by cowdery » Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:28 am
Having looked at the web site (see Independent's link above), I have a better idea what this is. Although they call it, "a half day experience at Bardstown’s finest Bourbon Distillery," the distillery isn't included, unless they intend to take you over to Tom Moore, (the only distillery in Bardstown). They say, or rather quote Lynne as saying, guests will "see the entire operation here in Bardstown," i.e., no distillery.
They also allude to the fact that the old pre-BHC tour included the dump room and bottling line, although not the cistern room which was, then, across the road and down the hill at the distillery itself, and was never included in the public tour. The current cistern room (where barrels are filled) was built since Bernheim was acquired, so they can barrel in Bardstown rather than ship full barrels from Louisville. They have, according to the web site, also built a new dump room. They will also drive guests around the 50-acre property in the Heaven Hill Trolley.
Still, none of that takes much time. I suspect the heart of the tour is the educational seminar, which they mention but don't describe. Worth $50? I'm sure they'll give good value for the money, as that's a Heaven Hill hallmark, but visitors need to make sure they know what they're getting.