Village Welcome, friends! Driving through Kentucky on the way to Buffalo Trace, Lisa noticed turkeys everywhere. Jimmy’s response: “Well, duh. It’s Wild Turkey country.” (Yes, that’s a dad joke. Yes, he’s proud of it.)

We were headed to Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Here’s the twist: neither of us really drinks bourbon. So is it worth the stop if you don’t like bourbon? Here’s our honest answer.

Why Buffalo Trace Is Special

Buffalo Trace bills itself as the oldest continuously operating distillery in America. It kept producing through Prohibition, under different owners over the years, but always in the same place. Even if you never take a sip, that’s a lot of history to walk through.

The Tour

Our guide was fantastic: fun, entertaining and full of interesting facts (she was a history buff before she ever worked there). Highlights:

• Seeing it running. We got to watch the bottling line, where workers put on the tops and labels and box bottles by hand.
• Fun facts. She quizzed us on how much bourbon is left in a 53-gallon barrel after 23 years of aging. (You’ll have to take the tour, or watch the video, for the answer.)
• Real history. She showed us where floodwaters came through the distillery not long ago.

The best part for an RV budget

When we visited, the tour and the tasting were both free. Book ahead, since tours fill up, and don’t forget your ID if you plan to taste. (Somebody in our group forgot theirs!)

The Tasting, From Two Non-Bourbon Drinkers

Lisa: “I’m still not a bourbon girl.” But she found a few winners:

• Bourbon cream, especially in coffee
• Bourbon cream with root beer. It tastes just like a root beer float!
• Bourbon balls, the chocolate candy. “Quite tasty.”

Jimmy: “I’m more of a Captain Morgan guy.” He was a good sport and tried the flight, including the 107-proof Weller Antique, but didn’t finish his pours. Neither of us saw the point of continuing on to more distilleries, but our bourbon-loving friends kept going.

So, Is Buffalo Trace Worth It If You Don’t Drink Bourbon?

Yes. The tour alone is worth it. It’s fun, educational and free, and you get to see a working distillery with a lot of history. Lisa even found a cute shirt for the grandkids in the gift shop.

Tips for RVers

• Book your tour time in advance and plan your drive around it.
• Have a designated driver for the tasting, or skip it. You’re towing a house, after all.
• Don’t try to do it all. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail has many distilleries spread across the state. Pick one or two and enjoy them.
• Make it part of a Kentucky loop. We paired it with the Ark Encounter, and the free Air Force Museum in Dayton is a short drive north.

Have you done the Bourbon Trail? Which distillery is your favorite, and are you team bourbon or team root beer float? Tell us in the video comments.
— Jimmy & Lisa, FindUsCamping