Spirits & Alcohol

Bourbon Trails, Distilleries, and Legacy

There's the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. And, of course, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® and they both intersect at the Marion County Trail.

Here in Marion County, our legacy of history and craftsmanship is perfected in our distilleries and businesses built around the spirits industry. From the unique to the historic, you'll find it all on the 11-mile adventure through Marion County.

What Can I Expect to See?

The Marion County Trail has become a destination and is an experience to be appreciated by both residents and visitors. Success, cooperation, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a feeling that the best is yet to come are all here! There's a rich and colorful history here on the Marion County Trail.

With such variety and legacy, you’ll soon understand how the Marion County Trail has built such a tremendous reputation.  

About the Companies

Canton Cooperage

Canton Cooperage relocated their headquarters from Canton, Ohio to Lebanon, Kentucky in 1983 because of the supply of white oak and experienced craftsmen. Canton Cooperage was acquired by Chêne & Cie, the owners of Taransaud and Kádár, in 1998. In 2017, Canton Cooperage completed a plant expansion that included new office space. Canton Cooperage produces a variety of premium American oak barrels that are traditionally air dried according to French tradition. They are the first American oak wine barrel producer to have the third-party certification of the duration of the open air-seasoning. Employing 43 people, their coopers have an average tenure of over 13 years and over 600 years of cumulative experience.

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Diageo Distillery

Representing a $130 million investment, the Diageo Lebanon Distillery is expected to be fully operational in 2021. A subsidiary of Diageo, the Diageo Lebanon Distillery’s 72,000 square-foot distillery, dry house, and 12 barrel warehouses will sit on about 144 acres. The site will have the capacity to distill Diageo bourbon and whiskey brands and will supplement Diageo’s other Kentucky operations.

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Jesters Winery and Café

A subsidiary of Horseshoe Bend Vineyard and Winery, Jesters Winery and Café was opened in 2016 and is conveniently located less than 4 minutes from Maker’s Mark Distillery and 12 minutes from Limestone Branch Distillery. A nationally awarded winery, they sell their own dry European-inspired wines, sweet wines, bourbon barrel wines, harvest wines, and dessert wines. Not the run-of-the-mill experience, Jesters strives to give visitors a memorable and unique time.

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Kentucky Cooperage

Kentucky Cooperage was originally known as Bourbon Cooperage and then Marion County Cooperage beginning from the company’s establishment in Lebanon in 1960. In 1983, the name change to Kentucky Cooperage was permanent and has flourished ever since. A subsidiary of Independent Stave Company, Kentucky Cooperage employs over 500 people. They specialize in producing a variety of premium spirit and wine barrels, oak alternatives, log procurement and sales, staves and heading, and mulch and chips.

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Limestone Branch Distillery

Limestone Branch Distillery was established in 2010, but the owners, Steve and Paul Beam, have a family history of distilling in Kentucky that goes back to 1795. As a craft distiller, Limestone specializes in bourbon, white and rye whiskey, and gin. Limestone is a treasured stop along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® and was ranked one of the top 10 winners in Best Craft Whiskey Distillery by USA Today in 2018 and 2019.

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Maker’s Mark Distillery

Maker’s Mark Distillery was established in Marion County’s town of Loretto in 1953 through the purchasing of an abandoned distillery for $65,000. In 1995, Maker’s Mark invested $18.5 million in an expansion that doubled output. Known for their iconic red wax topper, SIV “maker’s mark”, and square bottle shape, Maker’s Mark bourbon is known worldwide for its unique and flavorful taste and is a favorite stop along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. Maker’s Mark employs 240 people and continues to be a historic, devoted, and invaluable asset to Marion County.

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