Stateline Whiskey Tour
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Distillery Tours and Tastings
If you are intimidated by the thought of completing the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, then the Stateline Whiskey Tour is for you! This tour is made up of three different distilleries along the Kentucky and Tennessee border: Casey Jones Distillery, MB Roland Distillery, and Old Glory Distillery Co. Upon completion of this tour, you will receive a commemorative wooden flight paddle made from a piece of an old whiskey barrel. This goes perfectly with the shot glasses you receive at each location for the tours.
These three distilleries are all within 30 miles of each other (plan for the drive to take a bit longer than you think as you will encounter some 35mph sections of road). Even though this is a whiskey tour, the tastings will give you a chance to sample from a wide selection of whiskey, bourbon, and moonshine.
If you are over 21, drink alcohol, and find yourself in Kentucky, visiting at least one Distillery for a bourbon tasting is an absolute must.
Bourbon, Whiskey and Moonshine
During the tastings at each location, you will have a chance to sample bourbon, whiskey, and moonshine. For those that don’t have a deep knowledge of the differences between these alcohols, here is a brief description of each. What might be most confusing when trying to learn the difference between these three alcohols is that all bourbon and moonshine are whiskeys but not all whiskeys are bourbon and moonshine.
Whiskey can be distilled up to 190 proof and has to be aged in oak barrels. These barrels can be new or used.
To be considered a bourbon by the American Bourbon Association there are certain criteria that it has to meet. Bourbon must be distilled from a grain mixture that contains at least 51% corn and is aged in new barrels made from charred oak. It also has to be made in the United States. Bourbon must be distilled at 160 proof or less and then diluted to no less than 80 proof before bottling. Bourbon is smoother in taste than whiskey and originated in Kentucky. Kentucky is where most bourbon is currently made which is why visiting a Kentucky distillery for a bourbon tasting is so popular.
Tennessee Whiskey is actually a bourbon that has to be made in Tennessee. It then has an extra step to go through called charcoal mellowing. Simply put, this means that the final step is that the whiskey is then filtered through coal.
Moonshine is an unaged corn whiskey that was illegal to make until the last 10 years or so. It was popular during Prohibition. Today, distilleries can make it as long as they get a permit.
Distillery Tours and Tastings
Each tour and tasting can be expected to take anywhere between 45min-1hr depending on how many questions your tour group may have and cost around $10 per person. Remember that this includes a souvenir shot glass from each place and the final prize (flight paddle). The tours at each distillery tend to start on the hour, every hour that they are open. There is no time limit on when you have to complete the tour to get your flight paddle which means you can spread the fun out over a few days, months, or even longer. Keep in mind that none of these places serve food, so make sure to take the opportunity to stop and eat between places.
Casey Jones
Casey Jones is in Hopkinsville, KY, and is the most northern location of the three places on the tour. You may occasionally find a deal for this tour on Groupon. During the tour, you will learn about the Jones’ family history of making and running moonshine and learn about their process from start to finish. Today they distill their moonshine in a square pot coffin style still, just like the original moonshiner Casey Jones had built. After the tour, you will go to the tasting counter located in the gift shop and you will be able to choose around 8 different alcohols to sample.
This distillery has a fish-stocked lake behind it, where you are able to go fishing as long as you call ahead. They have a cute senior dog named Rosie onsite and they are also dog-friendly if you have your pup with you. There is a bar area where you can order drinks like a Moonarita (which are delicious).
If you like the Moonaritas as much as we did, you can buy a Moonarita kit, so you can make your own, along with other souvenirs and alcohol at the gift shop. Enjoy your beverage on the back patio or down at the lake. Be mindful that they don’t serve ‘real’ food, but they do have snacks like chips available for purchase near the bar.
MB Roland Distillery
A little farther south in Pembroke, Kentucky you will find MB Roland. This distillery is located in a more rural area amidst the Amish. During the tour, you will hear how they got started and get to see how they make their liquor from start to finish while enjoying the company of two dogs and several cats that live on the premises.
During the tasting located inside their gift shop, you will get to enjoy their selection of alcohol that they make including their Kentucky Lemonade which was one of our favorites.
You can purchase a number of souvenirs and their alcohol in their gift shop where you will also find several tables and chairs available if you would like to relax over a few more drinks while you are there.
Old Glory Distillery Co
Old Glory is located just over the Kentucky/Tennessee state line in Clarksville, TN. It is conveniently located just off I-24. This distillery is housed in a giant brick building. When you walk into the building there is a large window that looks into the area where they make their alcohol, so everyone has a chance to see the machines in action. However, during the tour, their distilling process is explained in detail, as well as the changes and upgrades that the company is currently making as they continue to grow.
You will also hear how Old Glory got started by a local firefighter and you will see some items in the gift shop geared toward first responders. Just like the other two distilleries, you can get your animal fix here too in the form of a cat that hangs out in the distilling area.
After the tour, you will begin your tasting at a table in the center of the large gift shop and bar area. The bar serves alcohol throughout the day and there are several high-top tables and chairs available for you to relax with your drinks. The gift shop sells a large array of souvenirs along with their alcohol.
Nearby Attractions:
If you are looking to break up the quest of completing this tour, there are a variety of different things you can find to do. I highly suggested stopping in at the Hopkinsville Visitor Center. The staff is unbelievably friendly and helpful and will go out of their way to make sure your time in the area is a pleasant one.
The visitor center is just outside the road that leads to Trail of Tears Commemorative Park. This is one of several stops along the historical Trail of Tears where the US government forcibly removed Cherokee people from their land in several states and made them relocate to Oklahoma with minimal assistance and aid. This is a great spot to learn more about the past and take a moment to honor those that unfairly lost their lives during that part of American History.
Inside this park is also a Disc Golf Course if you had brought your discs with you. There are also regular golf courses such as the Hopkinsville Golf and Country Club and Western Hills Municipal Golf course if you want to relax on a green.
Land Between the Lakes is a great place for any and all outdoor fans. You can kayak, canoe, fish, bike, hike, and camp at this fantastic National Recreation Area.
Cheers!
If you are in the Southwest part of Kentucky, the Stateline Whiskey Tour will provide you with a great taste of what distilleries in both states have to offer. After you complete the tour, you will have souvenir shot glasses from each distillery and a cool commemorative flight paddle to display them on. If you find yourself loving the distillery tour and tasting experience, you can expand your sights to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail or the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. Depending on how much time you have and how frequently you travel through this area, you can even do both!
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