Taste of Bardstown Bourbon & Beer Walking Tour

Bardstown pours its character by the glass. This three-hour walking tour links bourbon tastings, craft beer, cocktails, and local conversation in a compact route through downtown Bardstown. I especially like the small group size of eight or fewer and the mix of established bourbon names with newer local drinking spots. The tour also includes food along the way, including a snack and a warm pretzel, so you are not drinking on an empty stomach.

I also like that the stops are varied rather than repetitive. You get a four-pour flight at Evergreen Liquors, a cocktail at Liam Ash Cocktail Emporium, Chicken Cock whiskey, a bourbon slushie or Game Changer shot, a beer-and-shot pairing, and a craft beer flight at Scout & Scholar Brewery. The main consideration is price: at $152 per person, this is not a casual bar crawl. It makes the most sense if you want several tastings, a local guide, and an easy introduction to Bardstown in one afternoon.

Key points at a glance

• Six named Bardstown stops: The route moves from Evergreen Liquors to Liam Ash, Chicken Cock, The Volstead, Mr. Tubs, and Scout & Scholar Brewery.
• A small group capped at eight: The size should make it easier to hear the guide and ask questions.
• A full range of drinks: Expect bourbon flights, a specialty cocktail, beer, a bourbon slushie or shot, and a craft beer flight.
• Food is built into the experience: A snack accompanies the cocktail, and Scout & Scholar serves a warm pretzel.
• A local guide adds context: Josh has been praised for knowing Bardstown well and offering ideas for other places to try.
• An afternoon start: The tour begins at 3:00 p.m. and finishes at Scout & Scholar Brewing Co.

Starting at Evergreen Liquors on Third Street

Your meeting point is Evergreen Liquors at 127 North 3rd Street in Bardstown. The 3:00 p.m. start gives you a clear afternoon plan, and the route ends at Scout & Scholar Brewing Co. on West Flaget Street.

The first tasting is a flight of four special pours featuring local distilleries connected with Bardstown. That is a smart opening. Instead of starting with one large drink, you get a chance to compare several pours and begin noticing how bourbon can differ from bottle to bottle.

If you are new to bourbon, this first stop should help you get your bearings. If you already know your way around Kentucky whiskey, the appeal is the local focus. The exact pours can vary, so think of this as a chance to taste the town rather than a fixed menu that never changes.

The tour is conducted in English and uses a mobile ticket. Since the starting point and ending point are different, you should be prepared to walk between stops and arrange your own transportation back to your lodging or vehicle after the brewery finish. No transport is included.

Liam Ash Cocktail Emporium brings a change of pace

Bourbon tours can become a parade of similar neat pours. Liam Ash Cocktail Emporium breaks that pattern with a specialty cocktail made for this tour, paired with a snack.

That pairing matters. A cocktail gives you a different way to experience Kentucky spirits, and the food offers a small buffer before the next tastings. The drink is designed for the tour, so this stop feels more personal than simply ordering an item from a standard menu.

You should not expect a full meal here. The included snack is useful, but additional food or drinks are your responsibility. If you need a substantial lunch before the tour, handle that beforehand rather than counting on the included bites to carry you through the afternoon.

Chicken Cock Whiskey adds a focused bourbon flight

At the Chicken Cock Whiskey Tasting Room, you receive a tasting flight made exclusively for this tour. This is one of the stronger stops for anyone who wants a more focused look at a single whiskey brand after sampling several local distilleries at Evergreen.

The contrast between the two tastings is part of the value. Evergreen introduces a range of local pours, while Chicken Cock gives you a closer look at one producer. You can pay attention to differences in aroma, texture, and finish without having to plan separate tasting appointments.

The tour does not provide a detailed list of the individual Chicken Cock expressions in advance. If a particular bottle or style matters to you, ask the guide or tasting-room staff what is being poured that day. That small question can turn a quick sample into a more useful learning moment.

The Volstead serves bourbon in a playful form

The Volstead Bourbon Lounge offers a choice between a refreshing Bourbon Slushie and a bold Game Changer shot. This is the tour’s most casual and playful drink stop.

The slushie may appeal if you want something lighter and colder after several whiskey pours. The shot offers a stronger, quicker option. Having a choice is helpful, since not everyone wants the same pace or strength at every stop.

Still, the afternoon adds up. You are sampling at multiple venues, and the tour includes several spirits as well as beer. Take the smaller pour seriously, drink at a measured pace, and use the included food when it arrives. The appeal here is variety, but the responsibility for pacing remains yours.

Mr. Tubs pairs a shot with beer

At Mr. Tubs Fine Cocktail Lounge, the experience shifts again with a shot paired with a beer. The included drink information also lists an A Little Kings Creme Ale and a pour of Elijah Craig, which gives you a sense of the pairing’s bourbon-and-beer character.

This stop is useful because it shows how Kentucky drinking culture is not limited to whiskey neat in a tasting glass. Beer can soften the rhythm of a bourbon-focused afternoon and give your palate a break from repeated spirit pours.

The exact presentation of the pairing is not described in detail, so you should treat the listed drinks as the included offerings rather than expect a large serving or a full beer flight here. Any extra order at Mr. Tubs costs more.

Scout & Scholar Brewery provides the finish

The tour ends at Scout & Scholar Brewing Co., located at 112 West Flaget Street. Here you receive a warm pretzel alongside a flight of craft beers.

Finishing with beer and food is a sensible choice. After several whiskey tastings and cocktails, a cold beer flight offers a clean change of direction, while the pretzel gives you something more substantial than the earlier snack. The brewery stop also gives the tour a natural endpoint rather than ending with one last shot.

The included drink is a craft beer flight, not unlimited beer. If you want another pour or a larger meal, you can order it separately. Since the tour ends here, check your plans before booking. You may want to stay at Scout & Scholar, explore more of Bardstown, or head back to your accommodation.

What the small group changes

The maximum group size is eight people. That is a meaningful advantage on a tasting tour. A guide can speak to the whole group without shouting, and you have a better chance to ask about the pours, the venues, or Bardstown itself.

A small group also makes the walking portions less awkward. You are not waiting for a large crowd to cross a street or trying to keep track of a long line at every stop. The experience should feel closer to being shown around by a local acquaintance than being moved through a large organized group.

Josh has received especially warm praise for leading the tour. He has been described as friendly, well informed, and connected with places around Bardstown. His recommendations for other places to try are a useful bonus, especially if you are staying in town beyond the three-hour route.

One review also noted a swag bag of goodies at the end. That is a pleasant extra, but it should be treated as a bonus rather than a central part of the tour, since the contents are not specified.

Is $152 a fair price?

The cost is $152 per person. That is a serious spend for three hours, but the price includes a substantial number of tastings across several venues:

• Four special pours at Evergreen Liquors
• A tour-specific cocktail and snack at Liam Ash
• A Chicken Cock whiskey flight
• A Bourbon Slushie or Game Changer shot
• A shot and beer pairing at Mr. Tubs
• A craft beer flight and warm pretzel at Scout & Scholar

You are also paying for the guide, the planning between venues, and the convenience of receiving a ready-made introduction to Bardstown’s drinks scene. Booking each stop independently could be difficult, particularly if you do not know which places to choose or how to fit them into one afternoon.

The value is weaker if you only want one or two bourbon tastings, dislike beer, or plan to order full drinks and meals at every stop. Extra food and drinks are not included, so the final cost can rise. For someone who wants a broad tasting menu and local orientation, the price is easier to justify.

Timing, walking, and practical planning

The tour lasts about three hours and begins at 3:00 p.m. You should arrive at Evergreen Liquors before the start time, with your mobile ticket ready. The route finishes at Scout & Scholar rather than returning to Evergreen, so plan around that one-way arrangement.

The experience takes place outdoors as you move between venues and requires suitable weather. If poor weather cancels the tour, you can receive a full refund or choose another date. Comfortable shoes are a sensible choice, though the provided information does not give a precise walking distance.

Most people can take part, but this is still a walking experience with repeated alcohol tastings. You will get more from it if you eat beforehand, pace yourself, and avoid planning a demanding activity immediately afterward.

The tour is offered in English. The small group cap and mobile ticket make it fairly simple to organize, but the meeting and ending points should be checked carefully in your map app before you set out.

Who will enjoy this Bardstown tasting tour?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• First-time visitors who want an introduction to Bardstown’s bourbon and beer scene
• Couples or friends looking for a social afternoon with several drink styles
• Bourbon drinkers who also enjoy cocktails and craft beer
• People who value a local guide and recommendations for later in the trip
• Visitors who prefer a small group over a large bus-based tasting

It may not suit you if you do not drink alcohol, want a distillery production tour, or need a full meal included. This is a town walking tour built around tastings, not a behind-the-scenes look at how bourbon is made.

It is also not the best choice for someone who wants a tightly controlled list of specific bottles. Some pours are identified, including Chicken Cock, Elijah Craig, and A Little Kings Creme Ale, but the full tasting lineup can change.

How it compares with exploring on your own

You can certainly visit Bardstown bars, tasting rooms, and breweries independently. Doing so may cost less if you order very little, and you can spend as long as you like at each location.

The organized tour earns its keep through structure. You do not have to choose the venues, arrange the order, or work out how to fit six named stops into three hours. Josh’s local recommendations add another layer that a self-guided afternoon may lack.

The tradeoff is flexibility. You follow the group’s schedule, and you do not control how long you stay at each stop. If you prefer lingering over one excellent drink, an independent visit may suit you better. If you want a broad sample of Bardstown in one compact afternoon, the guided route is the better tool.

Should you book the Taste of Bardstown tour?

Book it if you want a small-group introduction to Bardstown through bourbon, cocktails, and beer, with snacks included and a guide who can point you toward other local favorites. The mix of stops is the main strength, and the finish with a pretzel and craft beer flight gives the afternoon a good balance.

Think twice if $152 feels high for three hours, or if you want a full meal, a formal distillery tour, or complete control over the tasting list. For the right drinker, though, the tour offers a convenient way to sample six Bardstown venues without spending your afternoon guessing where to go next.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the 3:00 p.m. start for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted, and poor weather may lead to a new date or a refund.

FAQ

Where does the Taste of Bardstown tour start?

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

Where does the tour end?

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

What time does the tour begin?

The tour begins at 3:00 p.m. and lasts about three hours.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is eight people.

What drinks and food are included?

Included items are alcoholic beverages, a four-pour flight at Evergreen, an exclusive Chicken Cock whiskey flight, a specialty cocktail, an A Little Kings Creme Ale beer, a pour of Elijah Craig, a craft beer flight, snacks, and a warm pretzel. Additional food and drinks cost extra.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the tour are not accepted, and poor weather may result in a different date or a full refund.