Willett Distillery Tours
A tour guide's tips, reviews, FAQs, and more!
Willett Distillery and Tour Information
Willett Distillery is one of those places that nearly every bourbon drinker has heard of. Whether you’re a casual drinker who has bought the flagship Willett Pot Still bourbon in the past or a full-blown connoisseur, Willett has likely been present in your world of bourbon. So, now that you’re interested in the bourbon trail, you may have realized that they have a historic distillery right in the heart of Bardstown! And it is well worth the visit. Below you will find some things we love about the Willett Distillery Tour in Bardstown, KY.
What we love
The Willett Family History
The Willett Distillery opened up shortly after the end of Prohibition, which means the distillery has a ton of history attached to it. Before the Willett family opened their own distillery, they had already played a role in producing bourbon in the Bardstown area. This means you can follow the Willett bourbon history all the way back into the 1800s. On a Willett Distillery tour, you’ll hear stories of the Willett family legacy as well as the Kulsveens, and see how bourbon was made the old-fashioned way.
In the heart of the bourbon capital!
The Location and Grounds
The Willett Distillery location is hard to beat. Just minutes from Heaven Hill Distillery and downtown Bardstown, Willett is delightfully nestled in the hills of Nelson County. You’ll instantly be welcomed on the property with lovely views of historic buildings, fountains, water sources, and more. It’s easy to see that the distillery is old and that it has a great balance of class and charm. Being close to other distilleries means that adding a Willett Distillery tour to a full day bourbon trip is easy, and you’d be glad that you did.
Whiskey for all ranges of drinkers
The Whiskey
You will learn on the Willett Distillery tour that the family had to take a break from making bourbon a few times in its history. Starting in 2012, the family started producing whiskey once again at their historic distillery. This means that the distillery has quality, mature whiskey that it has produced on its own. And in addition, older whiskey exists! Since the distillery operated as a bottling facility, owned some iconic IPs, and had a handful of years as a non-distilling producer. All this means, some really old, sought-after whiskeys can be found here. You might pay a pretty penny for them, but you can cross some high-end stuff off your bucket list here!
Good, hardworking folks
The Distillery Staff
The Willett distillery has an overall great, welcoming staff that takes pride in what they do. From the tour guides to the rotating coffee bar workers, restaurant staff, and more, Willett is a very welcome place full of good folks. And we are always glad to visit and send visitors their way.
Willett Distillery Tour FAQs & Additional Info
Does Willett offer a variety of tours and tasting options?
Nope. There is really just one distillery experience here, which keeps things simple. If the tours are sold out for the day, you can always come visit the grounds, check out the gift shop, have a drink or flight. The bar and seating are subject to capacity, and the bar is rather small, but it’s still a lovely property to check out. So don't let a sold out tour deter you.
Is there food at Willett Distillery?
There is, indeed! Upstairs of the visitors center is the Willett Family Restaurant, also known as the Bar at Willett. The restaurant has chef-curated food and drink options, and is known for its shareable, family-style options. There really aren’t full-blown entrees here. Finger food, etc. This is a really cool experience, and worth a lunch stop! You do need a reservation to eat, but the occasional walk-in can get a table or a spot at the bar.
How do you book a Willett Distillery tour?
You can find the up-to-date tour availability on the Willett Distillery website. You really want to book in advance, but occasionally a walk-in or two can be accommodated. If you want to make a Willett Distillery tour part of a full-day bourbon trail tour, we can get it added to any of our Bardstown bourbon tour packages!
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Is Willett Distillery close to other parts of the bourbon trail?
Yes, it is! In fact, Willett is right in the heart of Bardstown, the bourbon capital of the world. In the city itself, you have other great distilleries such as: Lux Row, Heaven Hill, Preservation, and Bardstown Bourbon Co. Go a little further south, and you can find Limestone Branch or Maker’s Mark. This is a fantastic region and worth spending a day or two in.
Willett Distillery
Hours: Mon - Saturday 10:00 - 5:30, Closed Sun
Location
1869 Loretto Rd, Bardstown, KY 40004