Bourbon tours from Lexington: 26 miles to Frankfort, the Distillery District, and private days

Q: Is there a good bourbon tour in Lexington?

Yes. The $110 Distillery District food and bourbon tour is 4 hours with 5–6 stops, small plates, two drinks, and the story of James E. Pepper. Rated 5.0 from 7 reviews.

Q: Can I get the private tour from Lexington?

Yes. The $1,525 private day includes pickup from your hotel in Lexington. It is a 9-hour custom day, rated 5.0, and $1,525 is per group up to 2 people — not per person.

Lexington to Frankfort is 26 miles, 42 minutes. It is the closest major city to the distillery and the one most visitors skip. Two products anchor Lexington: the Distillery District food and bourbon tour, which stays in Lexington itself, and the private custom day, which is Frankfort-based but will collect you here. Staying in Lexington and driving out to Buffalo Trace for a morning tour is the shortest run of any city on this site.

Lexington to Frankfort26 miles, 42 minutes

Distillery District food tour$110, 4 hours, in Lexington

Closest hotel cityQuieter than Louisville

Private custom day$1,525 per group (up to 2)

From LexingtonCustom pickup available

Three-distillery tour$250, you pick the stops

The Distillery District tour: food and bourbon in Lexington

The $110 Distillery District Food, Drink and History Tour is Bites of the Bluegrass, 4 hours, 5–6 stops in Lexington’s James E. Pepper Distillery District. Meets inside RELIC, a warehouse of vintage and reclaimed goods. Covers three small plates, gourmet ice cream, two drinks — limestone-filtered bourbons and cider. Includes the story of James E. Pepper, the third-generation distiller who built the largest US distillery in 1879 and lobbied to allow bottling at distilleries to guarantee quality. Wheelchair accessible. Gratuity not included. Must show proof of 21+. Rated 5.0 from 7 reviews. This is Lexington’s best bourbon tour because it ties history to the food and the spirits.

Food and bourbon

The private custom day from Frankfort (with Lexington pickup)

The $1,525 private bourbon day, per group up to 2 people, is Sip Kentucky Tours, 9 hours, custom itinerary built around Frankfort. You choose from Buffalo Trace, Kentucky Artisan, J. Mattingly 1845, Bluegrass Distillers, and Jeptha Creed. Pickup included; wheelchair accessible. Includes lunch, bottled water, private air-conditioned transport and gratuity. Rated 5.0 from 2 reviews. $1,525 is per group, up to 2 people — this is the whole cost for two people, not per person. Contrast that with the $233 per-person bourbon trail: this is for couples or small groups who want a whole day built around them.

The three-distillery custom tour

The $250 three-distillery tour is Bourbon Bites Tour, 6 hours. You pick 3 from a 20+ list that includes Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, Four Roses, Maker’s Mark, Jim Beam and others. Pickup included from Louisville, but you can also depart from Lexington if your hotel is here. Transport, guide, distillery tours and tastings included. Small group; guide speaks English, German and Spanish. 4.3 rating from 5 reviews.

Lexington: the overlooked base

Most bourbon tourists start in Louisville because it is bigger. But Lexington is 26 miles from Frankfort and significantly closer. Hotels here are quieter and often cheaper. The Distillery District tour is first-rate. The $1,525 private-day operator (per group, up to 2 people) will pick you up from your hotel. If you are making a bourbon trip and you want a lower-pressure base, Lexington is it.

Read the reviews

Read the full Distillery District review, the private custom day, or all reviews.

21+Kentucky’s legal drinking age is 21, and every distillery here checks a valid government photo ID before pouring. Under-21s are welcome on most tours but are not served; some warehouse and hard-hat tours set a higher minimum age of their own. If a tour includes tastings, plan a driver or book one that includes transport — and please drink responsibly.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Lexington from Frankfort?

26 miles, about 42 minutes. It is the closest major city and the one most people skip. Hotels are quieter and closer.

Is there a good bourbon tour in Lexington?

Yes. The $110 Distillery District food and bourbon tour is 4 hours with 5–6 stops, small plates, two drinks, and the story of James E. Pepper. Rated 5.0 from 7 reviews.

Can I get the private tour from Lexington?

Yes. The $1,525 private day includes pickup from your hotel in Lexington. It is a 9-hour custom day, rated 5.0, and $1,525 is per group up to 2 people — not per person.

Does the three-distillery tour pick up from Lexington?

The standard departure is Louisville, but you can contact the operator for Lexington-area pickup. You pick 3 distilleries from a 20+ list that includes Buffalo Trace.

Why is Lexington better than Louisville?

Quieter, closer (26 miles vs. 55), and better hotels. Plus the Distillery District tour is unique to Lexington. If you want a bourbon trip without the Louisville hustle, stay here.