Buffalo Trace to Brushy Mountain: A Three-Day Road Trip

Friday: Small producers and unexpected flavors

After finishing a few last-minute errands for my mom, I left around 11:30 with my sister and brother-in-law. We took the back roads toward Lexington and made Kentucky Mist Distillery in Whitesburg our first stop.

I had visited Kentucky Mist’s Myrtle Beach locations before, but I had never realized that the products came from this small Appalachian distillery. We sampled several spirits and watched part of the process. One vodka stood out because it was so smooth and neutral that it almost drank like water—exactly the kind of bottle that would disappear easily into a mixed drink.

Regeneration Distilling came next. It was a small, farmer-owned operation working with one still and a mash that included sweet potatoes. The flavor did not scream sweet potato, but it created something different. A few samples leaned sweeter than I prefer, although I appreciated how inventive the whole operation felt.

Lexington: Sake, cider, tacos, and one more flight

Void Sake was the first sake brewery I had ever visited. I ordered a flight of four and paired it with cheesy Japanese fries from a nearby food truck. Sake is not something I drink often, but tasting several styles together made the stop much more interesting.

At Pivot Brewing, we worked through a wide range of ciders and beers. Banana Bully—a banana nut bread cider—was the one I remembered afterward. A taco truck next door convinced us to try a few tacos, including a rich cow-head taco that ate more like tender roast beef than anything intimidating.

We ended the evening at Versailles Brewing with appetizers and another flight. Their setup included two small cocktails alongside the usual samples, which was a welcome change. The fried pickles needed more crispness, but the pretzel and beer cheese did the job. We drove to Frankfort and settled into the Bluegrass Inn for the night.

Saturday morning: Buffalo Trace

After a quick McDonald’s breakfast, we headed to Buffalo Trace for our reserved tour. Booking ahead mattered: we checked in, received wristbands, explored the visitor area, and looked through the gift shop while waiting for our time.

The tour walked us through the history, distilling process, and production areas. Because it was Saturday, the machinery was quiet; a weekday visit would offer more of the working-distillery atmosphere. The tasting at the end lived up to expectations, and we returned to the gift shop before making a quick stop at J. Mattingly 1845 across the street.

Saturday afternoon: Farms, historic grounds, and bourbon-country roads

White Castle became a first-time lunch stop before we drove to West Sixth Farm. The property combined beer with wide-open scenery, walking and biking trails, and disc golf. We stayed long enough for a drink before continuing south.

Castle & Key was worth seeing for the grounds alone. The spirits were solid, though the gift shop prices felt high. At Woodford Reserve, I ordered a Kentucky Mule while my brother-in-law chose an Old Fashioned. The metal cups came home with us as souvenirs.

From there we continued toward Knoxville and found Rosati’s Chicago deep-dish pizza. I had been looking forward to having it again, and it remained one of my favorite meals of the weekend. We checked into a Sleep Inn and called it a night.

Sunday: Inside Brushy Mountain

We got up early and drove to Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary. Walking through the old cell blocks and prison spaces was the kind of experience that sticks with you because so much of the facility remains intact.

We also sampled spirits made at the onsite distillery, picked up a few souvenirs, and then started the trip home.