The I-64 halfway stop
Bulleit Distilling Co. welcomes visitors at 3464 Benson Pike in Shelbyville, about 55 minutes east of downtown Louisville on I-64. It also sits roughly 40 minutes short of Buffalo Trace in Frankfort. That position is what makes it useful. Put Bulleit in the middle of a Louisville-to-Frankfort day and no single drive runs long, or pair it with Jeptha Creed, about 20 minutes away, for a shorter half day east of the city.
Splitting a long day into short legs
Louisville to Frankfort is more than an hour in the car. Break it at Shelbyville and the morning becomes a 55-minute ride, a tour, and a 40-minute hop to Buffalo Trace for lunch at its cafe. The ride home from Frankfort is the only long leg left, and nobody in the group is driving it.
For a shorter outing, stay in Shelby County: Bulleit and Jeptha Creed are about 20 minutes apart, and the return to Louisville from either is under an hour. That version works well for a Saturday with friends or an afternoon after a morning meeting.
Getting there from Louisville and Indiana
From downtown Louisville, the drive is about 55 minutes, roughly 37 miles east on I-64. From SDF, plan on about 60 minutes. From downtown Jeffersonville, about 55 minutes. Hotels in the East End and Middletown sit closer to the interstate, so pickups there shorten the first leg.
Pickups
We pick up at hotels, homes and offices across Louisville and Southern Indiana, and we track flights for SDF arrivals. Company outings often start from an office park in the East End; if your group is coming from more than one address, list each one on the quote and we will build the route.
Planning the day
Treat Bulleit as the middle of the day: a morning pickup in Louisville, the tour here, then Frankfort or Jeptha Creed. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail directory lists a cocktail bar and gardens at the visitor center, but we have not confirmed food service, so plan lunch elsewhere. Jeptha Creed is listed by the Trail with food options, and Buffalo Trace has its own cafe.
Wear walking shoes and bring a valid photo ID. Sealed bottles you buy can ride in the vehicle for the rest of the day.
Pairing with Jeptha Creed or Buffalo Trace
Jeptha Creed is about 20 minutes away on the other side of Shelbyville. Buffalo Trace is about 40 minutes farther east in Frankfort. Our Southern Indiana pickup day uses Bulleit as its afternoon stop.
Two sample days, with drive totals
Shelby County day: Louisville to Jeptha Creed, about 40 minutes, for a late-morning visit and lunch; then about 20 minutes to Bulleit for the afternoon tour; then about 55 minutes home. That is roughly an hour and 55 minutes of driving across the whole day, and it ends early enough for dinner back in Louisville.
Louisville to Frankfort day: Bulleit in the late morning, about 55 minutes out, then about 40 minutes to Buffalo Trace for lunch and an afternoon tour, and about 70 minutes back. That adds up to about two hours and 45 minutes of driving, only about 25 minutes more than going to Frankfort and back directly, because Bulleit sits almost on the way.
What to send us
Send the Bulleit tour time, the second stop and its time, and every pickup address. If you used Bulleit's group-request contact, tell us the confirmed start time and headcount, and we will size the vehicle and the first leg to match.
Reserve your tour directly
Reserve your tour and tasting directly with Bulleit Distilling Co. on its website. Send us your times, and your chauffeur handles the driving and the timing between stops. Groups can use Bulleit's group-request contact on its visit page.
Choosing a vehicle
Interstate miles are comfortable in a luxury SUV for a small party. A work team or a group of friends who want to ride together for the full day usually takes a shuttle. See our fleet page for vehicle sizes. Every chauffeur is background-checked and trained; our safety standards are on the safety page.
Keep planning
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the drive from Louisville to Bulleit Distilling Co.?
About 55 minutes from downtown to the Shelbyville visitor center, depending on traffic.
Can we do Bulleit and Buffalo Trace in one day?
Yes. Buffalo Trace is about 40 minutes farther east. Send both tour times and we will plan the gap.
Is this the same as Stitzel-Weller?
No. Stitzel-Weller is in Shively, near Louisville, and Bulleit Distilling Co. is in Shelbyville. We drive to both.