Start Your Kentucky Bourbon Trail Journey in Danville

Not only is this centrally located city the birthplace of the Bluegrass State, it’s also an excellent place to begin exploring the Kentucky Bourbon Trail^®. After all, it is an official sponsor of the trail, as well as the home of Wilderness Trail Distillery’s fine spirits.

Mix that with a charming downtown, impressive food and drink scene and plenty of comfortable lodging options, and it’s easy to see why so many folks choose Danville as their Kentucky Bourbon Trail hub.

Wet Your Whistle

Start your Kentucky Bourbon Trail® adventure at Wilderness Trail Distillery. Known for its locally sourced, sweet-mash whiskeys and bourbons, the distillery offers tours that start with fermentation and end with tastings. Sample Brazilian flavors at The Still at Blue Rook Distillery, whose liquors – vodka, gin and cachaça – all begin with sugarcane. 

At The Nook, killer martinis pair perfectly with both live music and free arcade games. Boasting 50-plus bourbons (including those from Wilderness Trail), Copper and Oak is a must-visit bar that will soon be added to the Bourbon Trail Passport. Laid-back Bricks & Brews is the place to go for cocktails starring everything from moonshine to tequila. 

And if your preference leans more toward IPAs and stouts, Gypsy Run Brewery offers an outstanding selection of craft beers, best enjoyed with live music.

Find Bites That Delight

After hitting the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, you’re bound to be a little hungry. Good news: Danville’s food scene has something to please every palate.

Reserve a table inside the vault at La Cosa Nostra – and Italian restaurant inside a historic former bank building – to enjoy fresh-made favorites like bruschetta, chicken parmesan and spaghetti with meatballs.

Bluegrass Pizza & Pub is beloved by Danville locals for its chill atmosphere as much as its New York-style pizza. Pile your (regular or gluten-free) pie high with locally sourced toppings, or opt for sandwiches, calzones and appetizers like fried pickles.

For late-night snacks, hustle and bump your way to Boogie Knights, a 1970s-themed cocktail bar serving a tasty eclectic lineup of noshes like Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, kimchi mac-and-cheese, fried Oreos and more. 

Bunk Down for the Night

When you’re ready to call it a night, you’ll have plenty of options in Danville, from an abundance of B&B and Airbnb options – where you can unwind in historical manor homes, cottages and downtown lofts – to traditional hotels with easy access to restaurants and shopping.

At the Hampton Inn, you can expect perks like a pool and free cookies. The Holiday Inn Express & Suites is known for its “super clean” rooms, excellent hot breakfast and friendly staff. And a stay at pet-friendly Comfort Suites means hot waffles, an indoor pool and suites with hot tubs.

Plan Your Trip

Ready to hit the trail? Check out danvillekentucky.com to discover even more things to see and do in the place where Kentucky began.