Bardstown, KENTUCKY: Shopping, Distilleries, Bed & Breakfast

Let's journey back into downtown Bardstown, Kentucky on our walking tour. The stores were interesting as well as the historical sights. We found a furniture store that was owned and run by the wife of a minister in the area. I was first attracted there by the table of upholstering fabric samples that she had on the sidewalk. When she shared with me some ideas of using them to make purses, I was hooked. So I bought some and will make something useful for carrying over my sholder when I need something thin and long strapped when sight seeing. Many times I have gone without a purse entirely because I don't want to have to keep track of one. Now I can change that! The next day she had leather samples that will make a handy bag just the right size to carry my walkman when listening while walking. And you are going to say, "she saw me coming!" Yes, but what a neat idea!! And now the pastor is retired and they have three stores ! So it must be a good business. They say that they get a lot of business out of Louisville even. Then on to Heaven Hill Distilleries which is America's largest independent family-owned producer of Bourbon. The Bourbon industry in the Kentucky area is more than 200 years in the making. On this tour we find out why the storage buildings are turning black beginning at the ground . The tour guide told us that as the brew ages, the fermentation taking place causes the expansion of the brew which seeps out through the barrel when it is about ready to be bottled. With seven floors full of these barrels , that is a lot of evaporation into the atmosphere. Thus emitting so much sweet vapor that it causes the mold on the exterior of the buildings beginning at the ground as it is heavier than air. Can you imagine the smell in the area at bottling time?? The barrels are all dated and numbered and all are turned and rotated during the aging process. They pointed out the half millionth barrel which has since been passed up. It was interesting although neither Gary nor I have a taste for the stuff!! In checking out the Nelson County Jail in town, built in 1874, we find that it has since been turned into the beautiful Jailer's Inn Bed and Breakfast with many antiques furnishing it . You can also rent one of the jail cells for the night's stay, if you are so inclined. I think not!! This jail was used up until 1987 and was well known for the times that the Jesse James gang was housed here. They were probably in the area often because they were related to the county sherrif. There was also a guillotine used here . Note the narrow windows which looked out on the back yard where the killings took place. I will leave you on that note, but come back and read about the St. Joseph Cathedral next.