Bourbon Week
June 12th - 19th, 2026
Presented By:
Welcome to Downtown Frankfort Bourbon Week!
June 12–19, 2026
Get ready to immerse yourself in the spirit of Frankfort! Join us for a weeklong celebration of bourbon heritage, historic downtown charm, and unforgettable experiences.
Here’s what’s happening:
Throughout the week, we’ll be highlighting a variety of bourbon-related experiences and products that showcase the best of what our area has to offer:
Bourbon Tours & Experiences
Explore the heart of bourbon country!
Take part in special tours and activities that dive into Frankfort’s rich bourbon history and craftsmanship. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or new to the bourbon world, there’s something for everyone.
Bourbon-Inspired Products
Shop local, sip local!
Discover a variety of bourbon-themed products from talented local artisans and vendors — from handcrafted goods to unique souvenirs you can only find here.
Exclusive Bourbon Tasting Event: Join Capital City Museum, Freddie Johnson of Buffalo Trace Distillery, Dave Sandlin of HOC: A Bourbon Library, and Downtown Frankfort Inc for A Taste of History: Exclusive Bourbon Experience!
Date: Friday, June 19th 
Time: 5:30PM – 7:30PM
Location: Capital City Museum: 325 Ann Street
Signature Cocktail Celebration: “The Frankfort”
Last year, we officially crowned The Frankfort as our city’s signature cocktail — a twist on the iconic Manhattan!
This year, celebrate with us during a Signature Cocktail Stroll, tasting unique versions of The Frankfort at downtown bars and restaurants. Cheers to creativity, community, and great bourbon! See passport below.
Bourbon Week Kickoff Concert
Friday, June 12, 6:30PM | Downtown Frankfort Summer Concert Series
We’re kicking things off early!
Join us for an electric evening with son of Hank Williams Jr., Sam Williams, bourbon tastings, and a downtown celebration like no other.
Come sip, shop, and stroll your way through Downtown Frankfort Bourbon Week — where bourbon, history, and hospitality come together in the heart of Kentucky!
June 12th, 6:30PM
Bourbon Celebration Concert
Featuring: Sam Williams (Son of Hank Williams Jr.)
Grab Your Passports
Participating Businesses
BROADWAY STREET
- Brown Barrel
- Capital Cellars
- The Cooperage
- Cypress & Oak
- Serafini
ST. CLAIR STREET
- Benson Valley Bourbon
- Dicey Riley’s Irish Pub
- Mortimer Bibbs
- Mi Fiesta
- The Kentucky Hug
- Howser Tavern
MAIN STREET
- The Ashbrook
- Engine House Coffee
- Doc Crow’s Social
- HOC: Bourbon Library
MERO ST. & SOUTH FRANKFORT
- Limewater Bistro
- POURter’s
- Sig Luscher
Bourbon Week Tours/Exhibits
Learn more about the fascinating special exhibits and tours to participate in!
Bourbon Belle Boat Tours
- Old Taylor Tour : Old Taylor Tour plus Buffalo Trace Distillery Tour and Tasting
- Trace Tour : Buffalo Trace Distillery Tour and Tasting
- Bourbon History Tour
- Bourbon and Boats River Tour and Taste : Progressive Bourbon Tasting with Bourbon on Main Barrel Picks
- Bourbon History Tour
Self-Guided, Bourbon History Walking Tours
Stroll through Downtown Frankfort in the footsteps of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. listening to the voice of the Colonel on your smartphone as he tells you the story of his life.
E.H. Taylor Jr. (1830 – 1923) is considered the Father of the Modern Bourbon Industry and he lived and worked in Frankfort, Kentucky. This is where he made and lost and made several fortunes and created revolutionary changes in the distilling business.
His life’s work in distilling, agriculture and politics improved the lives of all Americans and his name is known around the world.
As you walk around the town you can still see and feel his legacy in our architecture and in our hospitality. Enjoy the tour with the legend himself!
Capital City Museum Bourbon Exhibit
Transplants to Frankfort learn quickly that the smell of home is the distiller’s yeast in the air. Bourbon permeates the lives and livelihoods of everyone here. The workers who distill, bottle, and distribute bourbon call Frankfort and Franklin County home. Their labor forms the backbone of the industry. It supports and sustains the many adjacent industries which have grown to support bourbon tourism, like hotels, restaurants, and bars. This exhibit celebrates the brands, jobs, people, and impact of bourbon in our community.
Open 10 – 4, Monday – Saturday, Admission is Free.
Rebecca Ruth Bourbon Ball Candy Tour
Inventors of the Bourbon Ball
Family Owned & Operated Since 1919
Our family has been handcrafting gourmet chocolates since 1919. We are a fourth-generation, family owned, Kentucky Proud business. We are happy to serve our customers with the same time tested recipes and candy making techniques taught to us by Ruth Booe.
Allow us to help you show your love and appreciation to friends, family, and colleagues with a sweet gift.
Buffalo Trace Distillery Tours
Throughout the challenges of floods, fires, tornadoes and even Prohibition, the American family-owned Buffalo Trace Distillery has never compromised. A timeless dedication to respecting the past while fearlessly innovating for the future has served us well for more than two centuries. No matter the challenge, be it Mother Nature or man, the people of our Distillery have been part of the story that shaped America and the spirit industry as well.
Bespoken Spirits
BESPOKEN SPIRITS LEVERAGES ADVANCED WOOD FINISHING TO CRAFT UNIQUE SPIRIT EXPRESSIONS
WHETHER FOR BRANDS, EVENTS, OR CELEBRITIES, WE OFFER FULLY CUSTOMIZED, SCALABLE SOLUTIONS, TO LEVERAGE YOUR AUDIENCE – IN JUST WEEKS.
Castle and Key Tours
Whether you’re visiting Castle & Key Distillery for the first time or making a return pilgrimage to our hallowed grounds, we’re ready to welcome you.
Castle & Key began restoring the historic Old Taylor Distillery in 2014 and after four years of hard work, was overjoyed to open the distillery to visitors in September of 2018. Now we are excited to offer a range of experiences from tours to private events among a myriad of other reasons to visit the site.
J Mattingly Tours
In the cellar is the heart of our distillery. There you’ll find the blending experience room. Here you’ll be guided through the process of “thieving” or extracting bourbon directly from the barrel. You’ll have chance to sample a selection of different taste profiles and once you find your signature taste, we’ll complete the bottle to your exact recipe, then create a custom label which you name and wax seal in your choice of colors.
Larrikin Bourbon Tours
Larrikin Bourbon Co. is the true-blue embodiment of the American Dream: a craft distillery built from scratch with a fair dinkum, no-nonsense approach to making bloody good bourbon.
Whiskey Thief Tours
UNCUT & UNFILTERED EXPERIENCE
Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. in rural Franklin County is a celebration of single-barrel Bourbon crafted by single-batch distillation. Located on a 127-acre working farm in the heart of Kentucky, our 10-year-old distillery combines a unique thieving experience with Bluegrass hospitality for a one-of-a-kind whiskey adventure. For Bourbon wanderlusters who know there’s nothing like uncovering a hidden gem, Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. is a destination unlike any other.
SIMON House of Kentucky, the Bourbon Ball Gala
- When: June 13th
- Time: Beginning at 6:30 PM
- Where: The Ashbrook in downtown Frankfort
The 2nd Annual Simon House Bourbon Ball Gala will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, beginning at 6:30 PM in the Ashbrook Hotel, an historic mansion set upon a picturesque avenue on the edge of downtown Frankfort. Attendees will enjoy various tasting stations featuring a buffet-style arrangement of hors d’oeuvres paired with different select bourbons from Jim Beam. Also included in our special event is a feature guest speaker, online silent auction, live music, cash bar featuring a variety of Kentucky bourbons + other fine spirits + wine + beer, and more.
Tickets are $75 per person.
This event has limited tickets available.