TheAmerican Whiskey Trail is the name of a promotional program supported by theDistilled Spirits Council of the United States that promotes thedistilled beverage industry in theU.S.[1] The Trail was first promoted to the public on September 28, 2004.[2]
The trail was created in 2004 by theDistilled Spirits Council of the United States.[3] It is not a linear route, but circles through various points of interest such as historic bars, museums,coopers, andstill-makers, with whiskey distilleries being the main focus.[3]
The American Whiskey Trail consists of various historical sites – some with operating distilleries – that are open to the public for tours. Sites along the American Whiskey Trail can be visited in any order or sequence desired, although theGeorge Washington Distillery is promoted as the "gateway" to the trail and is a common starting point.[4][5]
As of 2024, the trail map includes eleven distilleries and seven historical sites.
Non-distillery historical sites includeFraunces Tavern Museum inManhattan,New York,[6]Gadsby's Tavern Museum inAlexandria, Virginia,[6] theOliver Miller Homestead inSouth Park, Pennsylvania,[6] theOscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History inBardstown, Kentucky,[6] theWest Overton Village & Museums inScottdale, Pennsylvania,[6]Woodville Plantation (John and Presley Neville House) inBridgeville, Pennsylvania[6] and Allegany Museum inCumberland, Maryland.[6]
Besides recognized historic sites, a number of operating whiskey distilleries are open to the public for tours and, in many cases, tastings. Most are located in close proximity to each other in Kentucky, although a few are located in Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Utah, and West Virginia.
Distillery sites include Angel's Envy Distillery,Stitzel-Weller,George Dickel Distillery,High West Distillery,Jack Daniel's Distillery,Jim Beam American Stillhouse, Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse,Maker's Mark Distillery, Smooth Ambler Distillery,Wild Turkey Distillery.[7][6]
In addition to sites and distilleries tied to the history of American whiskey production, the Distilled Spirits Council provides information and promotes a range of other distilleries around the country in conjunction with promotion of the American Whiskey Trail. The list includes two key rum distilleries –Bacardi inCatano, Puerto Rico, andCruzan inSt. Croix,U.S. Virgin Islands – along with various small distilleries. Examples include Golden Moon Distillery, agin andliqueur producer inColorado; Koloa Rum Company, arum producer inHawaii; Limestone Branch Distillery, a whiskey producer inKentucky; Black Button Distilling, a whiskey and gin producer inNew York; and Tenn South Distillery andNelson's Green Brier Distillery, two whiskey producers inTennessee.
