Willett Distillery (Bardstown, KY)

Willett Distillery in Bardstown is a beautiful Kentucky bourbon destination with tours, tastings, and a great restaurant on site.

Willett Distillery stone and wood building.

Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, is home to some gorgeous grounds and is also conveniently located to several other Bourbon Trail destinations! It's just minutes from Heaven Hill. Bardstown Bourbon Company and Lux Row are also close.

Brick walkway through garden with Willett Distillery building in background.

The Willett family's history runs deep in Kentucky and the whiskey business. Family members in the 19th century were connected with several distilleries, establishing the one that bears their name in the 1930's.

Willett is known for its signature bottles shaped like a still.

Still-shaped bottles of Willett bourbon.

Planning a day out in central Kentucky? Here's what to know if you're thinking about visiting Willett Distillery.

Is There Food Available?

We started our visit with a meal at The Bar at Willett, which serves gourmet small plates, before moving on to our tour.

Two-story brick building at Willett Distillery. — The Bar at Willett

It gets booked up, so be sure to make reservations online (or, if they seem to be full, maybe call and ask about bar seating, which is what we did).

Access to the restaurant is inside the gift shop area.

T-shirts for sale in gift shop. — Gift Shop

Rows of Old Bardstown bourbon bottles for sale.

Tastings + Touring Willett Distillery

You should make a reservation for a tour. Cost (as of 2024) is $26.50 each, with a small discount if someone's not planning to taste.

This was a “progressive tasting,” where we tasted as we toured.

Bourbon bottles with tasting glasses in background.

The real star of the tour was the distillery cat, Miss Rowan. Rowan is the name of the creek that runs through the property, and also the name of one of the bourbons made here.

We saw the fermenting tanks and the custom-made still, which is the same shape as their bottles.

Fermenting vats at Willett Distillery. — Fermenting Tanks

Copper still viewed through brick archway at Willett Distillery.

We walked through one of the rickhouses.

It was a very enjoyable visit. The tour ended with another tasting and a chocolate. We got to keep our tasting glass.

Still-shaped bottle of bourbon with tasting glass in front.

We took home a bottle of bourbon and later used it in a cinnamon Old Fashioned cocktail, which was delicious! And we found their rye is excellent for making a classic Manhattan.

Also for sale in the gift shop were some uniquely flavored bitters, with recommendations for which ones to use in different cocktails.

Small bottles of flavored bitters. — Bitters for Sale

If you opt to just relax on site and enjoy a tasting rather than do a full tour, you can buy a flight at the patio bar.

Rock wall with Willett Distillery sign and marble-like bar in front.

Not able to snag a reservation to the on-site restaurant? We also love the restaurant at Bardstown Bourbon Company (although reservations are still recommended), or if you want casual and fast, try Bardstown Burger.