Bourbon is undergoing a remarkable renaissance in America. And what better way to experience its resurgence than to tour the hilly backcountry of Kentucky, which produces nearly all the bourbon in the world.

Bourbon is a uniquely American product, as it must be produced in the U.S. by act of Congress. Technically a whiskey since it is a distilled spirit made with a grain mash, bourbon is predominantly made from corn. By law bourbon must be 51% or more corn, though most will be 70% or more. Another unique aspect of bourbon is that it must be aged in new, charred, white oak barrels. After the barrels are used once, they can no longer be part of the bourbon making process (many get sold to Scottish distilleries to mature single malts).

The backbone of America's bourbon production is found in the lush Kentucky Bluegrass country, to the south and east of Louisville. Filled with horse farms and rolling hills, the area sits on top of a limestone aquifer, which reputedly filters impurities from groundwater, contributing pure water to the distilling process. The distilleries are fairly spread out and to visit all the major ones, you will spend several days driving across the state.

One town in particular, historic Bardstown, is strongly connected with making bourbon. The town hosts the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival (Website), the official state bourbon festival as designated by the Kentucky state government. Bardstown has produced bourbon continually since 1776 and every year welcomes over 50,000 attendees to the festival in mid-September. (In 2009, it runs from September 15 - 20). Visitors can take tours, watch barrel making demonstrations and attend tastings and a gala celebration.

Bardstown is also home to the Heaven Hill Distillery (1311 Gilkey Run Road (502) 337-1000) and the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History (114 North Fifth Street, (502) 348-2999, Website) housed in the historic Spalding Hall.