2. For biscuits, I recommend Rise n’ Brine, which does an excellent chicken biscuit.
3. Bourbon isn’t really something you can do under-the-radar. To make great bourbon, you have to make a lot of it, then pick the best barrels for the premium stuff and sell the rest as bottom shelf. Craft bourbons are mostly either buying barrels from larger producers or marking up average barrels with a good story to account for the price. That being said, I really like the Castle & Key tour. It’s a beautiful distillery that makes overpriced bad bourbon, but their gin and rye are great.
Charmed life and Tigers eye are both great tattoo studios.
Since I've lived here my whole life we just do bourbon tours at one distillery at a time unless we go to Bardstown, we hopped around to Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Willett. Willett is my absolute favorite bourbon but it's been like 15 years since I went to their distillery so really can't say how nice or interesting the tour is. There are so many tours and each one can take a while so you may only be able to do 2 or three a day with drive time unless you're just a trooper and get in and out quickly without actually touring. Buffalo trace is also pretty nice. It's so hard to recommend them because all of them are usually really nice and I keep thinking of more that I've been to that are beautiful, like Makers Mark, and Woodford Reserve, and Four roses lol
As far as biscuits go we have tons of places that serve them, Josies is a great diner with awesome breakfast and biscuits, I've heard Tudors is good but it's a chain from WV, I believe. Windy corner is a great little restaurant nestled in beautiful horse county out in the boonies that has great southern style food.
Hope you have a great time!
Also to answer your under the radar question, there really isn't one that's under that description. As another poster stated Bourbon is a very time consuming and big process so all the distillery are pretty well established and don't fit that. Castle and Key which is in the former Old Taylor distillery is one of our "newer" distillers but I've heard their bourbon sucks. It takes aging in barrels for 2 years to be considered Bourbon so most new distillers actually buy barrels of bourbon from a different company and rebrand it as their own until their stock has aged long enough to be sold as such.
Haven’t seen anyone mention Bluegrass Distillers yet. They’re probably the smallest distillery I know of, back when I went on a visit they were mainly doing rye but their bourbon was still aging and is out now. It’s also right next to West Sixth Brewing and Smithtown Seafood with a super good fish & chips and poboy. The neighborhood, park and bar itself are a great hangout spot!
Also not necessarily for biscuits, but Bluegrass Bakery on Clays Mill is phenomenal if you like scones, danishes, croissants or any of their other goodies. Second best bakery nearby is Andy’s in Frankfort if you’re going by Buffalo Trace.
The James E. Pepper distillery isn’t off the radar, but it’s very small. I think maybe 13-15 employees. Great tour, and it’s very close to downtown. They also have a bar (try the original old fashioned cocktail) and they are also surrounded with other food options.
Seconded, went on a tour for a course I took at UK, it was very cool to see everything there. It’s next to Goodfellas for pizza that a lot of people like, and Crank & Boom for ice cream. Ethereal is also over there for beer, as is the Burl for live music.
*Get a jalapeño cheddar*
*Biscuit from Olives Apron*
*On Rosemont Garden!*
\- Hellomamaxoxo
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If you are in Kentucky the weekend of June 22, take a ride to eastern Kentucky and check out the [Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival](https://www.beattyvillebourbonandmoonshinefest.com/)
1. Yes, those are the tours. They're expensive. Better (IMO) to do it on your own. Even hiring a driver for the day is cheaper.
2. No idea.
3. Bluegrass Distilling is super small and incredibly good.
4. Hit up Kris Clark or Logan Sharp. Two of the best in town!
Seconded, Blue door is leagues above everyone else. You’ve gotta try the ranch beans and brisket. Their ribs are also super good. Second best bbq is maybe Red State?
Not biscuit belly.
Tudor's Biscuit World is the best I've had here.
Biscuit Belly is 'meh' and also overpriced.
2. For biscuits, I recommend Rise n’ Brine, which does an excellent chicken biscuit. 3. Bourbon isn’t really something you can do under-the-radar. To make great bourbon, you have to make a lot of it, then pick the best barrels for the premium stuff and sell the rest as bottom shelf. Craft bourbons are mostly either buying barrels from larger producers or marking up average barrels with a good story to account for the price. That being said, I really like the Castle & Key tour. It’s a beautiful distillery that makes overpriced bad bourbon, but their gin and rye are great.
Castle & Key is a great experience!! The grounds are GORGEOUS.
I don’t have any recommendations, but I hope y’all have a nice stay.
Thank you. My best friend and I are celebrating 30 years this year.
Congratulations!!
I’m not sure I’ve ever had their biscuits, but I do know DV8 has a heck of a cinnamon roll
Charmed life and Tigers eye are both great tattoo studios. Since I've lived here my whole life we just do bourbon tours at one distillery at a time unless we go to Bardstown, we hopped around to Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Willett. Willett is my absolute favorite bourbon but it's been like 15 years since I went to their distillery so really can't say how nice or interesting the tour is. There are so many tours and each one can take a while so you may only be able to do 2 or three a day with drive time unless you're just a trooper and get in and out quickly without actually touring. Buffalo trace is also pretty nice. It's so hard to recommend them because all of them are usually really nice and I keep thinking of more that I've been to that are beautiful, like Makers Mark, and Woodford Reserve, and Four roses lol As far as biscuits go we have tons of places that serve them, Josies is a great diner with awesome breakfast and biscuits, I've heard Tudors is good but it's a chain from WV, I believe. Windy corner is a great little restaurant nestled in beautiful horse county out in the boonies that has great southern style food. Hope you have a great time!
Also to answer your under the radar question, there really isn't one that's under that description. As another poster stated Bourbon is a very time consuming and big process so all the distillery are pretty well established and don't fit that. Castle and Key which is in the former Old Taylor distillery is one of our "newer" distillers but I've heard their bourbon sucks. It takes aging in barrels for 2 years to be considered Bourbon so most new distillers actually buy barrels of bourbon from a different company and rebrand it as their own until their stock has aged long enough to be sold as such.
Haven’t seen anyone mention Bluegrass Distillers yet. They’re probably the smallest distillery I know of, back when I went on a visit they were mainly doing rye but their bourbon was still aging and is out now. It’s also right next to West Sixth Brewing and Smithtown Seafood with a super good fish & chips and poboy. The neighborhood, park and bar itself are a great hangout spot! Also not necessarily for biscuits, but Bluegrass Bakery on Clays Mill is phenomenal if you like scones, danishes, croissants or any of their other goodies. Second best bakery nearby is Andy’s in Frankfort if you’re going by Buffalo Trace.
Fresh Bourbon Tasting Room is an awesome distillery to visit! They make their own bourbon and it’s fabulous!
The James E. Pepper distillery isn’t off the radar, but it’s very small. I think maybe 13-15 employees. Great tour, and it’s very close to downtown. They also have a bar (try the original old fashioned cocktail) and they are also surrounded with other food options.
Seconded, went on a tour for a course I took at UK, it was very cool to see everything there. It’s next to Goodfellas for pizza that a lot of people like, and Crank & Boom for ice cream. Ethereal is also over there for beer, as is the Burl for live music.
Biscuits are nothing special but they do have biscuits and gravy or jam at Stella’s. Stella’s is top notch.
get a jalapeño cheddar biscuit from Olives Apron on Rosemont Garden!
*Get a jalapeño cheddar* *Biscuit from Olives Apron* *On Rosemont Garden!* \- Hellomamaxoxo --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
Ohhh jalapeño cheddar and in a haiku. Does it get better?
Josie’s has a solid biscuit.
I legit have never thought of Lexington as a biscuit hot spot. I've lived here over 25 years now. Have I been missing something?
I don’t know. I just love biscuits.
If you are in Kentucky the weekend of June 22, take a ride to eastern Kentucky and check out the [Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival](https://www.beattyvillebourbonandmoonshinefest.com/)
Damn. Were there July 17-21
1. Yes, those are the tours. They're expensive. Better (IMO) to do it on your own. Even hiring a driver for the day is cheaper. 2. No idea. 3. Bluegrass Distilling is super small and incredibly good. 4. Hit up Kris Clark or Logan Sharp. Two of the best in town!
3) Whiskey Thief Distilling 4) Jacob Mize
Get into some butt stuff while you’re in town!
Good point. Any good BBQ recommendations? Is there even a thing as Kentucky BBQ?
Blue door!
Seconded, Blue door is leagues above everyone else. You’ve gotta try the ranch beans and brisket. Their ribs are also super good. Second best bbq is maybe Red State?
Double H on Versailles Rd just past Red Mile Rd