The Whiskey Run from June...

[LadyDraco]

Each year Highbinder and Smokin’Joe set up a big ride  a VRCC Event …
This year was not different… This year’s destination was Bardstown, KY…

We headed out a day early (Thursday)  as Highbinder (Don) thought if others are getting there early as well.. And Vrcc rep. should be there to greet them..



So we headed out early in the morning and on the way we picked up our neighbors .. And away we go…:ricky

Jackie decided that she would ride her  Nighthawk 250….
 


We stayed on the US highways and only hit the super slab in Lexington, .Ky..
That NK was wide open… We kept her in the rocking chair (in between the 3 Valks)  She did Great !! 304 miles one way... Riding with  the big Valks...

A few of our buddies had showed up early as well.. So it was time to party at the pool…
 Bandit (Don) & HotGlue(Mark)



Highbinder (Don)  & Flamingo Babe (Charlyne)



 ValkHound (Dana) brough stuff for making  Banana splits… Ooo not that kind…



Oh I’m not going to tell you what’s in that bag ,But Bandit was guarding it well..



  That evening  Jackie was doused in celebration for her first long ride..
BTW that was ice water...



We all had a great time around the pool...
FenderMender (Charlie) Jackie's other half..


Friday morning we talked about what to do..


 
So a small group of us headed to check out Heaven Hill Distillery  …
Heaven Hill has a nice old still set up inside of days gone by… Well no so fast…



Wow that’s a very nice display.. to rich for my pockets..



Once you take the tour then it’s off to the tasting room .. Yeah that’s what I’m talking about…




Hey is that a pink Dragon  up there??



The area around Heaven Hill is kind of of cool…



The buildings in the back ground is where the whiskey/bourbon barrels are kept,
the area has a distinct smell about it.. SourMash !!



I liked this..




Don & I  did a scouting ride for one route that he and Joe hadn't check in to yet ...For Saturdays group ride.
 This way there was NO surprises. Beautiful countryside..



Back at the hotel for some more tire kicking ..
The rest of everyone showed up…



Hey lets go down town for a Ice Cream raid...
Oops no pix of that... Hmmm did it happen :augie

But we did check out the Dinner Train..



I really liked this shot.. And so much I turned it in to a VRCC monthly calendar.



Then I spotted this sign ...Cool I did know we had a shop in KY.




Back to the pool for some parting time..





Bandit jump in.. we threw him a life ring..



That bag came back out ...Good to the last drop of them country squeezing...



That's all for now... Part 2 will be ready soon...

[LadyDraco]

Saturday morning staging..



And of course some tire kicking.. Ya always like to see what someone else has done to their Valk..



  We had 60 bikes but a few riders heard that big rains where coming, and some locals just stopped by to say Howdy ..



Pibit headed home to Can... To try and beat some heavy rain up his way..


So we now left with  54 bikes in all… Heading to Makers Mark Distillery..  Ah time for Dragon herding… Highbinder takes point..



Wow !! That is some line of riders… That's our buddy Smokin'Joe behind me..



The group stayed together very well.. Highbinder is an excellent Dragon herder… We had other CB's in the group that really helps to keep a group of Dragons together.. Our buddies Thom & Mike rode Drag.They are wayy in the back...

 

Once we got to Makers Mark and settled down.. The Tour will start..



They have a very cool place ..



Inside the main house ,they serve you Lemonade.
and have a few cool artifacts..
Like this : 1851 Colt Given by Frank James to Ora Samules



The phone does work..Hello Sarah get me -----.....



Just a few photos of the sites..





The old way to move the barrels..



OK now to start the tour...



It get a 122* in this building !! They call this Copper Magic..




Our tour Guide tell us how's  and why's  to make Whiskey



Once in side wow did smell goodd!!!



The size of the Mash Tub 11421.5 Gals !! WOW !



We did get to taste the mash... Yes for real we could stick our finger in it ... Tastes just like the start of yeast bread..

Joe was getting ready to dive in..



Don said I hope NO one saw Joe dive in..



Hey Joe you in there ?? You ok Buddy? Joe ?? I see bubbles...



A special bottle being dipped in wax..



Someone dropped a full bottle :yikes ... You should have seen just how fast the Dragon riders cleaned up the floor.



Now to go to the Tasting room... Yeah !!!!


 
Mike was happy they gave him 2 !!!



I didn't have the heart to tell him we all got 2...:augie
Maker's Mark and Maker's Mark Mint.. Not bad and chocolate also !



Dana was enjoying himself...



Frog was really having a good time..Before....



After.. LOL...



Yes there was a very nice Gift Shop as well..
Some folks got to wax dip there own bottles..



With that finished it was time to take in a little country side ride and eat at the River Bend State Park.. The rain was holding off...



We saw KY Burly Tobacco..



Soybeans.. Hey I can just graze here...



This part of KY is flat..



Once we snaked our way to The state park...



Bandit knows what's under a kilt:evil  .. He told the ladies :augie



At this point my cameras batteries died...

Once we ate we where to go to the Corvette museum ,but it was so bloody hot that we all scattered like a covey of quail and headed back to the hotel..

Once back to the hotel everyone jumped in the pool



We sure had a grand time.. With our old and new friends..
Bikes ~Good Friends~Whiskey~Pool .. It just doesn't get any better then that... Yes life is good.....:beer 

Till next time....

P.S. They do NOT give you enough whiskey to be tipsy in any way....

[Gary]

Wow nice pics, tour and write up.

It's even been hot around here but I was sweat'n just lookin at them pics! 

Great job LD, thanks!

[Jim_Orr]

Looks like everybody had a good time, and that is the most important thing.   How about I hire you to do my RR's cause I really suck, and it takes me forever!   Some of my RR's take longer than the rides.  LOL