I spent the night in a bourbon barrel. No, not an actual barrel but a unique lodging experience for those who love the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and all things whiskey. A stay at the Bourbon Barrel Retreats in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, offers a truly immersive experience for bourbon enthusiasts. The location is perfect, with several renowned distilleries nearby. Wild Turkey Distillery is just a 5-minute drive away, while Four Roses Distillery is about 10 minutes, making it easy to explore and return to a cozy (small) retreat. They are 15-40 minutes away from another dozen distilleries. The retreat itself has a warm, rustic feel, decorated with bourbon-themed touches that add to the charm. The property and room were very clean.

I will caution you it is expensive-$400+ per night and that was off-season pricing. This is simply a high demand experience and they are able to get the price.  In fact, it was difficult slotting a reservation. Another caution is there is not much to the room. There is a bathroom and a bedroom, tiny kitchen area with sink and mini-fridge.  There is no television. Some of the barrels have hot tubs but mine did not.  That’s an upcharge. There is also a central community area with grills, seating and hammocks.  

But, this is a location that caught my attention, and I had to give it a try.  But this is a place where you’d be best served visiting the Bourbon Trail all day, having dinner and returning to crash.  Only to wake up and repeat the process the next day.  Entertainment is limited. I basically paid for the experience.  Now I can tell everyone I spent the night in a barrel, and that’s a cool statement. But I will probably not be a repeat visitor. Just one and done for me.  I would rather have the comforts of a hotel in Bardstown or Frankfort.