LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The nation’s only Bourbon Boat Tour has been going strong for five seasons this year, but now the family-owned business is dreaming bigger.
What You Need To Know
- Husband and wife captain Nathan and Allison Depenbrock have run Kentucky River Tours for 41 years
- The tour company has the nation’s only Bourbon Boat Tour, which enlightens people about the history of bourbon
- The Depenbrocks will expand in the new year with a bigger boat that will serve bourbon and food onboard
- The Bourbon Boat Tour brings in nearly 10,000 tourists a year
For bourbon fans across Kentucky, this is a great win for them and Kentucky River Tours. The company is run by husband and wife captains Nathan and Allison Depenbrock, who offer canoeing, kayaking and, of course, their “Bourbon Boat Tour.”
The Depenbrocks are drumming up new plans in the new year for a new boat that will feature food and bourbon onboard.
The business has kept steam for 41 years, even through a worldwide pandemic, and serves nearly 10,000 people a year with their ‘Bourbon Boat Tour’ and nearly 25,000 people a year for their canoe and kayaking business.
Most days, Captain Nathan Depenbrock is behind the wheel of the boat, doing what he loves and cracking jokes to tourists.
“Alright you guys, there’s going to be one loud honk on the horn. If you hear it… here it comes. Anybody want to guess the name of this river we’re on right now?” said Captain Depenbrock.
He tests the knowledge of tourists throughout the historical tour for bourbon. The tour takes people through the good, bad, and the ugly of the history of bourbon in Kentucky dating back to 1775 — including the recent fire at the Jim Beam Warehouse in 2019.
“About six miles up our river is where the Old Crow Distillery sat when they were struck by lightning. And one of those warehouses burnt to the ground along with 45,000 barrels of bourbon that were inside of it,” he explained to tour guests.
Captain Depenbrock’s wife sat out on this tour, but he’s got Kali Sanders—another bourbon fan aboard to guide this tour.
“Whether it’s bourbon focused or Kentucky focused, both Nathan and those that do all of these tours have a way to connect folks. We make it make sense, no matter where they’re from or all walks of life,” said Sanders.
This tour emphasizes the fact that bourbon is not just alcohol, it’s history, Kentucky’s own history. For that reason, Captain Depenbrock says it’s time to expand.
“We’re right now working on trying to have a second boat here, which will be a larger vessel where we can get 45 people out here at a time. Cruise the river and bring some bourbon experts on board and actually do some tastings while we get to cruise on the river that made that bourbon,” said Captain Depenbrock.
It’s an addition he hopes will keep people coming for another 41 years. Captain Depenbrock is still working out all the logistics for the new and bigger boat that will serve bourbon and food but hopes to secure the expansion in the new year.
To stay up to date with the expansion or to book a tour, click here.