How far is Bardstown from Frankfort?

56 miles, about an hour by road. Take US-127 south to the Bluegrass Parkway west and exit at 21 for US-150, or stay on US-127 and cut across on KY-55 through Bloomfield for the scenic version.

Is there a Bourbon & Oak in Frankfort?

No. We have one site, the distillery at 1876 Oak Barrel Lane in Bardstown. Frankfort is an hour away by car and there is no branch, shop or tasting room in the capital.

Can I visit Frankfort and Bardstown in one day?

Comfortably. Spend the morning in the capital, drive down after lunch and take an afternoon tour. Doing it in that order also keeps the driving away from the tasting.

Do I need to book a tour in advance?

Yes. Rickhouse walks are capped at small group sizes and the private barrel pick takes most of a day, so everything runs by advance reservation rather than walk-up.

Can you ship to a Frankfort address instead?

Yes. Kentucky permits direct-to-consumer shipping, so Frankfort addresses are straightforward. An adult signature is required at delivery, and the shipping page carries the current terms.

What else is worth seeing in Bardstown?

My Old Kentucky Home State Park, the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History, and the town square, which is worth an hour on foot. Several other Kentucky Bourbon Trail stops sit within a fifteen minute drive.

Planning Your Trip

A Bourbon Distillery an Hour From Frankfort, Kentucky

Fifty-six miles of Kentucky between the state capital and the Bourbon Capital of the World — the shortest run to us from any city on this list.

Backlit shelves in the Bourbon & Oak tasting room, an hour from Frankfort, Kentucky

Bourbon & Oak has no Frankfort location. There is one distillery, in Bardstown, 56 miles south-west of the capital — a little over an hour on a clear run. We state that plainly because plenty of results for "bourbon distillery near Frankfort" imply a branch that does not exist.

Of every city on this page, Frankfort is the easiest. It is close enough that you can see us and be back for dinner, and close enough that the two towns genuinely make one day rather than two.

The Drive

Take US-127 south out of Frankfort toward Lawrenceburg, then pick up the Bluegrass Parkway west and come off at Exit 21 for US-150 into Bardstown. It is 56 miles and about an hour, almost all of it on open road.

The alternative is prettier and barely longer: stay on US-127 through Lawrenceburg, then cut across on KY-55 through Bloomfield. Two-lane road through horse country, perhaps ten minutes more, and considerably better to look at than a parkway.

1876 Oak Barrel Lane, Bardstown, KY 40004
56 miles · roughly 1 hour
Free on-site parking, including coach and RV spaces
No public transport reaches us — plan on a car or a booked tour

Making a Day of Both Towns

Frankfort has its own claim on this story, and the sensible version of this trip treats the two towns as one itinerary rather than choosing between them. Start in the capital in the morning, drive down after lunch, and take an afternoon tour with us.

That ordering matters for a practical reason: tasting first and driving second is a bad plan, and an afternoon slot with us leaves the drive home for someone who has not been pouring.

What Is On Site

This is a working distillery rather than a visitor centre. Depending on the day you may walk past an active fermenter, a running column still, or a crew dumping barrels.

The mash floor and still house, in operation on production days
Rickhouse No. 7, our newest warehouse, holding 20,000 barrels
The tasting room, where flights are poured at cask strength and proofed side by side
The bottling line and single-barrel selection room

Booking

Everything runs by advance reservation rather than walk-up, because the rickhouse walks are capped at small numbers and the private barrel pick takes most of a day. Tour options and current pricing are listed in full on the tours page.

For a Frankfort visitor the afternoon Heritage Tour is usually the right choice: it leaves the morning free at home and gets you back before evening.

Designated Drivers

An hour each way is short enough that people talk themselves into driving after a tasting. Do not. A tasting flight is several pours of cask-strength whiskey, and Kentucky's limit arrives well before you feel it.

Nominate a driver before you leave Frankfort, or book a car for the return. Every flight can be poured as samples to take away instead, and we would far rather send you home with them than have you rush the room.

Book a tour Shop the collection

Common Questions

Frequently Asked

How far is Bardstown from Frankfort?: 56 miles, about an hour by road. Take US-127 south to the Bluegrass Parkway west and exit at 21 for US-150, or stay on US-127 and cut across on KY-55 through Bloomfield for the scenic version.
Is there a Bourbon & Oak in Frankfort?: No. We have one site, the distillery at 1876 Oak Barrel Lane in Bardstown. Frankfort is an hour away by car and there is no branch, shop or tasting room in the capital.
Can I visit Frankfort and Bardstown in one day?: Comfortably. Spend the morning in the capital, drive down after lunch and take an afternoon tour. Doing it in that order also keeps the driving away from the tasting.
Do I need to book a tour in advance?: Yes. Rickhouse walks are capped at small group sizes and the private barrel pick takes most of a day, so everything runs by advance reservation rather than walk-up.
Can you ship to a Frankfort address instead?: Yes. Kentucky permits direct-to-consumer shipping, so Frankfort addresses are straightforward. An adult signature is required at delivery, and the shipping page carries the current terms.
What else is worth seeing in Bardstown?: My Old Kentucky Home State Park, the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History, and the town square, which is worth an hour on foot. Several other Kentucky Bourbon Trail stops sit within a fifteen minute drive.

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