Bardstown Bourbon & Food Tour: 4 stops, local guide

Four stops, three hours, one guide who knows the stories behind the bourbon and the food.

A guided walking food and bourbon tasting tour through downtown Bardstown, KY, stopping at four local restaurants and bars for regional dishes and handcrafted bourbon pairings. The tour lasts about three hours, covers roughly one mile, and includes all food and drink samples plus a gift bag. You must be 21 or older to join.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bardstown bourbon and food tasting tour

• Start at Taste of Bardstown Market
• Try Kentucky beer cheese and pretzels at Scout & Scholar Brewery
• Sample fried green tomatoes with 1792 single barrel whiskey at historic Tavern
• Enjoy Gethsemane fruit cake with Monk’s Road whetted whiskey at Mr. Tubs bar
• Stroll through downtown Bardstown and see historic landmarks

The experience

The tour starts at Taste of Bardstown Market on N. 3rd Street and moves through the historic downtown on foot. You'll stop at Scout & Scholar Brewery, where you try Kentucky beer cheese with pretzels and loaded nachos paired with Ol' Buddy, their top-selling beer. Next is a tavern built in 1779 that once hosted Jesse James and King Louis Philippe. There you sample fried green tomatoes with a hand-selected 1792 single barrel whiskey. The third stop is Mr. Tubs, a former laundry mat turned bar with industrial-chic décor, where you taste Gethsemane fruit cake paired with Monk's Road wheated whiskey. The route covers about a mile total and takes roughly three hours from start to finish.

A local guide leads the group and shares the history woven through Bardstown's bourbon and food culture: how the town was founded in 1780 by William Bard, how it became the county seat, and what each stop means to the community. All food and drink samples are included in the price, so you're not paying separately at each location. You'll also get a gift bag with bottled water. If you want to order additional food or drinks beyond what the tour includes, you can do that at any stop, but the core tasting is covered.

Free municipal parking is available at 112 W. Flaget Street (across from Scout & Scholar Brewery) or on N. 3rd Street itself. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are nearby. The route is suitable for all fitness levels, though you'll be walking the downtown streets for the full three hours.

What’s included

• All food and bourbon samples at four local stops.
• a gift bag with bottled water.
• a knowledgeable local guide who shares Bardstown's bourbon and food history.
• the option to purchase additional food or drinks at any stop if you want more beyond what's included.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday to SaturdayDeparts at 13:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (21 and older) · Under 21: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Taste of Bardstown

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a local guide leading you through four tasting stops with full-sized samples and bourbon sips, not a quick bites tour, and prefer walking as a group rather than navigating solo.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do I eat and drink on the Bardstown Bourbon & Food Tour?

The tour includes Kentucky beer cheese with pretzels and nachos at Scout & Scholar Brewery, fried green tomatoes at the historic tavern, and Gethsemane fruit cake at Mr. Tubs: each paired with a local bourbon or bourbon-inspired drink selected by the venues. All samples are included in the tour price.

How long is the walking distance on this tour?

The tour covers about one mile through downtown Bardstown and lasts roughly three hours total, moving at a pace that includes time at each stop to eat, drink, and hear stories from your guide.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to get to the starting point?

The tour starts at Taste of Bardstown Market at 212 N. 3rd Street. Free municipal parking is available at 112 W. Flaget Street across from Scout & Scholar Brewery, and free street parking is also available on N. 3rd Street. Public transportation options are nearby if you prefer not to drive.

What is the age requirement for this tour?

You must be 21 or older to participate, since the tour includes bourbon and other alcoholic beverages at every stop.

Is this tour accessible for people with mobility concerns?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all physical fitness levels. Transportation options in the area are also wheelchair accessible.

What's included in the gift bag I receive?

All guests receive a gift bag with bottled water included in the tour price.