View source for Bourbon Tourism Shaking Off Pandemic Slump In Kentucky

<br>LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - With tourists flocking to distilleries, concerns about a pandemic hangover for Kentucky´s world-famous bourbon industry are quickly evaporating.<br> <br>A $19 million tourist center that Heaven Hill Distillery opened just days ago in the heart of the state´s bourbon country is already overflowing - with reservations filling up quickly to learn about whiskey-making and sample its spirits, including its flagship Evan Williams whiskey.<br> <br>It´s a similar story for the numerous other distilleries in the region that last spring were temporarily closed to visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<br><br>More than a year later, the businesses are facing such overwhelming demand for  [https://tranhtangkhaitruongcongty.weebly.com/ Opening gift paintings] tours that one industry official has started encouraging people [https://tranhtangkhaitruongcongty.weebly.com/ Opening what to give] call ahead or check tour availability online before pulling off the highway.<br> <br>Starting last summer, some distilleries began allowing limited numbers of visitors in accordance with virus restrictions. With capacity limits now lifted, the attractions are gearing up for a full resurgence of guests, many from outside Kentucky.<br> <br>"We saw it coming, but I don´t think we saw it coming this quick," said Kentucky Distillers´ Association President Eric Gregory.<br> <br>"We were a hot destination before COVID cooled us off considerably," he added.<br><br>"But now we´re getting back to the point where people want to get out, they want to have fun."<br>          This photo provided by Heaven Hill Distillery on Friday, June 18, 2021 shows the Heaven Hill Distillery opened a $19 million tourist center this week In Bardstown, Ky. The new center, called the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, is the latest investment by a Kentucky bourbon producer to promote the state's tourism tourism.<br>  <br>Gregory predicted that bourbon tourism will quickly rebound to pre-pandemic levels.<br> <br>"I think next year will be more of a normal year and if this trend continues, I think it will be another record-setting year," he said.<br> <br>Bourbon is an $8.6 billion [https://www.thefreedictionary.com/industry industry] in Kentucky, where 95% of the world´s supply is crafted, according to the association.<br><br>About 9.3 million barrels of bourbon were aging in the state last year, or more than two barrels for every person living in Kentucky. And bourbon tourism has become a big business, driven in part by a surge in enthusiasm overseas.<br> <br>Spirits companies invested huge sums into new or  [http://manage.infinityadboards.com/UserProfile/tabid/61/userId/30560/Default.aspx Opening gift paintings] expanded visitors' centers to play up the industry's heritage and allow guests to soak in the sights and smells of bourbon making. Kentucky Bourbon Trail visitors spend, on average, between $400 to $1,200 per trip, Gregory said.<br><br>More than 70% of visitors come from outside Kentucky.<br> <br>To help visitors plan trips, the organization is promoting a new Bourbon Trail Passport and Field Guide, a 150-page guide to participating distilleries,  [https://tranhtangkhaitruongcongty.weebly.com/ Opening what to give] gift shop in Ho Chi Minh City with cocktail recipes and suggested itineraries.<br> <br>In Bardstown, where Heaven Hill opened its [https://twitter.com/search?q=tourist tourist] center, the return of travelers will spin off considerably more spending at restaurants, stores and motels, said Dixie Hibbs, a former mayor.<br> <br>The picturesque town, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southeast of Louisville, is so entwined with the industry that the smell of locally crafted bourbon wafts into downtown.<br> <br>"Most people will tell you that´s the smell of money," Hibbs said.<br> <br>After years of constant growth, bourbon tourism plunged during the pandemic.