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                      Dueling Grounds Distillery

                      Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Dueling Grounds Distillery - Franklin, Kentucky
                      Dueling History - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Dueling History - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Tasting - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Tasting - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Cooker - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Cooker - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Fermenters - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Fermenters - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Fermenter - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Fermenter - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Still - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Still - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Still and Fermenters - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Still and Fermenters - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Cooker and Spirits Tank - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Cooker and Spirits Tank - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Bottling Line - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Bottling Line - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Gift Shop & Inside Seating Area - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Gift Shop & Inside Seating Area - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Santos at the Bar - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Santos at the Bar - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Barrel Head - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Dueling History - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Tasting - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Cooker - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Fermenters - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Fermenter - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Still - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Still and Fermenters - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Cooker and Spirits Tank - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Bottling Line - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Gift Shop & Inside Seating Area - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Santos at the Bar - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Barrel Head - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Dueling Grounds Distillery - Franklin, Kentucky
                      Dueling History - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Dueling History - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Tasting - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Tasting - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Cooker - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Cooker - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Fermenters - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Fermenters - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Fermenter - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Fermenter - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Still - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Still - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Still and Fermenters - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Still and Fermenters - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Cooker and Spirits Tank - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Cooker and Spirits Tank - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Bottling Line - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Bottling Line - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Gift Shop & Inside Seating Area - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Gift Shop & Inside Seating Area - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Santos at the Bar - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Santos at the Bar - Dueling Grounds Distillery
                      Barrel Head - Dueling Grounds Distillery

                      208 Harding Rd
                      Franklin, KY 42134
                      270-776-9046

                      Dueling Grounds Distillery is named after a former dueling ground around Franklin, KY. The dueling ground was on the Linkumpinch Farm, which is where Dueling Grounds Linkumpinch Bourbon gets its name. The farm had seen more than 40 duels by 1826, according to the Dueling Grounds Distillery website. 

                      It was a little more difficult than it needed to be finding Dueling Grounds Distillery, thanks to the guidance of our GPS. In actuality, it should have been reasonably easy to locate.  We pulled into the gravel parking lot, headed inside, and caught the next tour which started almost immediately. Perfect timing!  Unlike most tours, this one started with a tasting because there was already a group touring the distillery area.  This was certainly fine with us. The tasting included six of Dueling Grounds Distillery’s spirits, including their Kentucky Straight Bourbon, which was first released in December. They were on batch 2 of their bourbon when we visited, with batch 3 soon to follow.  As a side note, there is a full bar at Dueling Grounds Distillery. They serve their own spirits, as well as a variety of other bourbons and cocktails. In fact, every Sunday from 3-7pm their mixologist creates 4 unique artisan cocktails and one mocktail. There is comfortable seating both inside and out. 

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                      After our tasting, it was time to visit the production side of the distillery. Like most craft distilleries, it is a relatively small operation, occupying one large “L” shaped area. There is signage on the walls over the equipment detailing the distilling process, for those interested in reading. This was not necessary, however, as our tour guide, Santos, provided a detailed narrative and answered all of our questions. (and we often have many)  We first were shown the cooker, which supplied the mash to the 250 gallon fermenters. The bourbon is then double distilled; first 4 batches of low wine are collected and then distilled again to make the high wine / new make, which, for the bourbon, goes into barrels with a #3 char at 120 proof. They also have a 30 gallon gin still.


                      No rickhouse to see here; barrel aging, which currently is 2 years for the Linkumpinch Kentucky Straight Bourbon, takes place off-site, elsewhere in Kentucky. The barrels are regularly checked for their progress and are ultimately brought back to Dueling Grounds Distillery for bottling. The “bottling line” (which is pretty much all done by hand) has a 4 bottle capacity bottle filler, and then labels are applied and corks inserted. Bottles can be purchased on-site in the gift shop and/or the bourbon can be enjoyed at the bar.

                      Dueling Grounds is a friendly, comfortable place, and if we lived closer to Franklin, KY, I am sure we would be regular visitors, particularly to the Sunday cocktail event. We look forward to future releases from this distillery!

                       

                       Please note that due to COVID Distillery Hours and Tour/Tasting Availability may vary. Please contact the distillery or check their web page or social media for details before you go.


                      Days of operation

                      Monday - Saturday 10AM - 6PM for tours and tastings

                      Tours start at the top of each hour

                      Sundays 3PM-7PM for cocktails only (No tours)

                      Paved Drive / Lot

                      No

                      Motorcycle Parking

                      No

                      Motorcycle unfriendly features

                      Gravel parking lot, but it is fairly easy to park near the street

                      Number of tours per day

                      Variable

                      Length of Tour(s)

                      45 minutes to an hour

                      Advanced topic tours?

                      Yes

                      Advanced topic tour names

                      Distillery Founder's Tour (Sundays only)

                      Tours by owners /distillers available?

                      Yes

                      Number of different types of tours

                      2

                      On-Line Tour Reservations Available

                      Yes

                      Advanced Reservations Recommended/Required

                      Recommended

                      Cost for Tour
                      $6 with Tasting
                      Free for under 21 with no tasting
                      $30  for Distillery Founder's Tour

                      Tasting Included?

                      Yes

                      Number of samples included in tasting

                      6

                      Tasting Only Option?

                      Yes

                      Tasting Only Option Cost

                      Free

                      High-end tasting option?

                      No

                      High-end tasting option cost?

                      N/A

                      Designated Driver Option

                      N/A

                      Handicapped Accessible?

                      Gravel parking area may provide difficult navigation. Otherwise, the gift shop and distillery area should be accessible

                      Souvenirs included with tour?

                      Not with regular tour. Glencairn included with Founder's Tour.

                      Gift shop

                      Yes

                      On-Site bottle sales?

                      Yes

                      On-site food: Restaurant/Cafe/Snacks

                      No

                      On-site Cocktail bar

                      Yes

                      On-site event space

                      Yes

                      Should I visit? (Yes, Perhaps, No)

                      Yes

                      Unique Features

                      Craft distillery that makes bourbon, White Dog, Apple Pie White Dog, and Fruit Liqueurs, and occasionally gin. Inside and outside seating areas, with a cocktail program on Sundays and a bar with numerous bourbons available by the pour.

                      Website

                      External link opens in new tab or windowhttps://www.duelinggroundsdistillery.com

                      Date Visited

                      May 2019 (updated July 2019)

                       

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