A guide to the South’s top bourbon distilleries 

By Kellie Walton Benz 

 

If Southerners could pull up a rocking chair and enjoy a friendly conversation with any spirit, it would be bourbon. Add a shot to a cold sweet tea, mix it into a chocolatey dessert, or sip it slow and solo – there’s no right or wrong way to enjoy the South’s signature drink.  

 

While bourbon and whiskey share a wealth of similarities (and often the same fan base), there are four key characteristics that determine the difference. Bourbons have strict rules to earn the distinction: it must use at least 51 percent corn mash, be aged for a minimum of two years, must not exceed 125 proof when entering the barrels and be no more than 160 proof when distilled, and can only be made in America. All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon.  

 

Said to have been born in Louisville, Kentucky, in the 19th century, some of the world’s best bourbon hails from the South. From Jim to Jack and everything in between, pay a visit to these Southern distilleries this year.  

 

Kentucky 

With 95 percent of the world’s bourbon produced in Kentucky, it’s a prominent destination for bourbon lovers. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail comprises 42 distilleries encompassing tours, tastings, and activities in both big cities and quaint towns. Here are some of the best spots on the Kentucky trail.  

 

Elijah Craig 

We know Kentucky is the birthplace of bourbon, but which brand holds the title as the first? The answer is Elijah Craig, who in 1798 became the first distiller to age his whiskey in new charred oak barrels. Today, the brand is known as the Father of Bourbon, and the product on today’s shelves was made using the same time-honored methods as the first batch. The distillery is located in historic Bardestown, Kentucky, welcoming visitors for property tours and guided tastings across its three tasting rooms. 
elijahcraig.com  

 

Jim Beam 

Since 1795, Jim Beam has been crafted by the Beam family, now in its seventh generation. Today, Jim Beam stands as the world’s No. 1 bourbon. Each batch is aged for four years in newly charred American white oak barrels, creating a product that’s elegant, smooth, and refined. Pay a visit to the distillery located in Clermont, Kentucky, called the Birthplace of Bourbon for more than two centuries (will the real birthplace please stand up?). Guests can take an interactive tour of the distillery and book a tasting of the entire Jim Beam suite of whiskies.  
jimbeam.com  

 

Buffalo Trace 

With onsite buildings dating back to the 1800s and history spanning even farther, Buffalo Trace distillery is a must-visit on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The Frankfort, Kentucky, distillery allows guests to experience 200 years of history during its complementary tours and tastings, offering all the best sights and smells that accompany whiskeymaking. In addition, visitors can also tour the onsite botanical garden, an excellent springtime adventure.  

 

Also housed under the Buffalo Trace umbrella is the famed Van Winkle brand, encompassing the incredibly rare (and jaw-droppingly expensive) Old Rip Van Winkle and Pappy Van Winkle collections.
buffalotracedistillery.com  

 

Angel’s Envy 

Louisville’s Angel’s Envy is a family owned and operated brand that continues to grow in popularity, and the onsite property tours are not to be missed. Enjoy a signature tour taking guests through the distilling process from start to finish, or a one hour Angel’s Envy Cask Strength tour offering the opportunity to taste the latest batch of bourbon whiskey finished in port wine barrels and rum casks. Or, bottle your own batch during a one-of-a-kind experience where guests can fill, cork, and label their own bottle of exclusive Angel’s Envy bourbon whiskey.  
angelsenvy.com/us/en  

 

Maker’s Mark 

A visit to Star Hill Farm in Loretto, Kentucky, is sure to be a memorable one thanks to the onsite Maker’s Mark distillery. Identifiable by its signature red wax seal, Maker’s Mark is a pure, slow-made bourbon founded in 1953. Distillery tours take visitors inside the historic process, offering a glimpse of the old letter press, the hand-rotated and hand-dipped bottling process, and plenty of bourbon-forward education along the way. An old joke at the distillery goes, “If we could make it any faster, we wouldn’t,” nodding to the time-honored process that filled the first bottle and continues today. 
makersmark.com  

 

Tennessee 

As Chris Stapleton’s song “Tennessee Whiskey” may suggest, the Volunteer State is a destination for whiskey lovers, home to its own Whiskey Trail spanning west, east, and middle Tenenssee. With nearly thirty distilleries on the dedicated trail, here are a few can’t-miss spots along the way.  

 

Jack Daniel’s 

Tennessee’s most popular whiskey brand lives up to the hype: each drop cycles through 10 feet of sugar maple charcoal and is matured in barrels until deemed ready. The Jack Daniel’s distillery was officially established in 1866, making it the very first registered distillery within the U.S. Located in Lynchburg, Tennessee, the distillery offers daily tours throughout the historic property, with varying options to end with tastings. After the tour, visit Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House and Restaurant for authentic down-home cooking. 
jackdaniels.com  

Leiper’s Fork 

A lesser-known whiskey destination resides in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee, a quaint country town on the outskirts of historic Franklin. A newcomer founded in 2016, Leiper’s Fork Distillery has rapidly grown in popularity, often drawing a line to grab the latest iteration. Expert-led tours through the distillery are available, focusing on the distilling process from start to finish throughout the Still house. While the bourbon itself may be a newer favorite, it can be sipped inside a 200-year-old tasting room located on property.
leipersforkdistillery.com  

 

Nelson’s Green Brier 

In the late 1800s, Charles Nelson launched his vastly popular whiskey brand, Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey, which quickly became the largest producer and supplier of Tennessee Whiskey until the doors were forced to close during prohibition. In 2006, Nelson family descendants resurrected the brand atop the original land. Learn about the impressive history of the brand during a distillery tour or distillery tasting experience, located in downtown Nashville.  
greenbrierdistillery.com  

 

South Carolina 

While South Carolina may be known best for its tea, few things pair better with a cold glass than a shot of bourbon. Visiting Charleston this year? Stop by these distilleries.  

 

Firefly Distillery 

Charleston’s Firefly Distillery embraced the sweet tea tradition through its famed Sweet Tea Vodka. But, we’re here to talk bourbon, and Firefly entered the scene with a trio of options: Sweet Tea Whiskey, Bourbon Ball Whiskey, and its “Distillery Expressions” batch which is aged in honey barrels for five years. A perfect place to visit for a group that may have varying preferences for spirits, Firefly offers distillery tours and a lively tasting room, and often hosts live music and seasonal events. 
fireflydistillery.com 

 

Striped Pig Distillery  

While visiting the Holy City, be sure to sip Charletson’s first premier uniquely crafted reserve batch bourbon. From restaurateur and real estate developer John David Madison, Gentry Bourbon embodies hints of vanilla, oak char and caramel, finishing with a touch of warmth and citrus. A visit to the Striped Pig Distillery, Charleston’s first distillery since prohibition, will afford guests the opportunity to taste Gentry, alongside other housemade spirits. Distillery tours are led by a founder or distillers, who carefully describe the liquor making process  
stripedpigdistillery.com