Bardstown, Kentucky: Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History

Trace the storied past of whiskey making. See George Washington's still and Abe Lincoln's liquor license. Whiskey: the red, white, and blue beverage.

My husband wasn't interested in touring this museum but it was raining, so he agreed to go inside. While there we heard a siren sounding within the building. We thought it was a fire drill. No one was panicking, but they herded us into an area. Tornado. Oh, we're clueless Californians. Everyone else was tracking it on their phones.

It wasn't close. so we toured all the rooms. Judging by the bottles, people who make Bourbon have a sense of humor. The museum smelled wonderful from all the traces of bourbon in their artifacts. Now I plan to try bourbon some day. Maybe my next birthday when I turn 72.

This museum is a true gem. Linda (museum manager, I think) is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the museum, and tells the history of bourbon and its importance to the region. This was much more than I was expecting.

No admission, however donations are requested. The museum is in an old school building with an adjoining sanctuary that is now a second museum on local history. Free parking, but the building is a little hidden from Stephen Foster Road, so easy to miss.