Bourbon Reviews, Distillery News and Information
2026 Kentucky Bourbon Trail Adds Four New Destinations
The 2026 Kentucky Bourbon Trail has added four new destinations, bringing the total number of participating experiences to 74. Read on to see the newest additions.
Press Release – Kentucky Bourbon Trail
2026 Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcomes Four New Destinations
FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 7, 2026) – The world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour today welcomed four new destinations, pushing the total number of participating experiences past 70 for the first time and continuing the growth of Kentucky’s signature tourism attraction across the Commonwealth.
The additions include two new distilleries in downtown Louisville, a tasting room in Bowling Green and a newly rebranded and relocated distillery in Cave City along the busy Interstate 75 corridor. This brings the total to 74 unique experiences in 34 of Kentucky’s 120 counties.
“It’s an honor to welcome these four new experiences to our Bourbon Trail™ adventure, and we’re proud that more local communities than ever before are benefiting from Kentucky Bourbon tourism,” KDA President Eric Gregory said.
“Crossing that milestone of 70 destinations is something we never would have dreamed of when the KDA created the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour in 1999,” he said. “It’s a testament to the diversity of world-class experiences and genteel hospitality that our member distilleries offer.”
“From vibrant urban tasting experiences in Louisville to emerging destinations in Western Kentucky, these additions help introduce visitors to new communities, support local economies, and encourage travelers to explore even more of what Kentucky has to offer,” he said.
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Bourbon Tourism Continues To Grow
Kentucky Bourbon Trail destinations welcome nearly 3 million people each year with an affluent demographic that rivals Napa Valley. About 80% of visitors are from outside Kentucky. More than 60% have household incomes above $100,000, and the average guest spends up to $1,400 per trip.
Cleo Battle, President & CEO Louisville Tourism, welcomed the two new additions to his city, saying, “Every new addition strengthens Kentucky’s Bourbon tourism industry and reinforces Louisville’s role as an Official Gateway to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® experience.
“These new experiences add even more depth and diversity to Louisville’s Bourbon story, giving visitors additional reasons to extend their stay, explore our neighborhoods, and discover the craftsmanship and hospitality that make our city a must-visit destination.”
The Four New Kentucky Bourbon Trail Destinations
- Louisville Region
- Pursuit Spirits on Whiskey Row (Louisville)
- Uncle Boojie’s Distilling Co. (Louisville)
- Western Region
- Cave City Distilling Company (Cave City), formerly Balance Distillery
- Purple Toad Winery & Distillery (Bowling Green)
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour now includes a growing collection of distillery experiences, tasting rooms, and tourism destinations that collectively showcase the craftsmanship, heritage, and hospitality that define Kentucky Bourbon.
“With every new destination, visitors have more reasons to slow down, explore new communities, and savor everything our beloved Commonwealth has to offer,” Gregory said. “Kentucky’s Bourbon story continues to evolve, and we’re excited to welcome them back to Kentucky time and time again.”
Will you be visiting the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 2026? Next, read these related articles: The 2026 Complete Guide to Kentucky Bourbon Trail Distillery Restaurants and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Launches Build Your Own Bourbon Trail Trip Builder Planner.
Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!
About the author: Ed Escott is truly "Bourbon Obsessed". He is the founder of Bourbon Obsessed, LLC, and an Executive Bourbon Steward of the Stave and Thief Society. In addition, he has authored and edited over 600 bourbon and other whiskey reviews, over 50 in-depth distillery write-ups, and many other related articles. He is on the board of the Kentucky Bourbon Influencers and a member of the Lexington Bourbon Society and the Bourbon Capital Guild. Last, but not least, Ed has attended many bourbon-related educational sessions, visited countless distilleries, and is on a never-ending quest to try every bourbon.
Prior to focusing solely on Bourbon Obsessed, Ed practiced in academic medicine for three decades. He most recently was a Professor at the University of Kentucky and served as Chief of the Division of Neuroradiology and Vice Chair For Faculty Mentoring, Development & Wellness of the Department of Radiology. He has extensive editorial experience in academic medical publication, and brings that same academic mindset to Bourbon Obsessed, which is a unique approach for a spirit-focused media company.
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