really cool. If you're a collector, you'll definitely love this spot! If you're in the Bardstown area, or exploring the Bourbon Trail, I definitely recommend making a stop at Preservation Distillery! read more

See all

Preservation was our last distillery visit of my birthday trip up to Tennessee and Kentucky. And wow, what a way to cap off our trip. We did the Overproof tasting following a tour of their distillery and grounds. The experience was fantastic. Located just off of the Bluegrass Parkway, Preservation Distillery has a look and feel of a craft distillery, separating them from the rest of the long-standing distilleries in the Bourbon Capital of the World. Noted as the region's first and only 100% pot-distilled producer in Nelson County, Preservation offers more than a couple of different brands of whiskey in 1 to 3 barrel batches on their tobacco farm that serves as their micro-batch distilling facility. Following a grand tour of their distillery, especially, seeing the towering copper distilling tanks alongside the mashing and fermentation tanks, through the Overproof tasting, we enjoyed pours of Very Old St Nick 12-year, 8-year, Fall Harvest, and Summer Harvest whiskeys. Definitely different from what I had on up to that point on my Kentucky distillery trip, these whiskeys had a different flavor profile from what I am typically accustomed, but delicious. Most of the bottles from which I tasted had more spices accustomed for the holiday season. My lady bought a bottle of the Cowboy Little Barrel, which was additionally a good pour, especially between the caramel and tobacco notes. The rock stars came from the Rare Perfection Canadian whiskeys from which I had received pours. The 15-year was like nothing I had before, unique with a broad flavor profile that is hard to describe but is a sipper. The 14-year was more favorable, with a blast of orangie citrus and goodness from which finished so eloquently. I ended up buying a bottle of that for the collection back home. Part of the tasting magic we experienced was our guide, who was incredibly engaging, gracious, and knowledgable with the poured whiskeys. I enjoyed the fact that my lady and I were the only two doing the Overproof tasting, which allowed for a more personable and interactive experience to discuss the various tasting notes of each of the pours. The deep-wooden interior also gave the experience a lovely ambiance and feel, where we could come as we were and enjoy some great whiskeys. Preservation should be a part of your whiskey tour experience when you visit Bardstown. The distillery produces and offers great small-batch whiskeys that will be worth your while. read more

See all

This woman-owned craft distillery was a surprise favorite for my husband and I who visited at the tail end of our bourbon trail trip. From the extremely experienced and entertaining tour guide to the fabulous tastings, Preservation - you had me at the intimate, unpretentious, authentic entrance. And it only got better from there. I can't speak more highly of this place and wish them well as they compete with the conglomerates trying to commoditize hand-crafted, family-owned businesses who take great care in the creation of their product. And you can taste it in every sip. read more

See all

Beautiful spot with an amazing backstory Our tour guide Sam with the help of Char the cat did an excellent job and has absolutely made our group of five fans of this distillery and brand. I highly recommend a visit and a tasting. Excited to bring home a bottle of 15year old "Rare Perfection"! read more

Preservation Distillery - bottles of alcohol on a barrel - Distilleries Near Me - Bardstown, Kentucky

See all

My partner and I wanted to go on a distillery visit and decided to come here after reading great reviews. The distillery tour and grounds absolutely exceeded expectations! We love a woman-owned biz and a commitment to sustainability. I'm not a big bourbon drinker but I came away with a new appreciation for the process and the product. My partner loved the bottle of Old Saint Nick we picked up after trying it in the tasting. 10/10 would recommend. read more

See all

We loved our tour! This is a place to check out whether you're a connoisseur or just want to try your first tour. We were first timers. It's a micro distillery so the tour was a good introduction to the process. Our guide was lovely and knew her stuff! We got to sample some very high-end bourbon and enjoyed trying it. The people are warm and friendly. read more

We were in Bardstown checking out some distilleries for work and decided to visit Preservation. We made reservations online. The tickets were pretty pricey - $23 each, but the reviews were very positive and I can see why. The group on our tour was small and our tour guide was personable, cheerful and knowledgeable. We started with a taste of Rare Perfection right off the bat, which was a nice touch, as we headed to the grain room where grains are received and milled. We learned that they have about twenty head of longhorn that they feed the spent grain to and use the manure from them to fertilize their fields of grain - so it was really learn about their sustainability efforts. We learned a lot about the master distiller's background and how she grew up in wine country and became interested in bourbon. The fermentation and distilling room was small but immaculately clean and well run. We then learned lots of details on distillation and barrel cooperage and charring. We even got to taste some white dog fresh off the still. The tour concluded with a nice tasting and history of the distillery's brands, making the pricey tickets well worth it. Highly recommended. read more

See all