Inside Kentucky’s most hands-on whisky tour

A new stop on the Bourbon Trail lets visitors taste straight from the barrel – and take part in the science of ageing spirits

A new distillery experience in the U.S state of Kentucky is offering visitors the chance to sample whisky straight from the barrel, blend their own bottle, and learn how different woods affect the flavour of bourbon.

RD1 Distillery at The Commons, which opened this week in Lexington, is the latest addition to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

But unlike the heritage-heavy tours on offer elsewhere, this one focuses on experimentation and hands-on tasting.

The £4 million facility features a working research distillery, an interactive walk-through called the RD1 Forest, and a lab where visitors can dilute, blend and bottle their own spirit under the guidance of a distiller.

Guests begin in a large glass-fronted lobby framed by a 240-barrel display and a 10-foot oak tree that rises into a circular light fitting.

From there, they walk through an indoor woodland exhibit that explains how bourbon matures in different types of wood – including American oak and cherrywood.

Upstairs, visitors are invited to taste from a rotating selection of live experimental casks being trialled on site. More than 50 different wood finishes are tested each year.

Those taking part in the lab experience work alongside RD1’s Dr Jarrad Gollihue, adjusting cask-strength bourbon and ageing it in a small take-home barrel.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear described the site as “a prime example of the type of opportunity bourbon tourism can offer communities across the Commonwealth.”

He added: “This is a tremendous addition to Lexington and our state’s bourbon industry, which continues to innovate and grow.”

Visitors to Kentucky’s famous Bourbon Country can sample the contents of its kegs…and sleep in one.

Bourbon Barrel Retreats, set in the heart of the Bluegrass State’s production region, has nine giant barrels that are now on offer to guests from $259 per night.

The upmarket cabins – the first of their kind in the United States – have 300 square feet of internal space and 10ft of headroom.

They also boast a king size bed, and some even come with their own private hot tubs.

Main photo: RD1 Spirits