by Sharon Harrison
We took great care to book our Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby tickets, but since it was our first time to Kentucky, we wanted to get to know the state a little better. We chose a tour that would focus on three of the things the state is known for....horse farms, good Southern food, and bourbon. The tour was called "The Best of Kentucky" and was offered by a company called Mint Julep Experiences. I booked the tour for the day after the Kentucky Derby.
After successfully meeting up at Mint Julep Experiences, we joined the group on the bus for a drive out to Kismet Farms in Midway, Kentucky. It was a beautiful horse farm with luscious green fields, full of fenced off areas for broodmares and their colts and fillies. We were given a very informational tour of the farm and allowed to get up close to touch the mother's and their soft babies. This is truly where champions are bred. These thoroughbreds are amazing. You can see more about Kismet Farms at this website: https://www.kismetfarmsllc.com/.
After wandering around Kismet Farms, looking at the horses, we loaded back on the bus and were driven to another farm called Saxony Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, for a delicious Southern-style meal. According to their website, https://saxonyfarm.net/, this farm has produced six champion Thoroughbred racehorses. The food was catered in and was delicious!
The last stop on our tour was at the Stitzel-Weller Distillery at 3860 Fitzgerald Rd, Shively, KY 40216. It originally opened on Derby Day in 1935. Their brands are Blade and Bow, I.W. Harper, Orphan Barrel,
The main building was designed by the founder "Pappy VanWinkle" to look like the home of Thomas Jefferson. The guide showed us the various buildings used to make and store bourbon. He told us the method for making it and the history of the company. This company was one of only a few in the country that was allowed to stay open during Prohibition to produce alcohol that was used for medicinal purposes by people who only had to get a certificate from the doctor saying they needed it. Sounds kind of familiar to what is happening now with medicinal marijuana! At the end of the tour, there was a bourbon tasting. We were given small samples of four different kinds of bourbon and he explained a little bit about each one.
I thought this was a very good tour, very well organized, led by a really fun tour guide. I highly recommend this tour company. You can find them online at https://mintjuleptours.com/louisville/. Phone: 502-583-1433.
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