As members of the newly named Bardstown Whiskey Society, we just received our first promotional mailing. Included therein was an advertisement for a new Heaven Hill special 1/2 day tour for only $49.95. Complimentary tours are still available, but the paid tour is apparently for the serious enthusiast.
Our feelings were not entirely negative, but certainly ambivalent. On one hand, as members of what is sometimes called "the other site," Straight Bourbon, we enjoyed a fabulous private tour of Wild Turkey hosted by Jimmy Russell complete with white dog tasting in 2004. On the other hand, we paid for the 4 Roses breakfast that same year and felt unequivocally that we got way more than our money's worth. On the third hand, we felt like we were being treated more like serious enthusiasts on the WT tour, and the price of admission was something besides money - endorsement of fellow enthusiasts.
We see how the $50 tour COULD be worth it - personally conducted by Parker or Craig Beam? Special tastings? A bottle to take home? A combination? Etc.? But we can't help but be skeptical. And as married enthusiasts who travel in a pair, $100 would be a lot to drop on something like that.
Has anybody taken the tour? Or heard details? What do you guys think?