Bourbon, Whiskey & Moonshine: Sampling America’s Spirits

In Bardstown, Kentucky, considered the “Bourbon Capital of the World,” travelers will find a museum, the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival and the starting point for one of three official bourbon touring trails.

Nashville, Tennessee, is a natural jumping-off point to the distilleries that define Tennessee whiskey. Small-scale and major distilleries alike offer tours and tastings where guests are likely to learn the history of distilling in the U.S. This includes the formerly illegal distribution of spirits known as moonshine, also called “white lightning” for its high proof and clear color.