About Us

About Bourbon Excursions

Our Kentucky Bourbon tours are led by locals & crafted with a passion for the Bluegrass state

We're proud to be a veteran-owned small business located right in the heart of Bourbon country itself—the Bluegrass State. For over ten years, we've offered expertly guided Bourbon tours and tastings to thousands of people from across the globe. Our passion for personalizing every tour has made us a trusted favorite for those seeking a truly customized Bourbon tour experience in Louisville.

Meet Us Bourbon History

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Visiting Louisville?

Let our partners be your guide to Bourbon city!

See Our Partners

Meet Some Of Our Team

Man with a beard and glasses sitting at a bar with a glencairne and bourbon

Gary Lewis

Co-Owner

Gary Lewis has been providing Bourbon tours and tastings for nearly twenty years to thousands of people from across the globe. He made Louisville his home at a young age and enjoys utilizing his connections in the service and attractions industry to truly personalize every tour he builds. He is married with two children and two grandkids. His son is a USAF veteran.

Joey Myers

Co-Owner

Joey Myers is a Louisville native and military veteran that came back home to Kentucky after his career took him to many different places. He's a direct descendent of Basil Hayden and happy to be settled back home where he enjoys showing off all the Bluegrass State has to offer. He is married with a young son and serves as an Asst Scout Master for his son's local troop.

Woman standing next to a bourbon barrel with cocktails on it

Sharon Federico

Guide

Hi, I’m Sharon and I love guiding tours! I’ve been with Bourbon Excursions for three years and it’s great to meet so many awesome people from different walks of life, and hearing the different perspectives on distilleries and bourbons in general. And of course, I enjoy having a good laugh while out on the trail. I have one son, am active with his Boy Scouts troop, and have lived in Louisville for over 25 years. Hopefully I can share my great Kentucky Derby story with you!

Man with glasses and hat standing outside

Jay Lilly

Guide

I love being in Bourbon Country, talking about it and of course enjoying an occasional pour. I spent 14 years as a media specialist with Brown-Forman working with Jack Daniels’ master distiller Jimmy Bedford and launching Woodford Reserve in 1996 with Lincoln Henderson. I have two daughters and spend most of my spare time as a volleyball dad with my youngest. In my spare time, I'm a big fan of University of Kentucky basketball.

Eric Overpeck

Guide

Eric Overpeck here, (AKA O.P.) and I have been officially on the Bourbon Trail for 3 years, but unofficially for much longer. Besides enjoying the brown water, I can be found singing with my buddy since Kindergarten in our acoustic duet “Eric & Kenny”. I don’t play anymore but I also enjoy watching ALL kinds of team sports, paying particular attention to nicknames and logos. I am very happily married and have two grown sons living in Indianapolis. Driving the Trail and helping set up our Excursions has allowed me to talk to and meet SO MANY great people.

Man with white hair sitting next to a bourbon barrel with cocktails on it

Bruce Raque

Guide

I retired from GE Appliances after 36+ years at the end of 2022 and started driving for Bourbon Excursions shortly after. I love meeting bourbon lovers from all over the US and enjoy showing off and talking about the Great State of Kentucky. Driving for Bourbon Excursions has been a fantastic retirement gig! I have been married to my wife Patti for 33 years and have 4 wonderful adult children (3 boys and a girl) and three grandsons. We enjoy dining out with friends on weekends, and enjoy a variety of foods but especially pizza or Tex-Mex. I am an avid University of Kentucky fan who has only missed 7 home football games since 1977 and I’ve been to every SEC stadium except for Arkansas.

Veteran-Owned Business

As a veteran-owned small business, Bourbon Excursions is proud to support active duty, retired, and military veterans. We are honored to be your first choice for your next military reunion or group outing and even offer special discounts for all service members. Contact us to learn more.

Why Choose Bourbon Excursions?

Clean, Comfy Vehicles

Our vehicles are designed to transport your group in comfort and style. Y’all drink, we’ll drive!

Inside of a van with black leather which seats 10+

Local & knowledgeable Staff

Our team of Kentucky natives are experienced tour guides and Bourbon enthusiasts here to make your day memorable.

Veteran-Owned & Proud

We're proud to be a veteran-owned small business located right in the heart of Bourbon country, the Bluegrass state.

Custom Trips & itineraries

Our goal is to provide you with the best Bourbon tour experience available, so we customize every detail to you.

Your Passport to Bourbon

Before heading out for your Bourbon tour with Bourbon Excursions, be sure to bring your Kentucky Bourbon Trail® passport! You’ll want to collect those stamps from the various distilleries along the way. Haven’t started your Kentucky Bourbon Trail® passport yet? Grab one from the link below!

Visit Kentucky Bourbon Trail®

History of Kentucky Bourbon

By now, we’re sure you know that Kentucky is the Bourbon capital of the world. In fact, 95% of the world’s Bourbon is still produced here. That’s more barrels than people living in our state! Find more fascinating facts below, and get ready to dive into Kentucky’s rich Bourbon history with us on your own Bourbon Excursion tour.

Ink print of a distillery in black and white

1785

Bourbon County, established in 1785 by early settlers to Kentucky, is one of our oldest counties and is widely considered to be the namesake for our favorite spirit.

Paris, Kentucky, in 1862, Courtesy of ExploreKYHistory.Ky.Gov.

1800s

Whiskey has been distilled in Kentucky since before it was a state! By the late 1800s, Kentucky was already the leading producer of Bourbon in the nation.

Anderson Distillery trade sign, in the 1870s, Courtesy of ExploreKYHistory.Ky.Gov.

1933

After Prohibition ended in 1933, federal law established the present standards for the Bourbon aging and manufacturing processes, which we still use today.

Illegal distilleries during the prohibition era, Courtesy of ExploreKYHistory.Ky.Gov.

1964

In 1964, Congress determined Bourbon to be an indigenous product of the United States. That's why you might hear us call it "America's Native Spirit."

Paris, Kentucky, in 1862, Courtesy of ExploreKYHistory.Ky.Gov.

1999

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® was established in 1999, which brings in visitors from all 50 states and various countries across the world to tour our famous distilleries.

Logo courtesy of KentuckyBourbonTrail, Background photo courtesy of KYBourbon

2024

There are currently almost 11 million barrels of Bourbon aging in Kentucky, which is at least two barrels of Bourbon for every person living in our state.

Photo courtesy of BourbonExcursions