Kentucky's innovation makes its mark

Approximately 200 miles from Marshall University, Loretto, Ky. is home to the Maker's Mark Distillery. The rich traditions, unique innovations and the history of the brand make the distillery an enjoyable and informative place for a day trip.

Loretto, Ky., has been the proud home of the 200-acre compound distillery since Bill Samuels, Sr., Maker's Mark founder and bourbon extraordinaire, purchased it and created one of the most unique and well-known bourbons, said Marilou Horner, Marion Tourism Commission employee.

The Maker's Mark Distillery tour takes guests through seven areas of the bourbon factory and provides a detailed history of the 50-year-old process of making bourbon, which has distinguished Maker's Mark from the competitors, Horner said. The tour also highlights the achievements of the factory.

The first stop along the distillery tour is the old gristmill, built in 1805, and turned into the Maker's Mark mill in 1953, said John Perkis, Maker's Mark Distillery employee. It is now the oldest operating distillery on the original site and is the only operating distillery in the U.S. to become a designated National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Cecil Andrus in 1980.

The next stop on the tour is the master distiller's house, Perkis said. Before refrigeration, master distillers were not able to live away from the distillery. It is now the visitor's center and gift shop, selling folk art and tour keepsakes.

The tour also includes stops at the tollhouse and fire department, Perkis said. Although both buildings are preserved only for historic value, they add to the rustic charm of the tour.

The still house is the hub of the distillery, Perkis said. Tourists are able to see each facet of the bourbon-making process.  Antique roller mills prepare and mash the grains. The still house shows tourists how Maker's Mark is handmade daily.

The fermenting room is where the mash from the still house ferments, eventually producing bourbon, Perkis said. The bourbon is put into 12 foot, 100-year-old cypress silos and then moved to the barrel warehouse.

The last stop on the tour is the barrel warehouses where more than 4,000 cypress vats are held in each of the two warehouses, and 15,000 are held in the third building. 

The barrel warehouses date back to the late 1800s and are stored and rotated for about six years until the bourbon has matured, Perkis said.

"The best part of the tour is when you are able to see the factory workers hand-dip and seal the bottles into the signature red wax," Horner said.  "Tour participants are also able to dip their own bottle in wax."

Tours are offered Monday through Saturday, every hour on the half-hour from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Visitors must be at least 18 years old, Perkis said. Those 21 and older may hand-dip their own bottle of Maker's Mark in the red wax.

Kelly Crouch can be contacted at crouch16@marshall.edu.