Taste of Bardstown Bourbon & Beer Walking Tour

Bardstown is small enough to explore on foot, yet its bourbon scene has plenty of personality. This three-hour tour links six local stops, from a liquor shop with special pours to a brewery serving a pretzel and beer flight. Exclusive tastings at Evergreen Liquors and Chicken Cock Whiskey Tasting Room give the afternoon a clear focus.

I like the eight-person maximum, which should make it easier to hear your guide and ask questions. I also like the mix of bourbon, cocktails, and beer, since you are not locked into whiskey alone. The main drawback is the price: at $152 per person, you will want to enjoy nearly every included pour to feel good about the value.

Key points at a glance

• Six Bardstown stops: The route includes Evergreen Liquors, Liam Ash Cocktail Emporium, Chicken Cock Whiskey Tasting Room, The Volstead Bourbon Lounge, Mr. Tubs Fine Cocktail Lounge, and Scout & Scholar Brewery.
• A small group of up to eight: This is a more personal setup than a large bus-based tasting.
• A three-hour walking format: You begin at 3:00 p.m. and finish at the brewery on West Flaget Street.
• Several tour-only tastings: Evergreen Liquors and Chicken Cock each provide special whiskey flights made for this experience.
• More than bourbon: You also receive a specialty cocktail, a bourbon slushie or Game Changer shot, beer, and a craft beer flight.
• A local guide with useful pointers: Josh led one tour and shared local recommendations, with a small swag bag provided at the end.

Why this Bardstown tasting works on foot

This experience is built around the compact center of Bardstown rather than a drive between distant distilleries. That matters because you spend the afternoon moving from one local bar, shop, or brewery to the next, seeing how bourbon fits into the town’s everyday drinking culture.

The tour starts at Evergreen Liquors, 127 N 3rd St, at 3:00 p.m. From there, the route moves through a series of nearby venues and ends at Scout & Scholar Brewing Co., 112 W Flaget St. You should plan to arrive ready for a full afternoon of tasting, not a quick sampler with one or two drinks.

The walking format also gives the guide room to talk about Bardstown as you go. Josh has led this tour and is described as a local who knows the town and its people. That local connection can be useful when you want suggestions for another meal, bar, or drink after the tour.

The group limit is eight people. I consider that one of the strongest practical features. With several tastings packed into three hours, a large group could make each stop feel slow and impersonal. A smaller group should keep the pace manageable and make it easier to get direct answers.

Evergreen Liquors starts the afternoon with four special pours

Evergreen Liquors is the first stop, and the tasting begins with a flight of four pours featuring local distilleries connected to Bardstown. This is a smart opening because it gives you several points of comparison before the later whiskey stop.

Four pours can still feel substantial, especially when the afternoon includes cocktails and beer afterward. Take your time here. Notice which styles appeal to you, and ask Josh to explain what makes each selection different if the opportunity comes up.

This stop is also useful for anyone who is new to bourbon. You do not have to arrive with a firm favorite or a working knowledge of every label. The flight format lets you sample several options without committing to a full drink at the start.

One practical point: the tour includes the special flight, but any extra bottle, pour, food, or drink you order is your responsibility. If you see something tempting on the shelves or menu, treat it as an optional purchase rather than part of the $152 package.

Liam Ash Cocktail Emporium adds a change of pace

The second stop shifts from straight whiskey to a specialty cocktail made for tour participants at Liam Ash Cocktail Emporium. A snack is served with it, which gives you a bit of food before the tasting continues.

I like this change in rhythm. Bourbon can dominate a Bardstown experience, but a well-made cocktail shows how local spirits work in a different setting. The snack also helps break up the alcohol, though the supplied details do not specify what it is or how substantial it will be.

Do not plan on this being a full lunch. The included food mentioned for the tour is a snack here and a warm pretzel later at Scout & Scholar. If you need a proper meal before or after the tour, budget for it separately.

The cocktail is made especially for the tour, so this stop has a sense of occasion without requiring you to know a long list of house drinks. It is likely most appealing to you if you enjoy mixed drinks as much as neat bourbon.

Chicken Cock provides the second whiskey flight

At Chicken Cock Whiskey Tasting Room, you receive a tasting flight made exclusively for this tour. Along with the four pours at Evergreen, this gives the afternoon two focused whiskey samplers rather than one long stop at a single brand.

That split is valuable. You can compare the broad local selection at Evergreen with a dedicated Chicken Cock tasting. The experience gives you a look at both a liquor shop setting and a branded tasting room, two different ways of presenting bourbon.

The word flight is important here. You are sampling several pours, not receiving one standard glass. If you are sensitive to alcohol or simply want to keep a clear head, small sips and water between stops make sense, although water is not specifically listed as an inclusion.

This is also one of the places where the price starts to make more sense. Two special whiskey experiences, plus the cocktail and beer stops, offer more variety than a single tasting. Still, the value depends on how much you enjoy bourbon. Someone who prefers beer or nonalcoholic drinks may find the package less appealing.

The Volstead brings bourbon in a lighter form

The Volstead Bourbon Lounge offers a choice between a refreshing bourbon slushie and a bold Game Changer shot. Those are very different options, which gives you some control over how the afternoon continues.

The bourbon slushie should appeal if you want something cold and easygoing after the earlier flights. The Game Changer shot is the more direct choice, but it may feel like a sharp jump after several pours. Pick according to your pace, not the mood of the group.

This stop also keeps the route from becoming a string of identical neat whiskey samples. You get to see bourbon used in a frozen drink or a concise shot, which adds a bit of fun to the serious tasting side of the tour.

The choice is worth clarifying when you arrive. The tour includes one of these options, not both. Additional drinks are not included, so ordering the second option would add to your bill.

Mr. Tubs pairs a shot with beer

Mr. Tubs Fine Cocktail Lounge continues the variety with a shot paired with a beer. The included beer is identified as A Little Kings Creme Ale, and the pairing offers a simple contrast between a small spirit pour and a light beer.

This may be the most casual stop on the route. After the specialty cocktail, whiskey flights, and bourbon option, a beer pairing gives you a different flavor and texture without turning the experience into a straight bourbon lesson.

The beer inclusion is useful for people in your group who are not eager to drink whiskey at every stop. It is still an alcohol-focused tour, but the format is broad enough to keep beer drinkers interested.

The tour also includes a pour of Elijah Craig, though the provided details do not attach it to a specific stop. You may want to ask your guide when that pour is served, especially if you want to keep track of what is included.

Scout & Scholar ends with a pretzel and beer flight

The final stop is Scout & Scholar Brewing Co., at 112 W Flaget St. Here, you receive a warm pretzel and a flight of the brewery’s beers. Ending with food and a fuller beer tasting is a sensible way to close the afternoon.

The pretzel is more than a small extra. After several alcohol samples, something warm and salty is welcome. It is not a full meal, but it gives you a better base before you decide what to do for dinner.

The craft beer flight also widens the experience beyond Bardstown’s whiskey identity. You can finish by comparing several house beers, which may be the highlight if you prefer hops, malt, or lighter drinks to bourbon.

Because the tour ends here, Scout & Scholar is a natural place to continue your evening, though the tour does not include any additional food or drink after the scheduled tasting. You finish at the brewery rather than returning to Evergreen, so keep that endpoint in mind when planning your next stop.

What the $152 price includes

At $152 per person, this is not a bargain tasting. It is priced as a guided afternoon with multiple venues, several alcoholic pours, snacks, and local orientation.

The included items are:

• A specialty cocktail at Liam Ash Cocktail Emporium
• A four-pour flight at Evergreen Liquors
• An exclusive Chicken Cock whiskey flight
• A choice of bourbon slushie or Game Changer shot at The Volstead
• A shot paired with A Little Kings Creme Ale
• A pour of Elijah Craig
• A craft beer flight at Scout & Scholar
• A snack and a warm pretzel

You also pay for the route and the guide’s planning. Rather than choosing each place yourself, you get a set afternoon that connects several Bardstown businesses. Josh’s local suggestions can add value if you are using the tour to plan the rest of your visit.

The price works best for you if you would otherwise buy several tastings and cocktails during the afternoon. It works less well if you drink lightly, skip whiskey, or expect a full meal. Additional food and drinks are not included, so the final cost can rise.

A small swag bag was provided at the end of one tour. That is a pleasant extra, but I would treat it as a bonus rather than a reason to book. The real value is the range of stops and the guide’s local context.

Who should book this three-hour tour

I would recommend it to adults who want a broad introduction to Bardstown’s drinks scene in a short window. It suits you especially well if you enjoy bourbon but also want cocktails and craft beer instead of spending three hours on one spirit.

It is a good fit for a small group celebrating a trip, provided everyone is comfortable with a steady series of tastings. The maximum of eight helps keep the experience social without making it unwieldy.

You should think twice if you want a technical distillery tour with a detailed production focus. No distillery visit or production walk-through is listed. This is a town-based tasting route, not a behind-the-scenes tour of how bourbon is made.

It may also be a poor fit if you want a substantial lunch. The food consists of a snack and a pretzel, with all other food and drinks purchased separately.

The tour is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. Most people can participate, though the activity requires walking between stops. It also requires good weather, so keep your plans flexible.

Timing, cancellation, and planning advice

The start time is 3:00 p.m., and the experience lasts about three hours. That makes it easy to pair with an earlier daytime activity, but you should avoid scheduling a tight dinner reservation immediately afterward.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Changes made inside that window are not accepted, and a late cancellation is not refunded.

Bad weather can also affect the schedule. If the provider cancels because conditions are poor, you are offered another date or a full refund. Since the tour is outdoors between stops, check the forecast and wear comfortable shoes suitable for a walking afternoon.

The experience is often booked well ahead, with an average booking lead time of 53 days. If your Bardstown dates are fixed, reserve early, especially if you want a particular day and prefer the small-group format.

Should you book the Taste of Bardstown tour?

Book it if you want a polished introduction to Bardstown’s bourbon, cocktail, and beer scene without arranging six stops yourself. The special whiskey flights, small group, local guide Josh, and final beer flight make the afternoon feel varied and easy to follow.

Skip it if $152 feels high for an alcohol tasting, if you need a full meal, or if your main goal is to tour a distillery. For the right drinker, though, this is a practical way to get local recommendations, sample a wide range of drinks, and finish in a brewery with a pretzel in hand.

FAQ

Where does the Taste of Bardstown tour begin?

The tour begins at Evergreen Liquors, 127 N 3rd St, Bardstown, Kentucky 40004.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 3:00 p.m.

How long does the experience last?

The walking tour lasts approximately three hours.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Scout & Scholar Brewing Co., 112 W Flaget St, Bardstown, Kentucky 40004.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is eight people.

What drinks are included?

Included drinks are specialty cocktails, an Evergreen whiskey flight, a Chicken Cock whiskey flight, a bourbon slushie or Game Changer shot, A Little Kings Creme Ale, a pour of Elijah Craig, and a craft beer flight.

Is food included?

Yes. A snack is served with the cocktail at Liam Ash Cocktail Emporium, and a warm pretzel is served at Scout & Scholar Brewery. Additional food is not included.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, the tour is offered in English.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. If poor weather causes the provider to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund.