Tours Now Open at Kentucky Cooperage

Tours Now Open at Kentucky Cooperage

When Pat Daugherty was hired as our new Kentucky Cooperage Tour Guide in early 2020, the last thing he expected was a global pandemic to effectively end Kentucky Cooperage tours for a year. Thankfully, Pat is an optimist with an easy smile and friendly demeanor. He used the tour hiatus to spend the year managing the Visitor Center, assisting in the cooperage office, learning every aspect of the cooperage process, and launching the Visitor Center new e-commerce website.

Recently retired from the UPS after 34 years with the company, Pat joined the team at Kentucky Cooperage because he wanted to be around people. “Driving a UPS truck, you are alone most of the time, and in my retirement, I wanted to interact with people – hear stories about where they’re from and where they’ve visited on the Bourbon Trail.” Pat’s daughter, Ann, was our previous tour guide and told her father about the position when she transitioned into another job at Kentucky Cooperage. “I didn’t know all that goes into each barrel before starting this job,” Pat said. “It’s an amazing partnership between craftsmanship and technology. I still get excited as I’m telling tour visitors about each part of the process.”

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Now, Pat finally gets to engage with tour goers on a daily basis. Our Kentucky Cooperage Visitor Center and tours are officially back open. Offered Monday through Friday at 9am, 11:00am and 1pm, visitors can book the 45-minute tour at www.kentuckycooperagetours.com. Right now, we are only taking online bookings, so make sure to reserve a ticket in advance. Standard tickets are $18 each, and there is no charge for veterans or active military personnel.  All times are EST.

You can find Pat at the Visitor Center on weekdays from 8:30am – 3pm (except when he’s out giving a tour). His advice? Arrive 10-15 minutes ahead of your tour time to view the cooperage displays, ask questions, and shop the gifts – from keychains to small oak casks – to get you prepared for the tour.

If you can’t make it to Lebanon, KY for a cooperage tour, Pat still has you covered. Shop a selection of cooperage related gifts and apparel on our new e-commerce website. He will fulfill your order and ship it out to you with a smile, and a hope that you’ll come visit him sometime soon at the cooperage.

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  1. i will be visiting Bardstown, KY in August and would like to know how much in advance will I need to book for your tour and what are the hours and time for the yours.

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  2. I would like to tour the Kentucky Cooperage in Lebanon KY.
    We are a group of 4 – Looking to take a tour on Monday 8/15/2020.

    Can I arrange the tour? When I checked the website the calendar was only open through May 2022. When will the calendar be open for booking tours in August 2022.

    Thanks for your time and appreciate being able to tour your facility.

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  3. Pat took us on a tour yesterday. Absolutely fantastic experience and guide. This was one of our favorite tours on the Bourbon Trail. Thanks again Pat and the team at Kentucky Cooperage!

  4. Great tour we had with Pat earlier this week!
    Pat and the rest of the crew are very proud (deservedly) of their skill and experience. It’s great to see American pride at work and it shows in Lebanon, KY at this great cooperage!
    Thanks again to Pat and all for a great experience!

  5. This was absolutely fascinating! I had no idea how much went into making a whiskey barrel. Super informative and a smorgasbord for the senses – smell, sounds and sights. We all wanted to do it again immediately after.
    Thanks so much for the education!

  6. Making a return trip after a couple years, this time with my 2 sons in the coming month. One of the most interesting things you will see how to take a straight pieces of wood and turn them into barrels. Has to be on your “to-do list” of places to visit as a stand-alone place to visit or part of your Bourbon Trail. You will not be disappointed and buy one of the miniature barrels to age one or a couple of your bourbons and enjoy the process of blending your own.

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