The Trail Hotel offers a fresh stay in Bardstown, Kentucky
Bardstown is the land of bourbon. Just an hour south of Louisville through a landscape dotted with rickhouses—large buildings used for aging whiskey barrels—the self-proclaimed “Bourbon Capital of the World” is home to Barton 1792 Distillery, Heaven Hill, and Willett, to name-drop a few storied distilleries.
The town was founded in 1788 and quickly became a frontier hub revered for its ultra-clean water table. The abundance of porous limestone was the reason, and it not only purified the area’s spring water but added a distinctive flavor to the whiskey produced here.
Much of downtown Bardstown remains frozen in time; more than one third of the buildings in the district are Federal or Georgian architecture dating from the 1780s to 1850. Of the more than 200 historic buildings in its preservation zone, many now contain contemporary bars, bottle shops, and tasting rooms centered around brown water (as bourbon is known).
The central square boasts several historic inns (including one that was once the town jail) but for something more boutique-level, a new offering has entered the mix: The Trail Hotel. For the area, it is a youngin, built in 1970 as the area’s new-fangled Holiday Inn Resort. Last spring, Joseph and Joseph Architects restored and reimagined it into a bourbon-steeped luxury property. Ninety-five rooms and eight bourbon-themed suites welcome guests looking for an upscale, adult-centered stay.
Dining here is notable, especially for brunch. The hotel’s several bars include a reservations-required speakeasy called The Bourbon Vault. There’s a primo golf simulation room, too, and a spa that speeds recovery from the area’s most celebrated pastime. Find fireplaces inside and out with comfortable furniture groupings in which to hang out and be convivial. The original 1970s resort pool has been lovingly reconditioned, along with a former kiddie pool retooled into a 30-person hot tub adjacent to a fantastic pool bar.
Aside from an excellent concierge staff, The Trail Hotel also employs Bourbon Butlers eager to plan your Bardstown itinerary, book VIP tours to the most sought-after distilleries, host tastings on the property, set up a bar in your suite, and more.
For those obsessed with bourbon, staying at The Trail Hotel is like Disneyland, but even for non-drinkers, the property is so well-appointed that a weekend getaway here checks all the boxes.
Three Musts Near The Trail Hotel in Bardstown
Eat an Egg Salad Sandwich at The Bar at Willet
Yes, you need a reservation even if you paid to tour the distillery. It’s worth it, as The Bar at Willett is special (and chef John Sleasman once worked at McCrady’s in Charleston). The egg salad sandwich is so buttery and unctuous, you may want to order a second. The drinks produced by celebrated bar director Andy Pope are also noteworthy, and bartender Luciano Guijosa is just as talented.
Ride the Rooster at Circa 1856
The 1795 Harrison-Smith House now houses Chicken Cock Whiskey’s tasting room in Bardstown, called Circa 1856. It was once home to Dr. Burr Harrison, the town’s surgeon, so a pain killer here might be in order. In the stone courtyard sits a giant rooster with a saddle and steps to mount it—snapping a photo on it feels mandatory.
Taste a Dusty Bottle at Neat Bourbon Bar
There are great cocktails offered here, but the best reason to belly up to the bar is to taste by-the-ounce pours from “dusty bottles.” The term comes from bourbon hunters scouring garage sales and private collections for vintage bourbon. Neat stocks a staggering number of these bottles, like a 1971 handle of Old Grand Dad tipped from its original wood cradle.
The Trail Hotel, 1875 New Haven Rd., Bardstown, KY, thetrailhotel.com
Pro Tip
You cannot ship bourbon to South Carolina from Kentucky, and that’s tough when there are bottles offered in Bardstown that are not distributed anywhere else. The solution is to bring an extra suitcase stocked with bottle bags. Monkkino makes a great one; the inflatable bubble cushion bag ensures your bourbon gets home intact (they cost $1–2 each).
