The Kentucky Bourbon Trail and Craft Tour experiences continue to regain visitor numbers from COVID and closures, with total visits up 160 percent from 2020 and just below the pre-pandemic record set in 2019.
A statement from the Kentucky Distillers’ Association showed that visitors accounted for more than 1.5 million tours at Trail distilleries last year, compared to a total of 587,000 stops during the pandemic in 2020; just 13% shy of the attendance record of 1.7 million set in 2019.
KDA President Eric Gregory said in a prepared statement this news is testament to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail’s destination status and he noted that 2021 would have been another record-setting year if not for reduced tour sizes, limited hours and closures due to COVID and staffing issues.
Several Bourbon Trail destinations were closed or at limited capacity because of major expansion projects. Most notably, James B. Beam Distilling Co. was closed for 10 months while building its new $60-million tourism experience in Clermont, which is now open.
“The numbers tell the story: the global demand for the authentic Kentucky Bourbon experience is as high as it’s ever been,” Gregory said. “Our distilleries have moved mountains to provide safe, engaging tourism experiences during a pandemic for guests from all over the world. With more Kentucky Bourbon Trail distilleries than ever before, we are looking forward to welcoming a record number of visitors in 2022.”
The KBT Craft Tour added four new stops this past year, for an all-time high of 23 distilleries showcasing the micro-distilling movement: The Bard Distillery in Muhlenberg County; Castle & Key in Woodford County; Copper & Kings in Louisville and Log Still in Nelson County.
In addition, Gregory said, the KDA and its 50 members are advocating legislation in the Kentucky General Assembly to further modernize bourbon tourism laws, help distillers continue to rebound from COVID and attract repeat visitors to the commonwealth.
This includes giving distilleries the opportunity to offer satellite tasting experiences, sell bottles at fairs, festivals and farmer’s markets, and offer bottles that are only available at distillery gift shops – privileges already enjoyed by Kentucky wineries and breweries.
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“The industry’s partnership with the General Assembly is paying huge dividends across the state as the legislature modernizes our archaic alcohol laws and paves the way for distilleries to achieve their Napa Valley potential,” Gregory said, noting that there are now distilleries in 40 of Kentucky’s 120 counties.
KDA research shows bourbon tourists trend younger, spend between $400 and $1,200 on their trip, travel in large groups and stay longer than the average visitor to Kentucky. Nearly half have household incomes over $100,000, compared to approximately $60,000 for the average Kentucky tourist.
Founded in 1880, the KDA is the voice for bourbon and spirits issues. Its membership produces much of the world’s bourbon, from global brands to emerging micro distilleries.
Kentucky bourbon is one of the most treasured industries in the state, a $9 billion economic and tourism engine that generates more than 22,500 jobs with an annual payroll topping $1.2 billion each year, more than $285 million in local and state taxes and $1.8 billion in federal alcohol taxes.
A key export, the bourbon industry is currently in the middle of a $5.2 billion building boom, from new tourism experiences to expanded production facilities, bottling centers and aging warehouses, all to meet the growing global thirst for Kentucky bourbon.
Bourbon production has skyrocketed more than 435% since the year 2000. Kentucky now holds more than 10.3 million barrels of bourbon aging in warehouses, the most in its distilling history. Distillers filled more than 2.4 million barrels in 2020 alone, the third year in a row that production topped the two million mark.
To find out more about Kentucky’s bourbon industry, check out www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.
Gregory noted that visitors should plan ahead when booking a Kentucky Bourbon Trail trip this year, as most distilleries require reservations and the KDA strongly encourages masks regardless of vaccination status. Some distillers also have closed a couple days each week to handle COVID-related staffing issues.
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