Maker's Mark Distillery
A National Historic Landmark distillery in the countryside, with black wooden buildings and red shutters, where you can dip a bottle in red wax by hand.
Maker's Mark Distillery sits in a rural valley near Loretto. It is one of the oldest bourbon distilleries in the United States still operating on its original site, and it is a National Historic Landmark. Black wooden buildings with red shutters and the brand's red wax seal appear throughout the grounds. Tours last about an hour and show the limestone spring water, the wooden fermenting tanks and the copper stills. You can also see the glass-art ceiling by Dale Chihuly, and after the tasting you can dip a bottle in red wax yourself. The distillery is about 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Louisville, roughly 1.5 hours by car, and it can be combined with Bardstown on a day trip. Advance booking is required.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–16:30 (check website for showtimes)
Nearby sights
- Bardstown & My Old Kentucky Home State Park
- Jim Beam American Stillhouse
- Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
- Louisville Mega Cavern
- Louisville Zoo
- Kentucky Kingdom
- Cherokee Park
- Churchill Downs & Kentucky Derby Museum