Frankfort KY Distillery List
A list of bourbon distilleries in Frankfort Kentucky! Updated 2025
A Tour Guide's List of Bourbon Distilleries in Frankfort, KY!
Frankfort, Kentucky! Our state capital is the fourth smallest state capital in the US, but is absolutely bursting with bourbon. With a population of only 28,000, this small city has a whole lot of charm, and far more bourbon barrels in its border than people. Here you will find legacy distilleries like Buffalo Trace, to craft distilleries like Whiskey Thief. No matter your flavor, there is something for you on our list of bourbon distilleries in Frankfort Kentucky!
Please note, not all of these distilleries are in the actual city of Frankfort. None of the distilleries on our list are more than a 30 minute drive from City Hall. At Unfiltered KY Tours, we consider much of the “Central” region of the bourbon trail as the Frankfort area.. just for clarity! Please note, these lists and descriptions are the sole opinion of the author.
Types of Distilleries in Frankfort Kentucky
Legacy Distilleries
To us, legacy distilleries refer to the big name distilleries that make the whiskey your parents or grandparents may have drunk. There are a handful of legacy distilleries in the Frankfort Kentucky area!
Legacy List - Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, Wild Turkey, Woodford Reserve, Bulleit Distillery
Types of Distilleries in Frankfort Kentucky
Medium/Craft Distilleries
You can find craft distilleries all over Kentucky! These are independently owned, small-to-medium sized bourbon producers who mostly make small batch products. You can find some of our favorite craft distilleries in the Frankfort Kentucky region!
Medium/Craft List - Castle & Key, Whiskey Thief, Jeptha Creed, Bluegrass Distllers (Midway)
Types of Distilleries in Frankfort Kentucky
Tasting Experiences
We hate to call a distillery anything other than what they want to be called. A lot of “tasting experiences” are indeed actual distilleries! But their operation may be so small, that they mostly just focus on tastings versus production tours. You’ll find both on this list!
Tasting Room List - J Mattingly, Glenn's Creek, Larrikin
Legacy Distilleries in Frankfort KY
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Just about 8 minutes from City Hall, Buffalo Trace Distillery needs no introduction. This mammoth distillery can make claims to being one of the oldest, largest, and more historically relevant distilleries in the US. Here you’ll find the homes of Buffalo Trace, Blanton’s, Weller, EH Taylor at a bucket-list campus of historic and modern buildings.
Woodford Reserve Distillery
Woodford Reserve has been a staple in the bourbon industry for over 30 years. With history dating well before its market introduction, the Woodford Reserve Tour covers a timeline of over 200 years. This picturesque distillery is surrounded by rolling hills, on the backroads of some of the world’s finest horse farms. And the whiskey is great, too!
Wild Turkey Distillery
Wild Turkey has been a workhorse of American Whiskey for over 75 years. Now a third generation operation, Wild Turkey has deep ties to family, local history, and good whiskey. We like to think of this as a very blue collar distillery. The visitors center and overlook are absolutely gorgeous, but you’ll find little less frills on their tour than some others.
Four Roses Distillery
About 30 minutes outside of Frankfort, you’ll find Four Roses distillery. This Spanish missionary style campus sticks out like a sore thumb in the rural area of Lawrenceburg and makes for a very cool tour. Four Roses is a bourbon drinker’s delight, as their 10 recipes of bourbon can find their way into any connoisseur's palate.
Bulleit Distillery
Known as the bartender’s choice for bourbon, Bulleit whiskey has become a staple in the bourbon and cocktail communities. After outgrowing its previous home, Bulliet now has its own large-scale, modern distillery operation in Shelbyville, KY, about 30 minutes from Frankfort. The tour is solid, and the products are near-and-dear to us!
Medium & Craft Distilleries in Frankfort KY
Castle & Key Distillery
Castle & Key is a fascinating, one-of-a-kind distillery that was constructed in the 1880s by founding father of bourbon, EH Taylor. Over 100 years later, the distillery was restored and now produces spirits on a mix of industrial-era and modern distilling equipment in an actual bourbon castle. The courtyard is gorgeous and makes for a great visit on a nice day.
Whiskey Thief Distillery
Just off of I-64, about 15 minutes from Frankfort, you’ll find this gem of a distillery. Whiskey Thief is situated on a working farm, and you have to drive down a dirt/gravel road to get to it. It’s quite possibly the most authentic stop on the bourbon trail, and as up-close-and-personal as you can get to bourbon without being an actual distiller.
Bluegrass Distillers Midway
We’re scheduled to take a field trip to this one soon, so we will update our list as soon as we can! We do know that Bluegrass distillers is putting out some highly sought after, award-winning whiskey lately, and that they’re been working on their distillery here for quite some time. We’re excited to check it out!
Jeptha Creed Distillery
We never know whether to add Jeptha Creed to our Louisville list, or the list of distilleries in Frankfort Kentucky, so we usually put it in both! About 30 minutes from East Louisville or Frankfort sits this cozy, family-owned distillery. Jeptha Creed is known for its charming atmosphere, friendly staff, great cocktails, and informative tour.
Tasting Experiences in Frankfort KY
J Mattingly 1845
J Mattingly is conveniently located right across the street from Buffalo Trace. Known for their fantastic blending and their blend-your-own bourbon experience, Mattingly offers something unique to the bourbon trail. If you’re ever having trouble getting into some distilleries, J Mattingly should almost always have an opening!
Glenn’s Creek Distillery
Just a few minutes from Castle & Key and Woodford Reserve sits Glenn’s Creek Distilling. This distillery is on the site of a former Old Crow distillery building, and is surrounded by bourbon history. While they do produce award winning whiskeys here, this is mostly a guided tasting experience. Lots of charm here!
List of Bourbon Distilleries in Frankfort FAQ
How long does it take to visit everything on the Frankfort distillery list?
If you’re a completionist, you can visit most of the key stops on the Frankfort distillery list over a long weekend. More likely, it would take you 3-4 days if you want to do an experience everywhere and plan on going a full day each day. We would generally recommend to check off the top places you want to visit, and save some on your return trip!
Can you visit a distillery without a tour?
Yes you can! You’ll find that many of the stops on the Frankfort distillery list are larger full-size distilleries that are mindful of folks visiting without a tour. With that, there is always a gift shop you can visit, and typically a bar you can walk up and grab drinks or flights at. But with so many folks visiting the bourbon trail, especially on the weekends, there could be limitations on seating and service. If you want to make sure you have a spot, try to book in advance!
What are some other bourbon experiences that are not on the Frankfort distillery list?
Being the capital of Kentucky, Frankfort has some great experiences for visitors that are bourbon-adjacent but offer some variety. Some of those experiences include the bourbon riverboat cruise, the Rebecca Ruth’s Candy tour (where a lot of the bourbon balls are made!), bourbon on the banks, and much more!
How far in advance should I book a tour?
If you want to make sure you can see production, do a guided tasting, or secure whatever it is you want to do on the bourbon trail, always plan to book as far in advance as possible. Most distillery schedules open up 2-3 months in advance of the tour date. The closer it is to your travel date, usually the less options you’ll have. So, grab those spots!
Looking to book a Frankfort Bourbon Trip?
If you found our list of Frankfort bourbon distilleries helpful, we may be the team for you! We offer a variety of options for full-day Frankfort bourbon tours, and offer transportation and distillery-hopping packages, too! Please review our website or reach out for more information!