Don't Trust Your GPS / Bardstown, KY

Before leaving Kentucky Horse Park we typed in WalMart for a quick trip. We were led through country and suburban roads for several miles before crossing I-75 and being led around the block to a Sam's Club. We then typed in WalMart and found one a couple of miles away. On the way back we were routed down I-75 and back to the park that was less than a mile off I-75. Why didn't the GPS lead us down I-75 to begin with.

While traveling to Bardstown we traveled through beautiful rolling hills in the Kentucky countryside.

Some people have spent a lot of money to impress others with their homes!

Historic Bardstown, KY has a unique courthouse encircled with a round-about in the center of town. The town is known for the Rowan manson about which Stephen Foster wrote "My Old Kentucky Home" and Bourban whiskey.

On the lawn of the courthouse is a motorcycle made of barrels.

After arriving on Tuesday our group decided to check out one of the local distilleries since we are in the Bourbon Capital of the World. Six couples in two trucks set out to visit Maker's Mark distillery near Bardstown, KY. After the address was entered in the GPS of each truck, the two groups were led on a "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" type route down narrow country roads until we arrived at the distillery. We were sure to get good directions for the return trip to the campground.

Notice the bottle shapes cut into the shutters.

These vats contain the cooked liquid containing ground corn, red winter wheat and barley. Yeast has been added to the liquid to start the fermentation. This sour mash is allowed to ferment for three days. The vats are twelve feet across and twelve feet deep.

Ron listens as the tour guide explains how the sour mass is filtered and run through a double distilation process. Notice the two copper distillery tanks.

Finished Bourbon is bottled after aging in white oak barrels for several years.

Maker's Mark adds their distinctive trademark by sealing each bottle with red sealing wax by hand.

The guide explains how the raw whiskey is aged in barrels by storing, rotating, and testing.

White oak barrels are charred inside to give the raw, white whisky the charcteristic color and taste of Bourbon as it ages.

These barrels are aging in the rows called ricks. After several years of aging and testing the Bourbon is becomes a finished product and is bottled.

Our friend, John, is dipping his bottle to put on the unique seal at Maker's Mark gift shop.