J. Mattingly Distillery Tasting: A Highlight

J. Mattingly 1845 offers a custom bourbon blending experience like no other. Imagine stepping into a curated world of premium whiskey. You get to blend your own bottle from multiple “Double Staved” proprietary barrels, handpick your bottle, choose a label, and even personalize it with your own name. It’s a one-of-a-kind adventure for bourbon lovers. It's been around since 1845 and is all about making bourbon in the best possible way. It even has a historic still. When you visit, it feels like stepping back in time. Don't forget that Elkhorn Creek RV Park has a standing appointment for the J. Mattingly Distillery tasting every Saturday!

Distilleries Near Elkhorn Creek RV Park

• Buffalo Trace Distillery: This is a historic distillery with a rich legacy, known for producing iconic bourbons like Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, and Blanton’s. This distillery has been in operation for 200 years, even weathering the change that came with prohibition, being permitted to bottle their whiskey to serve medicinal purposes.
• Castle & Key Distillery: Located in a beautifully restored castle, Castle & Key offers tours and tastings of their craft spirits. Reviving the historic grounds, this distillery also serves as an event location with a picturesque botanical trail and gardens.
• Glenn’s Creek Distillery: A boutique distillery specializing in small-batch bourbons and other spirits. This distillery focuses on the craftsmanship and love that makes their approach so unique. 
• Whiskey Thief Distilling Co.: Known for its unique approach to whiskey production, Whiskey Thief offers a variety of spirits. On the weekends, you can enjoy their patio with food and cocktails along with some classic Southern hospitality.
• Three Boys Farm Distillery: A family-owned distillery that is a farm-to-barrel operation, producing small-batch bourbon and moonshine.
• Woodford Reserve Distillery: Located in nearby Versailles, Woodford Reserve is famous for its premium small-batch bourbon and picturesque grounds. Their tours offer insights into the bourbon-making process. This is also the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby.
• Wild Turkey Distillery: Situated in Lawrenceburg, Wild Turkey produces bold bourbons like Wild Turkey 101. Their visitor center provides an informative experience for whiskey enthusiasts.

Elkhorn Creek RV Park has partnered with Kentucky Bourbon Boys, one of the most respected tour companies, for our Signature Bourbon Tour, a multi-sensory experience that encapsulates the spirit's rich history and meticulous crafting process. From the outset, you're welcomed with southern warmth, setting the tone for the journey ahead.

Your adventure starts when an expert guide and van picks you up at the Elkhorn Creek RV Park leading you down the Bourbon Trail and to your first distillery Woodford Reserve, where  magic is crafted. As you navigate the production area, the sweet, intoxicating aroma of fermenting grain awakens your senses, hinting at the time-honored process you're about to witness.

The guide immerses you in a journey tracing bourbon's life from grain to glass. You'll gain insights into the bourbon-making process, starting with the vital grain selection, which lays the foundation for the bourbon's flavor.

Next, your tour includes a delicious lunch at the local favorite eatery, Limewater. The afternoon continues for a unique tour and barrel tasting at Whiskey Thief Distillery. Then the most anticipated distillery stop is Buffalo Trace – to taste the most popular selection of today's Bourbons – and then time for shopping, a favorite stop. You'll understand the fermentation process, where the grains morph into a rich, flavorful mash, giving rise to the aroma you experienced.

By the end of the tour, you'll have a deeper appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship behind each bourbon bottle. This is more than just a tour – it explores tradition, taste, and time.

Tasting the Variety

After your introduction and exploration, you'll proceed to an eagerly awaited tasting session. This experience is a sensory journey, allowing one to sample various bourbons, each with a unique flavor profile. These bourbons are meticulously chosen to represent the wide array of flavors this spirit can offer. With help from your knowledgeable guide, you'll learn to distinguish different notes and undertones in each sip of bourbon. These can vary from pronounced flavors like caramel and vanilla, commonly found in many bourbons, to subtle hints of oak and spice in specific well-aged variants. The tasting session is not just about savoring the bourbons but also about recognizing and valuing the craftsmanship involved in producing each distinctive bottle.

More than Bourbon: The Community

The whole experience is not just about the bourbon, and it extends beyond that. It's about community, bonding, and shared admiration for a tradition that withstood time. You're not merely a passing tourist when you embark on the Bourbon Trail. You're welcomed into a family, The Trail tour is an unforgettable experience. This tour is more than just a simple tasting of fine bourbons. It's an immersive adventure into the heart of America's Kentucky bourbon culture. It's a celebration of the time-honored craft and offers a tribute to the distilleries that have perfected their techniques over generations.

Staying in a Bourbon Lover's Haven

If you're planning to experience the Bourbon Trail, consider setting up camp at Elkhorn Creek RV Park. Our RV park is more than just a convenient place to park your RV; it's a haven for bourbon enthusiasts. Nestled in the heart of bourbon country, Elkhorn Creek RV Park offers comfortable amenities, distillery tastings, and our Signature Bourbon tour, along with weekend local musical talent and a food truck. 

Staying at the Elkhorn Creek RV Park brings the Bourbon Trail to your doorstep. You can join us for a tasting of J. Mattingly Distillery, or choose your own tour options and explore the area on your own since we have so many distilleries within a 25-mile radius of the park. We also offer our on select Wednesdays, May through November. After a day of exploration and tasting, you can return to your comfortable RV, relax under the stars, and enjoy the sound of nearby Elkhorn Creek.

Staying at the Elkhorn Creek RV Park means you’re parked right on the bourbon trail. Enjoy access to distilleries and tours in the area, along with our regular weekend showcase of local music and camaraderie at the park.



Come join us at Elkhorn Creek RV Park on the Bourbon Trail and experience the magic of Kentucky bourbon. We promise it'll be an experience you won't soon forget!

References

https://jmattingly1845.com/

https://kybourbontrail.com/

https://www.visittheusa.com/experience/bourbon-trail-kentucky

https://kybourbontrail.com/plan-your-trip/ 

https://www.woodfordreserve.com/

https://www.whiskeythief.com/

https://kentuckybourbonboys.com/