The Old Taylor Tour and Lunch Cruise

The best part of this private half-day tour is its two-sided look at bourbon country. You see Buffalo Trace from the Kentucky River, then walk through the distillery grounds to understand how E.H. Taylor Jr. helped shape modern bourbon. The boat passes through Lock and Dam #4, built in 1840, which gives the outing a real sense of place.

I like the way Captain Nathan and Captain Allison add local river history to the cruise, and I like that lunch is included rather than left to chance. The pulled pork, chicken, or pimento cheese sandwich comes with two sides and a nonalcoholic drink. The main drawback is physical: Buffalo Trace involves plenty of walking, stairs, metal grates, and some height, so it is not the right pick for everyone.

Key points to know before booking

• Two views of Buffalo Trace: See the distillery from the river, then walk among the buildings and warehouses.
• Lock and Dam #4: The cruise includes passage through a working historic lock built in 1840.
• E.H. Taylor Jr. focus: The distillery visit follows Taylor’s buildings, methods, and push for purity.
• Lunch is included: Choose pulled pork, chicken, or pimento cheese with two sides and a soft drink.
• Physical walking tour: Expect stairs, metal grates, and a lot of walking at Buffalo Trace.
• Small-group format: The maximum group size is 20, with a four-hour schedule beginning at 1:00 p.m.

A river-first introduction to Kentucky bourbon

This tour gives you a useful change of angle. Instead of treating the distillery as an isolated stop, it connects Buffalo Trace to the Kentucky River, the route that helped make Frankfort an important bourbon town.

You meet at 101 Riverboat Landing in Frankfort at 1:00 p.m. The activity lasts about four hours and returns to the same meeting point. That simple setup matters because you do not need to arrange a separate ride between the river and distillery portions.

The boat ride is not just filler before the bourbon visit. It lets you see the Buffalo Trace property from the water and understand its relationship with the river. You also pass through Lock and Dam #4, built in 1840, so the cruise includes a piece of working river infrastructure rather than only a scenic ride.

Captain Nathan and Captain Allison lead the boat portion. Their commentary covers local history, river facts, and bourbon connections. I like this kind of introduction because it gives you a frame for the distillery visit. By the time you reach Buffalo Trace, you have already seen the property from a wider angle.

The cruise lasts about two hours. The ride requires good weather, so weather is a real planning factor. If conditions force a cancellation, Kentucky River Tours offers another date or a full refund.

Passing through Lock and Dam #4

The lock passage is the most unusual part of the day. Many bourbon outings keep you inside tasting rooms or among warehouses. Here, you get to watch the boat move through a lock and dam built in 1840.

That detail gives the cruise a strong historical layer without making the entire outing a formal history lecture. You can look at the river, the distillery property, and the old engineering works as parts of the same story.

The boat portion is also a good breather before the walking tour. You spend roughly two hours seated and moving at a slower pace, with Captain Nathan explaining the river and its surroundings. One especially useful feature is the chance to see all sides of Buffalo Trace from the water, something a standard distillery visit cannot offer.

Do not expect the cruise to replace the distillery tour. It gives context, views, and stories, but the bourbon-making details come later at Buffalo Trace. That split is the reason the tour works well for people who want more than a tasting-room stop.

Walking through E.H. Taylor Jr.’s bourbon legacy

At Buffalo Trace, the focus shifts to E.H. Taylor Jr., a major figure in the development of the bourbon industry. The route follows the buildings connected with his work and his insistence on purity and careful production.

You visit the Old Taylor House, the OFC Building, OFC Fermenter #7, known as Old Taylor, and Warehouse C. These are not random stops. Together, they show both the surviving structures and the remains of what Taylor built.

The tour explains Taylor’s desire for precision in bourbon making and how his approach helped shape the industry. That makes the visit more useful than a simple walk past old buildings. You begin to see bourbon as a process tied to buildings, equipment, aging space, and decisions about quality.

Guide Jeff leads the distillery portion. The focus is on bourbon history and production, including how bourbon is made and aged. You should come ready to walk and listen rather than expecting a short indoor presentation.

The route includes stairs and metal grates. Anyone with a fear of heights or discomfort walking across grated surfaces should take that seriously before booking. Comfortable clothing and shoes are recommended, and they are practical advice here, not a minor suggestion.

What the bourbon lesson adds

The distillery visit helps explain why Kentucky bourbon developed its particular identity. You see the physical places connected with fermentation, production, and aging, then hear how Taylor pushed for cleaner and more controlled methods.

The tour does not only focus on the finished drink. It gives attention to the work behind it. That is useful if you have already visited tasting rooms and want a better sense of how bourbon moves from production to warehouse aging.

The Old Taylor House adds a personal and historical angle. The OFC Building and fermenter connect that story to the machinery and buildings used in bourbon production. Warehouse C brings the aging side into view.

Alcoholic beverages are not included in the $125 price. You should not book this expecting the cost to cover a full tasting program. The experience is built around the river cruise, the distillery visit, lunch, snacks, and a nonalcoholic drink. If bourbon samples or purchases matter most to you, confirm what is available on your date and budget separately for alcohol.

Lunch makes the four-hour schedule easier

The included barbecue lunch is a practical strength. You can choose a pulled pork sandwich, chicken sandwich, or pimento cheese sandwich. Each option comes with two sides and a nonalcoholic drink.

Soda and snacks are also included. That means you are not trying to fit a meal into a tight afternoon schedule or leave the tour to find food between the boat and distillery portions.

The menu gives you a meat option and a vegetarian-friendly pimento cheese option, though the available information does not specify other dietary accommodations. If you have an allergy or special dietary need, ask Kentucky River Tours before booking rather than assuming substitutions are available.

Lunch also helps explain the price. At $125 per person, you are paying for about four hours of guided activity, two admission-based stops, a private tour format, a meal, snacks, and the convenience of returning to the original meeting point. That is a fair package if you value the river portion and the historic Buffalo Trace route.

It is less compelling if you only want a quick distillery tour. In that case, the boat time and lunch make up much of the cost, even though they are exactly what makes this outing different.

How the two halves fit together

The tour is strongest when you treat it as one connected story. The cruise shows the river setting and Buffalo Trace from the outside. The distillery visit then takes you inside the bourbon process and the buildings linked to E.H. Taylor Jr.

The order gives the day a natural rhythm. You begin with open views and moving water, then shift to a more detailed walking tour. The boat portion also gives Captain Nathan and Captain Allison room to explain local history before guide Jeff focuses on bourbon.

You should allow the full four hours. This is not an activity to squeeze into a narrow gap before dinner or another fixed appointment. The meeting time is 1:00 p.m., and the activity ends back at the same river landing after both two-hour portions.

The group maximum is 20 people. That is small enough to keep the day more personal than a large coach outing, while still being large enough that it is not a private party for just your own group. The tour is described as private, so clarify the booking arrangement if you need exclusive use for your party.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend this for someone who wants bourbon history with more variety than a standard distillery visit. You get a boat ride, river engineering, local stories, historic buildings, bourbon production, aging, and lunch in one afternoon.

It is especially suited to first-time visitors who want a broad introduction to Frankfort’s bourbon setting. The river cruise gives you a sense of the area before you focus on Buffalo Trace, and the distillery route adds names and places that make the bourbon story easier to follow.

It also suits people who like history beyond tasting notes. E.H. Taylor Jr.’s role, the old structures, OFC Fermenter #7, and Warehouse C give the tour a clear historical backbone.

I would be more cautious about recommending it to anyone who dislikes boats, has difficulty with stairs, or is uncomfortable with metal grates and height. The walking portion is substantial, and the safety notes are clear. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed, but physical comfort remains the key question.

Timing, meeting point, and cancellation details

You start at 101 Riverboat Landing in Frankfort at 1:00 p.m. The tour ends at that same location, which keeps the logistics simple.

Confirmation arrives at booking, and the meeting point is near public transportation. The experience accepts mobile tickets, so you can keep the booking on your phone rather than carrying printed paperwork.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 1:00 p.m. start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted and are not refundable. The cut-off uses local time.

Weather can affect the boat portion. If poor weather cancels the activity, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. That policy is worth noting if your Kentucky trip has a tight schedule.

Is $125 a good value?

The answer depends on what you would otherwise book. If you want only a distillery tour, $125 may feel high. If you want a river cruise, a lock passage, a guided Buffalo Trace visit, lunch, snacks, and a return to the starting point, the price is easier to justify.

The two-hour boat ride is the feature that separates this from a basic bourbon outing. Lock and Dam #4 adds something you are unlikely to get from a standard distillery stop, while the river views show Buffalo Trace from a fresh angle.

The included meal also saves you time and an extra purchase. You still need to pay for alcoholic beverages if they are offered or if you buy any during the day, but the main food and drink needs are covered.

I see the strongest value for people who would otherwise pay separately for a river excursion and a distillery visit. The package combines both without asking you to solve transportation between them.

Should you book the Old Taylor Tour and Lunch Cruise?

Book it if you want a rounded Kentucky bourbon outing rather than a tasting-only visit. The combination of the Kentucky River, Lock and Dam #4, Buffalo Trace, E.H. Taylor Jr.’s story, lunch, and local guides gives you a fuller picture of Frankfort’s bourbon setting.

Skip it if you want a short, relaxed distillery stop or if stairs, metal grates, and extensive walking will make the afternoon uncomfortable. Also remember that alcohol is not included, so the $125 price covers the tour elements and lunch, not a guaranteed tasting program.

For the right person, this is a smart four-hour choice. Captain Nathan and Captain Allison bring the river portion to life, guide Jeff adds the distillery history, and the route connects bourbon to the place where it was made, stored, and moved.

FAQ

Where does the Old Taylor Tour and Lunch Cruise begin?

The tour begins at 101 Riverboat Landing, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 1:00 p.m.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately four hours. The boat tour takes about two hours, and the Buffalo Trace portion takes about two hours.

Does the tour return to the starting point?

Yes. The activity ends back at the meeting point at 101 Riverboat Landing.

What food is included?

Lunch includes a choice of pulled pork, chicken, or pimento cheese sandwich, two sides, and a nonalcoholic drink. Soda and snacks are also included.

Are alcoholic beverages included?

No. Alcoholic beverages are not included in the tour price.

How large can the group be?

The maximum group size is 20 people.

Is the Buffalo Trace portion physically demanding?

Yes. The route includes a lot of walking and stairs, along with metal grates. Comfortable shoes and clothing are recommended. People with acrophobia or a fear of walking across metal grates may want to choose another activity.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather causes a cancellation, you can select a different date or receive a full refund. Free cancellation is also available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.