This time of year can shake a soul right to its very foundation. Sure, it’s festive and merry and sometimes our bellies, in fact, shake like a bowl full of jelly. But boy-howdy, when January 2nd rolls around, listen with the right kind of ears and you can hear a chorus of relaxing exhales.

Need to wind down? I would recommend a drive through the rolling hills of Central Kentucky. Destination? Four Roses Distillery.

Outside the distillery

Nestled in the rolling Hills near Lawrenceburg, Ky., and smack on the banks of the Salt River sits a charming distillery that features Spanish Mission style architecture as uncommon in Kentucky as heavy snow. Built in 1910, Four Roses Distillery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Whether or not said distillery used their product to grease the wheels of the National Register is unknown to me. But, those little airplane bottles do work magic.

Drive into the parking area and you know where you are. The heavy smell of fermentation and corn and finished product intermingle with the country air. Upon entering the visitor center, built to complement the historic distillery, the tour starts with an informative video about the magic that is bourbon. Then, a brief tutorial on Four Roses patented “mash bill.”

Mash Bill

The visitor center also offers a miniature cross section of its multi-tiered still. A walking tour of the historic Distillery is a fantastic way to get a feel for this glorious product. Ever wanted to know what Bourbon tastes like before barreling? Distillers call it “White Dog” and you will sample it on the tour. Twice.

If you plan on visiting Four Roses Distillery, July through mid-September is right out. While the gift shop and visitors center are open year-round, production at the Distillery comes to a stand-still during the afore mentioned months. If you feel like traveling a bit further, you may want to visit Four Roses’ state-of-the-art single story barrel houses in Cox’s Creek, Ky, a short drive from Louisville, Ky. and the famous Brown Hotel.

Note: Tours ending before noon will be, by state law, void of a product tasting. While touring the facility is a treat in itself. Sampling the myriad of different styles is quite another. So, timing is everything.

*All photos by Charles A. Downs III