Check out our latest visit to the Southern States

As the story goes, it all started with a road trip and this year is no different. Hear all about out recent Kentucky road trip right here.

Last month, in November two of our bar team were the guests of Heaven Hill and headed to Louisville. On this year’s Kentucky road trip was our national cocktail competition winner. Alex Davies from Hickory’s Wrexham. He's the creator of ‘How Mama Made It’.  Ryan & Alex experienced authentic southern hospitality and the full American Bourbon experience.

Heaven Hill Experience, Bardstown

The Kentucky road trip began after a short one-hour drive from Louisville. They found themselves in the heart of bourbon country and the birthplace of Heaven Hill. Imagine the sight on arrival - 19 massive rickhouses holding around half a million barrels of bourbon. This land was famously part of the 1996 fire that destroyed 9 rickhouses and reduced the worlds bourbon by a third. But the good news for all bourbon lovers is that it was completely rebuilt and is insanely impressive.

The guys were treated to a full tour of an old bonded rickhouse. A more modern rickhouse as well as the bottling plant.  Not normally open to the public, and their storage facilities.  Alex & Ryan were struck by the sheer scale in which Heaven Hill is producing bourbon.  They finished the tour by being let loose in the gift shop, so much choice and a some exclusive bourbons too.

Next Stop Bernheim Distillery, Louisville

It was a real privilege that the guys could visit the Bernheim distillery as well as the brand-new state of the art Heaven Hill Springs. They had the chance to try to make a new spirit, open & thieve from a brand new barrel and see all the behind the scenes. Including a control hub which could control any all aspects of the bourbon making process. Oh, of course they had the chance to drink a lot of amazing bourbon.

They saw it all from the corn being delivered. Right the way through to the barrelling process, ageing, bottling, and drinking. (Yes, more drinking – well someone had to try it!)

And you can’t go on a Kentucky road trip without checking out Churchill Downs. So, they made a small detour to the home of the Famous Kentucky Derby.

Louisville Slugger Museum 

They did manage a small break from all the drinking. Off they headed to the Slugger Museum to check out the professional bats being made. The actual ones used in the Major League Baseball. They even got to face a few fast balls in the batting cages using replicas of Babe Ruth’s bat! What an experience.

Evan Williams Experience 

Right in the heart of Louisville is the Evan Williams experience. It pays homage to the founder of Louisville and the name’s sake of our house Bourbon Mr Evan Williams. Interesting fact – he was originally a Welshman as Alex was keen to point out. There was a tour the small distillery, learning all about the Pot stills.  Then in true Kentucky road trip style they were treated to a bourbon tasting in a traditional prohibition speakeasy. Comparing bourbons from the column stills to the pot stills. 

Bourbon Kitchen

You can’t go to the Southern States without talking about BBQ. They ate as much BBQ as they drank bourbon. And on their last meal in Kentucky at the Bourbon Kitchen as they tucked into fried chicken and mac n cheese, they were treated to some live country music courtesy of the king of bourbon himself Bernie.

 Kentucky Road Trip Over & Out

It’s fair to say this trip for the guys was a once in a lifetime trip. From experiencing true Southern Hospitality first hand, meeting incredible people and learning so much about Bourbon. Massive thank you to the guys at Heaven Hill.

Alex & Ryan came home with bags of Bourbon. Plus, swags of merch, loads of knowledge to share with our bar teams & you our guests. Oh, and a monumental hangover!

If all that talk of Bourbon is making you thirsty, you know what you've got to do. Pop down & pull up a seat at the bar or book yourself a table.