Boxing, bourbon and baseball — Life Is Better On The Road

Kentucky makes you think of...? The Kentucky Derby, mint julep, bourbon, birthplace of President Lincoln, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Louisville slugger, Muhamed Ali...

True confessions. We didn’t eat at KFC, we missed the derby and the Louisville slugger factory tour, but boy did we enjoy the Bourbon trail and the Muhamed Ali Center.

We started our visit at the Frazier museum. This museum is dedicated to sharing the story of the Kentucky people, and is also home to the Bourbon Trail welcome center. The history of Kentucky and its people was fascinating. The photo exhibit by Linda Bruckheimer was one of the highlights. Her photography captures the life of Kentucky from the seat of the car. The life you see from the roadside. There is a romanticism and a stark reality to her photos. Hells Angels and Confederate flags, Jesus saves, Bourbon, President Lincoln, Daniel Boone and the Klan. Wow.

We took a short break to eat lunch at Proof on Main. A cool, funky vibe with eclectic art, savvy bartenders and comfort food upped to the next level. After fortification, we headed to the Muhamed Ali Center. The center’s mission is not just to honor his memory, but to honor social justice and equality. In these troubled times, once again filled with racial tension, Ali remains a powerful voice for equality and a reflection of how far he came and how far we as a nation still need to go.

If you find yourself in Louisville for a weekend, a few suggestions. Make a reservation for your preferred bourbon tour. There are several right downtown if you want to stay local. Angels and Envy is the latest sensation, so if you want to tour there, plan way ahead. Jim Beam always has room. If you have a car and want to do “the tour” between Lexington and Louisville, that is a great option. The Louisville Slugger museum and factory is very popular, as are the river cruises.

We chose to do the Maker’s Mark tour which requires a car or a bus tour. The tour was amazing and Brandy was the hostess with the mostess. We toured the facilities and learned quite a bit about the process. The secret recipe is as follows: 70% corn, 16% wheat and 14% barley. No rye. Ok. Not a secret. But. The secret is in the barrels, the aging, and the method of storage.

We enjoyed a lunch on the property before heading on to Nashville, but we did not escape without purchasing a few bottles! If you are interested in learning about the bourbon process,and the industry, which beside horses is the life blood of Kentucky, head to Maker’s Mark.