Bourbon Obsessed℠ - Distilleries, Bourbon & More!

External link opens in new tab or window External link opens in new tab or window

    Menu
    • Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon HOME
      • Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon DISTILLERIES Reviews and Information
        • Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon BOURBON & RYE Reviews and Tasting Notes
          • Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon KENTUCKY DISTILLERY Maps & Tours
            • External link opens in new tab or window Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon BLOG News, Reviews & Info
              • Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon SHOP Glencairns & Hats
                • External link opens in new tab or window Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon
                  • External link opens in new tab or window Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon
                    • Link Icon Link Icon Link Icon About Us - Bourbon Obsessed

                      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
                      0

                      208 Harding Rd
                      Franklin, KY 42134
                      270-776-9046
                      WHY DUELING GROUNDS?
                      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 External link opens in new tab or windowDueling Grounds Distillery website.

                      JUST IN TIME
                      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 (currently 4 spirits are included), including their Kentucky Straight Bourbon, which was first released in December 2018. They were on batch 2 of their bourbon when we visited back in 2019, with batch 3 soon to follow.
                       
                      TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING
                      However, quite a bit of time has passed since 2019 and Dueling Grounds Distillery now has more mature spirits. These include 4 yr old Linkumpinch Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, 4 yr old Linkumpinch Single Barrel Bourbon and Barrel Aged American Dry Gin. In addition, 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 2-6pm their mixologist creates 4 unique artisanal cocktails and one mocktail. There is comfortable seating both inside and out. Also, pizza from their pizza kitchen, as well as ice cream and mini chocolate bourbon pecan pies are available.



                      INSIDE THE DISTILLERY

                      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 char 3 barrels at 120 proof. They also have a 30 gallon gin still.

                      BARREL AGING TAKES PLACE OFF-SITE
                      No rickhouse to see here; barrel aging, which currently is 4 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.

                      A FRIENDLY PLACE

                      Dueling Grounds Distillery 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

                      Sundays 2PM-6PM (for cocktails and pizza only)

                      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

                      Tours start at the top of each hour Monday - Saturday

                      First: 11AM

                      Last: 4PM

                      Length of Tour(s)

                      40 minutes

                      Advanced topic tours?

                      Yes

                      Advanced topic tour names

                      Sandford Duncan Inn Museum Tour

                      & Tasting

                      (By appointment only)

                      Tours by owners /distillers available?

                      Yes

                      Number of different types of tours

                      2

                      (Distillery and Sanford Duncan Inn)

                      On-Line Tour Reservations Available

                      Yes

                      Advanced Reservations Recommended/Required

                      Recommended

                      (Required for Sanford Duncan Inn)

                      Cost for Tour
                      Distillery: $15 with Tasting

                      Sanford Duncan Inn: $10

                      Tasting Included?

                      Yes

                      Number of samples included in tasting

                      Distillery: 4 + palate cleanser: dried fruit/nuts, pretzels, mini Linkumpinch bourbon truffle or gardettos)

                      Sanford Duncan Inn: Linkumpinch Bourbon

                      Tasting Only Option?

                      No

                      Tasting Only Option Cost

                      N/A

                      High-end tasting option?

                      No

                      High-end tasting option cost?

                      N/A

                      Designated Driver Option

                      No

                      Handicapped Accessible?

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

                      Souvenirs included with tour?

                      No

                      Gift shop

                      Yes

                      On-Site bottle sales?

                      Yes

                      On-site food: Restaurant/Cafe/Snacks

                      All Times: Ice cream & mini chocolate bourbon pecan pies


                      Friday, Saturday & Sunday only: Pizza Kitchen

                      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, Dec 2022, Apr 2023)

                       

                      All contents are the property of Bourbon Obsessed sm.  Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

                      • About Us
                      • Contact Us
                      • External link opens in new tab or windowPrivacy Policy
                      close lightbox