Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore. . . .

(So here's a brief synopsis of the last couple of days. I'll try not to bore you with too many particulars, just a few pictures.:)

Thursday:
Not a lot going on when you're driving hours a day. :)  We covered the second half of Kansas, and crossed Missouri today.  Kansas City was interesting.  Lots of hills as you wound around the city. It was like the city center sat on a hill with the interstate winding around it.  It was still the city though, and by the time we were out of Kansas City we were both pretty mentally fried.

Kansas City, Mo

 Why Terry hates driving in the city.  Need I say more?

Within a short period of time though, we were out of the city and in the country once again.  

St. Louis, Missouri (It had poured the day before, most of the day.  Come to find out we were under a tornado watch.)

Friday: 

Friday we crossed, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.  Kentucky was by far my favorite state.  I could actually go back to Kentucky - on purpose in the future (I can't say that for many of the other states).  The Bourbon Trail may have had something to do with my favorable opinion of Kentucky.  That and it's gorgeous rolling hills. :)  There is a stretch of 125 miles that includes 8 bourbon distilleries.  We were fortunate enough to be passing near Terry's favorite, Buffalo Trace.  It was definitely worth the two hour stop.  This distillery has been around for over 200 years, though owned by different families.

  

We missed the last tour at 4:00, but one of the gals we visited with heard we were from Montana and pulled a few strings.  So we ended up with our own personal tour.  

Buffalo Trace Distilleries makes 16 different bourbons, whiskeys and other libations.

They took us to the bottling facility where 8 guys were bottling and labeling the Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon.  We learned that what makes a single barrel bourbon is basically the bourbon out of that single barrel is of higher quality.  Due to this if you buy a single barrel bourbon it may have some taste variances due to the fact that each barrel is unique.

Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon is around $50.00 a bottle.  A little hard to come buy due to low inventory though.  That's the tough thing about brewing.  Bourbon has gained popularity in the last few years, but unfortunately it can take 10-20 years to produce it.  It's not a quick turnaround and it's always hard to guess what the market for bourbon may be twenty years from now. 

This is the 113 building.  If you buy a bottle of Buffalo Trace and it says 113, here's where it's sat for the last 10-20 years.  

They move the barrels to different floors as they age.  That way they get a more consistent product.

 The head brewer had quite a number of "experimental" barrels going.  It's basically a really long science project with no sure way to know if it's going to turn out.  Talk about a lifelong career.

95% or more of the bourbons of the world are made in Kentucky.  This is due to the limestone water, which has a lot of calcium which is great for making bourbon as well as the variances in temperature.  Bourbon needs temperature change in order to produce the caramel color and distinct flavor.  The barrels are made of white oak and used only once (Whiskey can use the barrels twice however).  When the bourbon warms to a certain temperature it soaks into the barrel and when it cools it pulls out of the barrel, thus creating great bourbon! The more this happens the better the bourbon.  Kentucky has the perfect climate for this, thus the abundance of Kentucky bourbon!

We enjoyed a tasting of their White Dog Mash (moonshine), their Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare (Single Barrel Bourbon) and their Bourbon Cream.  Our favorite was the Eagle Rare.  Who couldn't love a single barrel, ultra smooth bourbon.  The Bourbon Cream was also amazing.  It's only been out for about 6 months and can only be found with certain distributors.  It's made with real cream and tasted great when mixed with Root Beer.  It created an adult Root Beer Float! Super yum! 

Saturday we made it to North Carolina!  Yaah! More pictures to come.