Back-to-school season is here, and while the kids are sharpening their pencils, we’d argue Kentucky has some pretty great classrooms of its own.

If you’ve ever left a distillery tour wanting to know more – how master distillers create award-winning blends, why one batch tastes completely different from another, or what actually goes into crafting the perfect Old Fashioned – these hands-on experiences are for you.

Think of them as Bourbon 101…with a much better graduation gift.

Here are a few of our favorite “bourbon classrooms” to add to your next Kentucky adventure:

Bardstown Bourbon Company: Behind the Scenes with the Head Distiller Nick Smith

Ever wonder what happens behind the doors most guests never get to open?

Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Behind the Scenes experience offers an in-depth look at one of the most innovative distilleries in Kentucky. Led by Head Distiller Nick Smith, guests spend several hours exploring every stage of the distillation process, learning about the more than 40 mash bills produced on-site before finishing with a rickhouse tasting. It’s a rare opportunity to ask questions, go behind the scenes, and learn directly from the folks who make the bourbon every day.

Perfect for: Anyone who’s ever wished the regular distillery tour lasted just a little longer.

Woodford Reserve: Bourbon Academy

Ready to move beyond Bourbon 101? Woodford Reserve’s Bourbon Academy is graduate school for bourbon lovers.

This exclusive full-day immersion dives deep into every aspect of bourbon production –from hands-on mashing and barrel charring to guided tastings that explore how whiskey evolves over time. You’ll even learn how to evaluate bourbon using Woodford’s flavor wheel, all while spending the day with some of the industry’s most respected educators.

Fair warning: after this experience, you may feel called to start explaining mash bills to your friends.

Perfect for: Curious bourbon lovers who want to understand not just what they’re tasting, but why they’re tasting it.

Heaven Hill: You Do Bourbon

Some classes have the best take-home projects.

At Heaven Hill’s You Do Bourbon experience, you’re more than just a visitor – you become part of the bottling process. After learning about bourbon production and tasting several expressions, you’ll hand-fill, cork, label, and personalize your very own bottle to take home.

It’s interactive, memorable, and you’ll leave with a bottle that’s uniquely yours—a souvenir you can’t find on a gift shop shelf.

Perfect for: Travelers looking for a hands-on experience and a bottle with a story to tell.

Cocktail & Mixology Classes

Not every bourbon lesson happens inside a rickhouse.

Distilleries like Angel’s Envy and Jeptha Creed offer cocktail and mixology experiences that teach guests how to craft classic bourbon cocktails while learning the techniques, flavor balance, and history behind them. Whether you’re stirring the perfect Old Fashioned or discovering a new favorite recipe, these classes are equal parts educational and entertaining.

The best part? The skills learned here can be used over and over.

Perfect for: Cocktail lovers, aspiring home bartenders, and anyone who wants to impress friends at their next happy hour.

Extra Credit

The best bourbon trips aren’t just about checking famous distilleries off your list—they’re about leaving Kentucky knowing a little more than when you arrived.

Whether you’re spending the day with a head distiller, learning the finer points of bourbon production, bottling your own whiskey, or mastering a signature cocktail, these experiences offer a deeper appreciation for America’s Native Spirit.

So this back-to-school season, consider swapping the classroom for the rickhouse.

Interested in adding one of these bourbon “classrooms” to your itinerary? These premium experiences are available as add-ons and can be incorporated into your custom Kentucky Bourbon Boys tour. Our booking team can help you choose the ones that best fit your group and build an adventure that’s as educational as it is enjoyable.