Looking for a Kentucky getaway that mixes bourbon, local wine, craft beer and a few good meals along the way? Shepherdsville-Bullitt County makes it surprisingly easy. The county’s Wine, Whiskey & Ale Trail brings together nine stops, including major bourbon names, locally owned wineries, breweries and a hands-on distilling experience, all within about 10 miles of one another.
Before you hit the trail, reserve tours at James B. Beam Distilling Co. and Four Roses Warehouse & Bottling, which can fill quickly. You can also download the free Wine, Whiskey & Ale Trail Pass or pick up a printed version along the way. Visit at least five participating stops to earn a complimentary souvenir glass. Since the trail is self-guided, plan for a designated driver or check out local transportation options. Then you’re ready for two days of sipping, sampling and exploring Bullitt County.
Day One: Local Wine, Craft Beer and a Taste of Bullitt County
Late Morning
Ease into your first day with lunch at Hillview Family Diner in Louisville. This casual local favorite keeps things hearty with home-cooked daily specials alongside diner staples. Go big with the chicken-fried steak, or keep it classic with a burger and a pile of fries.
From Hillview, head west toward Brooks for your first official trail stop at Brooks Hill Winery. Known as the “little winery up the hill,” Brooks Hill has been producing Kentucky-crafted wines since 2007. Settle into the tasting room or grab a spot on the spacious patio overlooking the vineyard while you sample the lineup. Try Old Bullitt Red, the winery’s sweetest table wine, named in honor of the Hatzell family’s ancestral home. For something richer, Dori Roe is made from Chambourcin grapes and pours a deep ruby color, with a soft, fragrant aroma and hints of exotic fruit. Live music and other events are also part of the calendar throughout the year, so check what’s happening before your visit.
Afternoon
From Brooks, head south on I-65 before turning east on Hwy. 44 toward downtown Mt. Washington and Gallant Fox Brewing Company. Settle in with one of the brewery’s rotating house beers, including the signature Golden Bullitt or explore the guest taps, cocktails and bourbon offerings. Gallant Fox also serves a full food menu, making it an easy place to refuel before heading to the next stop on the trail.
Next, follow Hwy. 44 west toward Bethel Church Road and Gentry Lane for Crume Haven Winery in Mt. Washington. Set among the rolling countryside, the winery continues the property’s tradition of relaxed tastings and vineyard views. The lineup stretches from dry wines to sweeter pours and dessert options, including longtime favorites such as Sweet Falls of Niagara. Grab a glass and enjoy the scenery before moving on.
Continue west toward I-65, then head south toward Shepherdsville for Wight-Meyer Vineyard & Winery. Nestled on 16 acres along Pine Creek Trail, the winery pairs a long-established vineyard with a laid-back tasting-room experience and plenty of rural Kentucky scenery. Spend some time exploring the property or settle in for a tasting, where you may find wines ranging from fruit-forward reds to playful sweeter options like Amy’s Apple Pie.
Evening
After a day of tastings, it’s time to unwind. Shepherdsville and Brooks offer a mix of familiar hotel brands along with campground options throughout northern Bullitt County. Browse lodging options and consider reserving ahead for busy weekends.
For dinner, head into Shepherdsville for The Fish House & Grill, a family-owned favorite that’s been serving up cooked-to-order seafood since 2017. Fried fish, jumbo shrimp and crab cakes are some of the local go-tos, so come hungry and build your own seafood feast after a full afternoon on the trail.
Day Two: Bourbon, Bernheim and a Bottle of Your Own
Morning
Start the morning in Shepherdsville with breakfast at your hotel or keep things simple with a familiar favorite. Cracker Barrel and Denny’s both offer hearty breakfast options before you head south toward Kentucky bourbon country.
Your first major stop is James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont, home to more than two centuries of Beam family bourbon history. The sprawling campus offers several ways to experience the distillery, so booking ahead gives you the best chance of finding one that fits your schedule.
The main Beam Made Bourbon experience takes visitors through the bourbon-making process and Beam family story before wrapping up with a guided tasting. Other tours dive into everything from warehouse aging and whiskey tasting to cocktail making and bottling your own bourbon. Leave a little extra time afterward to explore the American Outpost and browse the gift shop.
Continue a few miles up Hwy. 245 to Four Roses Warehouse & Bottling in Coxs Creek. Settle in for a bourbon tasting class, learn more about the romantic history behind the Four Roses name and sample some of the brand’s signature pours along the way. You’ll even leave with a signature tasting glass. Before moving on, make time for the gift shop, where you can browse bottles, branded gear and a few extra treasures to take home.
Afternoon
After Four Roses, head back west on Hwy. 245 toward Clermont and trade bourbon barrels for trees with lunch at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum. Spread across more than 16,000 acres, Bernheim combines forest, gardens, public art and miles of trails just a short distance from the distilleries.
Inside Bernheim’s sustainably designed Visitor Center, Isaac’s Café serves soups, salads, sandwiches and other seasonal dishes, with some ingredients coming directly from Bernheim’s Edible Garden.
Don’t rush off after lunch. More than 40 miles of trails give you plenty of ways to stretch your legs before the afternoon tastings continue. One of the most memorable is the Forest Giants trail, where Mama Loumari, Little Nis and Little Elina rise from the landscape as enormous sculptures created from recycled wood by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. Shorter walks, prairie views and public art make it easy to tailor the stop to however much time and energy you have.
Just across Clermont Road from Bernheim, continue with a tasting at Forest Edge Winery. The winery sources grapes for its wines and incorporates local fruit into select pours. If you like sweet wines, look for Berrylicious, a blackberry wine that brings a little Kentucky fruit into the glass.
The casual tasting room also has wine-themed gifts, while a separate children’s play room with a TV and toys gives families a little added flexibility during the stop.
Next up, head to Coxs Creek Distilling Company in Coxs Creek and step into the barrel room for one of the trail’s most unique experiences. Sample different finishes from a selection of more than 40 barrels, each with its own distinct character, then choose the one you like best and bottle it yourself. It’s a hands-on tasting experience that leaves you with a one-of-a-kind bourbon souvenir to take home.
Evening
Bring the weekend full circle in downtown Shepherdsville at Salt River Brewing Company, one of the newer stops on Bullitt County’s Wine, Whiskey & Ale Trail. The brewery leans into lighter and sour-style beers and even works with a local farmer to grow its hops, giving the final stop a distinctly local feel.
Depending on the night, you might find a food truck out front, live music in the mix or a trivia game underway. Grab a beer, settle in and toast to two days of vineyard views, bourbon pours and plenty of good stops along the way.
Before you call it a weekend, check your Wine, Whiskey & Ale Trail Pass. If you’ve visited at least five of the nine participating stops, redeem it at the Bullitt County Visitor Center in Shepherdsville or Forest Edge Winery for a complimentary souvenir glass. Consider it one last little reward for drinking your way through Bullitt County.
