Terra Americana

Pastoral Horse Country of Kentucky resides among the distilleries of the Bourbon Trail.  If you are lucky enough to make it there two stops are not to miss.  While there is a lot of kitsch in Kentucky you will find beauty and bounty at a house of god and an historic landmark.

The  Abbey of Gethsemani outside of  Bardstown.  Run by Trappist Monks since 1848, it is a serene place to go and contemplate.  It is also home of world renown cheese, bourbon fudge and fruitcake.   As with the Trappist Monks in Spencer, MA, the abbey is able to operate off the profits of these labors.

Loretto is ironically in a dry county.  The Samuels Family was drawn to this place because it was home of the Burk Distillery originally built in 1889.  A limestone filtered spring resides on the property providing water and the appropriate mineral content for bourbon.  This tour brings you into every aspect of the process.  You can't sample the finished product here but you can dip your fingers into the sour mash at different stages. Marker's Mark barrel ages its product 6 to 7 years, but it is deemed ready for consumption when a sample from the barrel tastes just right.

If you can't make it to Kentucky for the Derby bring a little of Old Kentucky to your home with a batch of Bourbon Balls and this

Maker's Mark Mint Julep

• 4 fresh mint sprigs
• 2 1/2 oz Maker's Mark Handcrafted Bourbon
• 1 tsp Maple Sugar or Orange Vanilla Sugar
• 2 tsp water