{"id":214,"date":"2026-06-28T05:19:52","date_gmt":"2026-06-28T05:19:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/things-to-do-clermont-ky"},"modified":"2026-06-28T05:19:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T05:19:52","slug":"things-to-do-clermont-ky","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/things-to-do-clermont-ky\/","title":{"rendered":"Things to Do in Clermont, KY: Bourbon &amp; Forest Day Trip"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Why Clermont Belongs on Your Kentucky Trip<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>Clermont, Kentucky, offers an easy half-day itinerary that combines James B. Beam Distilling Co. and Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, just minutes apart and 30 minutes south of Louisville.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Bernheim Forest spans 16,000 acres and features the Forest Giants sculptures, the Canopy Tree Walk, and the family-friendly Playcosystem, with scenery that works in every season.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>The James B. Beam Distilling Co. is the home of Jim Beam, the world\u2019s #1 bourbon, where eight generations of the Beam family have produced whiskey since 1795, anchored by the hands-on Beam Made Bourbon Tour &amp; Tasting.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>A sample half-day plan includes a morning distillery tour with tastings, lunch at The Kitchen Table, and an afternoon exploring Bernheim Forest trails and sculptures, ideal for couples, families, and Louisville day-trippers.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/james-b-beam-distillery-tour\/book-a-tour#id=beam-made-bourbon-distillery-tour-tasting-clermont\">Reserve the Beam Made Bourbon Tour &amp; Tasting to experience The Home of the World\u2019s #1 Bourbon<\/a>, then round out your day in Bernheim Forest.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Exploring Bernheim Forest\u2019s Trails, Giants, and Canopy Views<\/h2>\n<p>Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest covers more than 16,000 acres of protected Kentucky woodland and ranks among the region\u2019s most visited natural attractions. The forest is best known for its <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noindex nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/bernheim.org\">Forest Giants<\/a>, a series of massive, whimsical wooden sculptures by Danish artist Thomas Dambo that appear along the trails. Visitors also flock to the Canopy Tree Walk, an elevated walkway that lifts you above the forest floor, and the Playcosystem, a nature-based play area designed for families. Seasonal wildflower blooms in spring, dense green canopy in summer, and vivid fall foliage in October make the forest a reliable year-round draw. Trails range from easy paved loops to longer backcountry routes, so every fitness level can find a comfortable option.<\/p>\n<h2>Why Bernheim Forest Is Worth the Stop<\/h2>\n<p>Bernheim Forest rewards nearly any traveler passing through central Kentucky. The grounds feel accessible, family-friendly, and genuinely beautiful in every season. The Forest Giants sculptures have become a social media landmark, attracting visitors who might not usually seek out a nature preserve. For a half-day trip from Louisville, Bernheim pairs naturally with a morning or early-afternoon stop at the James B. Beam Distilling Co., since the two attractions sit only minutes apart. Together, they fill a free afternoon without requiring complicated planning. Families with children under 21 often find Bernheim a strong complement, because bourbon tastings at Beam are reserved for guests 21 and older with valid ID.<\/p>\n<h2>Bernheim Forest Admission and Fees<\/h2>\n<p>Bernheim Forest charges a per-vehicle admission fee for non-members on weekends and holidays, while weekday visits remain free for all guests. Current admission details and seasonal hours appear on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noindex nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/bernheim.org\/visit\/plan-your-visit\/\">Bernheim Forest official visit page<\/a>. Membership options serve frequent visitors and Kentucky residents who return often. For a one-time half-day visit, the cost stays modest relative to the acreage and amenities on offer, and pairing Bernheim with the $30 Beam Made Bourbon Tour creates a full, varied day at a reasonable total spend.<\/p>\n<h2>Inside the James B. Beam Distilling Co. Experience<\/h2>\n<p>The James B. Beam Distilling Co. is the home of the First Family of Bourbon, with eight generations of one family making whiskey since Jacob Beam sold his first barrel in 1795. Jim Beam, the world\u2019s #1 bourbon, is distilled and aged here alongside the entire Small Batch Collection, including Knob Creek, Basil Hayden, Booker\u2019s, and Baker\u2019s. Roughly 3.1 million barrels age across the distillery\u2019s warehouses at any given time, creating one of the largest bourbon aging inventories on earth.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"text-align: center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aigrowthmarketer.co\/1781203830436-7d752fb1bf89.jpeg\" alt=\"An aerial view of James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont, Kentucky. It&apos;s The Home of the World&apos;s #1 Bourbon: Jim Beam.\" style=\"max-height: 500px\" loading=\"lazy\"><figcaption><em>An aerial view of James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont, Kentucky. It&#8217;s The Home of the World&#8217;s #1 Bourbon: Jim Beam.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The distillery\u2019s philosophy appears in four words: <em>Come as Friends, Leave as Family.<\/em> That line reflects how the campus is designed and how guests move through it. Master distillers Fred Noe, the seventh generation, and Freddie Noe, the eighth generation, are on site nearly every day. The flagship <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/about-us\/beam-made-bourbon\">Beam Made Bourbon Tour<\/a> is intentionally hands-on, guiding guests through a working distillery from grain to glass while they taste five bourbons at the moments that explain each pour. The Kitchen Table restaurant, the American Outpost gift shop, and a full calendar of events round out a campus that earns a 4.7-star rating from more than 1,400 guest reviews.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"text-align: center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aigrowthmarketer.co\/1781204090427-996e188580f7.jpeg\" alt=\"Freddie Noe (8th generation) and Fred Noe (7th generation), master distillers of James B. Beam Distilling Co.\" style=\"max-height: 500px\" loading=\"lazy\"><figcaption><em>Freddie Noe (8th generation) and Fred Noe (7th generation), master distillers of James B. Beam Distilling Co.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/james-b-beam-distillery-tour\/book-a-tour#id=beam-made-bourbon-distillery-tour-tasting-clermont\"><strong>Reserve your Beam Made Bourbon Tour &amp; Tasting and experience The Home of the World\u2019s #1 Bourbon in Clermont.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Sample Half-Day Clermont Itinerary<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Arrive at James B. Beam Distilling Co. (9:00\u20139:30 a.m.)<\/strong> Pull off I-65 and follow Happy Hollow Rd. to the distillery grounds. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your tour time, because guests cannot join a tour already in progress. Browse the American Outpost gift shop while you wait, where rare and distillery-exclusive bottles sit on the shelf with no timed drops or lotteries.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Beam Made Bourbon Tour &amp; Tasting ($30, 75 minutes)<\/strong> The flagship grain-to-glass tour walks through limestone water sourcing, fermentation, the 65-foot Hardest Working Still in America, and the rackhouses where Kentucky\u2019s climate shapes the whiskey. Guests taste five bourbons as they go, including Jim Beam White, Jim Beam Black, Basil Hayden, Knob Creek, and a rotating surprise pour, often Booker\u2019s. The tour holds up to 24 guests and runs daily. Active military visit free with valid ID, and veterans receive a discount. All tastings are 21+ with valid ID.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Hands-On Barrel Fill, Dump, and Bottle Your Own Knob Creek (included in tour; bottling $59.99)<\/strong> Guests fill a real barrel, dump a real barrel, and can bottle their own Knob Creek on the T-Line. The process includes rinsing the bottle, running it down the line, and pressing a thumbprint into the wax seal. Engraving is available for an additional $10. The bottle price matches the gift shop shelf price.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Lunch at The Kitchen Table (11:30 a.m.\u20131:00 p.m.)<\/strong> The Kitchen Table is a full-service restaurant and cocktail bar built in 2022 and named for the most important place in a Kentucky family home. The menu focuses on Kentucky classics such as burgers, barbecue, and fried chicken, alongside a signature sourdough pizza made with the same yeast strain used in the bourbon and baked in an Italian pizza oven. Cocktails highlight the family\u2019s whiskeys. No reservation is required for lunch walk-ins, though busy weekends fill quickly.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><strong>Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest (1:30\u20133:30 p.m.)<\/strong> A short drive from the distillery brings you to Bernheim\u2019s entrance. Walk the Canopy Tree Walk, find the Forest Giants sculptures on the trail network, or let younger members of the group explore the Playcosystem. Fall foliage peaks in October, and spring wildflowers run from March through May. Check current hours and admission on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noindex nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/bernheim.org\/visit\/plan-your-visit\/\">Bernheim Forest visit page<\/a> before you go.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Romantic Things to Do in Clermont for Couples<\/h2>\n<p>Clermont creates a relaxed, romantic day without demanding elaborate planning. The Beam Made Bourbon Tour feels like a shared adventure, as couples fill a barrel together, press two thumbprints into the same wax seal, and taste five bourbons side by side. The Kitchen Table\u2019s seasonal menu and cocktail program provide a natural follow-up for lunch or an early dinner. The monthly Supper Club, a paired four-course dinner often tied to a high-end release, works well for couples who want an elevated evening. Historic rackhouses, rolling hills, and long Kentucky sunsets frame the distillery grounds. Bernheim Forest adds a quieter counterpoint, with the Canopy Tree Walk and Forest Giants trail offering easy, scenic, and photogenic moments in every season.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"text-align: center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aigrowthmarketer.co\/1781204036498-f8c16384bf07.jpeg\" alt=\"On the Beam Made Bourbon Tour &amp; Tasting, you can participate in barrel filling and dumping,\" style=\"max-height: 500px\" loading=\"lazy\"><figcaption><em>On the Beam Made Bourbon Tour &amp; Tasting, you can participate in barrel filling and dumping,<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Planning a Clermont Day Trip from Louisville<\/h2>\n<p>Clermont sits about 30 minutes south of Louisville via I-65, with a straightforward drive and no complicated routing. The distillery exit is clearly marked, and the campus is easy to find at 568 Happy Hollow Rd. Travelers building a longer bourbon day often use Clermont\u2019s position on I-65 as the natural first stop before continuing south toward Bardstown, where Maker\u2019s Mark and Heaven Hill both run strong visitor programs. Beam sits directly on the route to both, so it anchors a three-stop itinerary without adding backtracking. Tour operators such as Mint Julep and Pegasus run guided group trips along this corridor for travelers who prefer not to drive.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/james-b-beam-distillery-tour\/book-a-tour#id=beam-made-bourbon-distillery-tour-tasting-clermont\"><strong>Reserve your Beam Made Bourbon Tour to anchor a Louisville-to-Bardstown bourbon day around Clermont.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Best Things to Do in Clermont This Weekend<\/h2>\n<p>Timing a Clermont visit around Kentucky\u2019s seasonal calendar can amplify the experience. Derby season, running from late April through the first Saturday in May, brings the state\u2019s highest concentration of out-of-state visitors, and the distillery grounds feel especially festive. SEC football weekends in September and October line up with Bernheim\u2019s early fall color, making the Beam-plus-forest combination particularly strong on those Saturdays. <\/p>\n<p>October marks the peak month for fall foliage at Bernheim, and the distillery\u2019s Supper Club calendar often features autumn releases during that window. Holiday weekends in November and December bring their own programming and a different atmosphere. The distillery is generally open Monday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST, with Sunday opening at 9:30 a.m., and it closes on Tuesdays in January and February and on major holidays. Advance booking is strongly recommended on any weekend, because popular tour times sell out, especially during Derby and football season.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"text-align: center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aigrowthmarketer.co\/1781204166965-176f97f1c94a.jpeg\" alt=\"Guests enjoying lunch and cocktails at The Kitchen Table Restaurant&apos;s outside patio, inside James B. Beam Distilling Co.\" style=\"max-height: 500px\" loading=\"lazy\"><figcaption><em>Guests enjoying lunch and cocktails at The Kitchen Table Restaurant&#8217;s outside patio, inside James B. Beam Distilling Co.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3>How much does the Beam Made Bourbon Tour cost, and what does it include?<\/h3>\n<p>As mentioned earlier, the Beam Made Bourbon Tour &amp; Tasting costs $30 plus tax and fees and runs about 75 minutes. The experience covers the full grain-to-glass story of bourbon production at the distillery, from limestone water to fermentation, distillation, and barrel maturation. Guests taste five bourbons at key production moments, with a lineup that typically includes Jim Beam White and Black, Basil Hayden, Knob Creek, and a rotating surprise pour. Hands-on barrel filling and dumping are part of the tour. An optional bottle-your-own Knob Creek experience on the T-Line is available for $59.99, matching the gift shop shelf price. Active military visit free with valid ID, and veterans receive a discount. All tastings require guests to be 21 or older with valid identification, in line with Drink Smart responsible enjoyment standards.<\/p>\n<h3>Do I need to book the Beam Made Bourbon Tour in advance?<\/h3>\n<p>Advance booking is strongly recommended for all guided tours and tastings, especially on weekends and during high-traffic periods such as Derby season and SEC football weekends. Tours depart on schedule, and guests cannot join a tour already in progress, so arriving at least 30 minutes early works best. The grounds, gift shop, and The Kitchen Table restaurant remain accessible without a reservation, but guided experiences often book up quickly. Guests can reserve tours at beamdistilling.com.<\/p>\n<h3>Can families with children visit the James B. Beam Distilling Co.?<\/h3>\n<p>Families are welcome on the distillery grounds, and children may accompany adults on select tours. All bourbon tastings are strictly reserved for guests 21 and older with valid ID, in keeping with Drink Smart responsible enjoyment guidelines. Families with younger children often pair a Beam visit with a stop at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, where the Playcosystem and Forest Giants trail suit all ages. The Kitchen Table restaurant is open to all guests for dining.<\/p>\n<h3>What other bourbon distilleries pair well with a Beam visit?<\/h3>\n<p>The James B. Beam Distilling Co. sits on I-65 between Louisville and Bardstown, which makes it a natural first stop on a multi-distillery day. Maker\u2019s Mark and Heaven Hill, both located in the Bardstown area, are popular companions to Beam on the same itinerary. Beam\u2019s position on the route means no backtracking is required. Most visitors fit two to three distillery stops into a full day, with Beam serving as the anchor experience and Bardstown-area distilleries as natural follow-ups. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail connects these stops under a single passport program.<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion: A One-Day Clermont, KY, With Bourbon and A Forest Escape<\/h2>\n<p>Clermont, Kentucky, delivers two of the state\u2019s most distinctive experiences within a few miles of each other. The James B. Beam Distilling Co. showcases generations of the First Family of Bourbon making the world\u2019s #1 bourbon, while Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest offers 16,000 acres of protected Kentucky woodland with year-round appeal. Travelers with a free afternoon, a Derby weekend, a football Saturday, or a day between Louisville and Bardstown can confidently choose this combination. The Beam Made Bourbon Tour runs 75 minutes, costs $30, and consistently earns top ratings from thousands of guests. The barrel fill, thumbprint wax seal, sourdough pizza, and Forest Giants at sunset build on that foundation. Please enjoy responsibly, and always bring valid ID for all tasting experiences.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/james-b-beam-distillery-tour\/book-a-tour#id=beam-made-bourbon-distillery-tour-tasting-clermont\"><strong>Book your Beam Made Bourbon Tour &amp; Tasting now and pair it with an afternoon in Bernheim Forest for a complete Clermont day trip.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-type=\"horizontalRule\">\n<hr>\n<\/div>\n<div data-disclaimer-footer=\"true\">\n<p data-disclaimer-id=\"28\" data-disclaimer-type=\"fixed\">This article is promotional content of James B. Beam Distilling Co. Please practice responsible drinking.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover the best of Clermont, KY with James B. Bean Distilling Co. Tour the iconic distillery, taste world-class bourbon &amp; explore Bernheim Forest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":114,"featured_media":213,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-214","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/114"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=214"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=214"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=214"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beamdistilling.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=214"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}