Inside the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® with Mandy Ryan

Inside the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® with Mandy Ryan

From Kentucky Hidden Wonders by Kentucky Hidden Wonders

January 8, 2026 · 21 min

About this episode

Mandy Ryan discusses the evolution and impact of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® on local tourism and economies.

We sit down with Mandy Ryan, Director of Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Experiences, to unpack how a six-stop trail from 1999 has grown into a powerhouse composed of 58 destinations that’s reshaping Kentucky tourism, extending stays, and driving local communities' economies. From the Amber Triangle of Louisville, Lexington, and Bardstown to small-town gems like Shelby County, the trail’s variety now spans ultra-modern sustainability showcases and family-run farm-to-glass distilleries. We dig into w...

People in this episode

Guest: Mandy Ryan

Topics covered

  • Kentucky Bourbon Trail
  • tourism
  • local economy
  • distilleries
  • sustainability

Keywords

  • Kentucky Bourbon Trail
  • Mandy Ryan
  • tourism
  • distilleries
  • local economy
  • sustainability
  • Amber Triangle

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Kentucky Bourbon Trail®

Places: Kentucky, Louisville, Lexington, Bardstown, Shelby County

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