KY Bourbon Trail Tops 2 Million Visitors in 2022
You’ve heard of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, no doubt. But did you know that it had a record breaking year in 2022? And did you know about the 370% increase in visitors over the last 10 years? This blog post is all about the amazing success story of how this one-of-a-kind bourbon trail has been shaking up Kentucky tourism and helping to create jobs and investments in the Bluegrass!
SEE ALSO: Kentucky Bourbon Trail: A Local’s Guide
From a humble beginning of just over half a million visits 10 years ago, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® (KBT) in 2020 hit an all-time record high of 2,135,555 visits – a whopping 38% increase over 2019! It’s no surprise that KBT has become one of the most beloved and popular visitor experiences in America. With historical bourbon distilleries to visit, the best distillery gift shops, world-class restaurants to try out, local music and events abounding, and plenty of unique craft beverages along the way – what’s not to love? If you haven’t had the chance to take the legendary tour along the KBT just yet – give it a try. One trip through these truly special Kentucky-style experiences is sure to make you realize why it’s been a huge success for so many years.
Governor Andy Beshear was quick to congratulate everyone involved on their hard work that lead to this success for Kentucky’s signature industry. He said that their focus, investment, and hard work paid off with record-breaking numbers of visitors and massive employment growth in the industry reaching 22,500 jobs. The bourbon fans have spoken—and they’re speaking loud and clear! So who are these bourbon tourists coming to enjoy what Kentucky has to offer?
Well, they’re mostly younger than average visitors, and traveling in larger groups who spend more money on their trips (between $400-$1,200). They’re mostly out-of-state travelers with household incomes over $100k/year. That’s right – these aren’t your average Saturday night bar patrons! They come seeking out authentic experiences offered by Kentucky’s native spirit industry. It’s no surprise then that Secretary Mike Berry views bourbon as a key factor in helping hospitality recover from COVID impacts—generating valuable revenue and tax dollars for the state.
SEE ALSO: Kentucky Bourbon Festival
If you’re looking for a unique distillery experience, there’s no better place than Kentucky. With two different distillery trails available, visitors have the chance to browse an impressive selection of distilleries for their perfect taste of Kentucky: The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® (KBT) hosts 18 distilleries with extensive bourbon gift shops, while the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® (KBTCT) offers 24 members each with their own unique flair. Everything from sweet bourbons to barrel-aged gems can be found here – so take your pick and get ready to explore!
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