October 31, 2025 (Fri.) - Buffalo Trace, Around Frankfort.
Today was the big day – we set out to visit Buffalo Trace Distillery—the main reason we’re here in Kentucky! Kirk’s favorite bourbon, George T. Stagg, is made by Buffalo Trace, and the distillery is conveniently located just about 10 minutes away in Frankfort. We headed out around 10:30 AM and joined the 11:45 AM tour. Fortunately, the tours are free—and that includes tastings!
The tour ran about an hour and gave us an insightful look into the distillery’s inner workings, especially the steam-powered systems used throughout production. Our guide, David D., was excellent—knowledgeable and personable. One highlight was getting a peek at the building where Buffalo Trace crafts its ultra-premium bourbons, some valued at over $10,000 per bottle. We also saw the manual bottling line for Blanton’s, the barrel aging rooms, and the clever system used to move barrels around the facility. It was all genuinely intriguing. The tour wrapped up with a tasting session. Lynn still hasn’t warmed up to bourbon, but the chocolate bourbon balls definitely won her over.
After the tour, we browsed the gift shop. Their daily special offerings didn’t tempt Kirk, and—shockingly—we walked out without buying any alcohol. None! Lynn was stunned. George T. Stagg wasn’t available, and nothing else stood out. Still, we picked up a few souvenirs like t-shirts and stickers, so it wasn’t a completely dry run.
By 2 PM, we were ready for lunch and stopped at The Brown Barrel in downtown Frankfort. The front tables were dirty despite the place being nearly empty, and the staff seemed more interested in chatting than cleaning. That should’ve been our warning. The food was underwhelming, and they even got the order wrong.
After lunch, we wandered around downtown Frankfort for a bit checking out murals and street art before heading back to the RV to enjoy a campfire on this Halloween night. Back in Michigan, we’d bought a giant bag of Halloween candy at Costco—not knowing where we’d be or what kind of festivities might happen. Our campsite was right along the main road, so we hoped for a few trick-or-treaters.
We ended up with just one child, and it was more of a candy ‘exchange’—she was handing out treats to campers. We told her we’d only accept hers if she took some of ours! After two and a half hours, we called it a night. Lynn’s Halloween stats were easy this year: one visitor. Sadly, we didn’t see which candy she chose, so Lynn’s usual breakdown of candy trends will remain incomplete. She’s known for tracking the number of kids, which candies go first, and the timing of trick-or-treaters each year. Yes, she’s a data-loving Halloween nerd—and proudly owns it.
We’ve always loved Halloween at home, watching all the kids in costume. This year was quieter, but we still enjoyed celebrating Halloween on the road. It was a long, full day of exploring!
Weather – High 53*, Low 40*. Winds 7-12 mph with gusts up to 22 mph. No rain or humidity.
Traffic – None.
Food – Nothing to report.
Notable – Buffalo Trace Distillery.
