You don’t have to stay far from the beaten path to tour some of the best Bourbon distilleries and wineries in the Mid South. Just fly in to Louisville International Airport, rent a car and head south on Interstate 65. Before you know it you’re in Bullitt County, Kentucky, home to a quartet of wineries and a pair of distilleries.
The water is wondrous in this part of the country, limestone filtered and pure. Then they take grains – corn, rye and barley – and combine them to produce some of the smoothest spirits on the planet. Connoisseurs call Bourbon “America’s Native Spirit.” See why.
Inhale the aroma, sigh contentedly and take another oh-so-slow sip when you visit either Jim Beam in Clermont or Four Roses Bourbon in Cox Creek.
Then there are Bullitt County wines. Before Prohibition there are those who claimed Kentucky vintages rivaled the world’s best. Now, they’re making a return to prominence. Within a comparatively short distance of one another you can visit:
– Brooks Hill Winery, a.k.a. “The Little Winery up the Hill.” Located in Brooks, KY, they produce a very nice Estate Cabernet, suffused with notes of spice, dark plum and blackberries.
– MillaNova Winery is in Mount Washington, KY. Their Cab Reserve racked up a silver medal at the Kentucky State Fair, winning out over some very credible competition.
– Wright Meyer Vineyard & Winery in Shepherdsville does some superb desert wines. Perhaps the most prized is a dark Barrel Aged Blackberry. Pair it with a piece of hot blackberry pie with ice cream on top and your meal is made.
– Forest Edge Winery is a family-friendly, palate-pleasing sort of place that comes with a kids room. Also in Shepherdsville, Forest Edge produces a near-perfect Pinot Grigio that’s light, crisp and dry.
(Featured image: jessicareeder)
