Reviving historical roots: Integrating the science of agriculture into bourbon tourism

Though the bourbon industry has historical and economic ties to the agriculture industry, there is little documentation of the relationship between the two industries or agriculture’s importance to bourbon. To determine its suitability for teaching adult learners about agriculture, a qualitative, comparative case study was conducted at three Kentucky-based distilleries. Ranging in distillery size, production capacity, ownership structures, and more, distillery employees provided their perspectives on the relationship between bourbon and agriculture and its importance in their operations. Participants agreed that the bourbon industry is inherently tied to the agriculture industry and agricultural products were critical to shaping the unique flavors of their products. Through on-site field observations, researchers observed the inclusion of agriculture in current public-facing practices. Researchers recommend increased integration of agricultural topics on public-facing tours to highlight each distillery’s unique traits.