I recently signed on to do a Bourbon cruise on the Paddlewheel Riverboat, American Countess for the last week of August, 2023. I am looking forward to doing this cruise as we have never been on the American Countess. It is the newest boat in the American Queen Steamboat Company, having been commissioned during the height of the pandemic in 2020. 

The Bourbon cruises are becoming more popular every time they offer this themed cruise. This cruise will start in Louisville, Kentucky and end in Alton, Illinois, with stops in such places as Brandenburg, Owensboro and Paducah, Kentucky, where there will be shore excursions to distilleries and other places of interest along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. The food is fantastic and the bars on the boat offer many great Bourbons and cocktails. It is a fun trip.

The last cruise we did was August 2022 on the American Duchess. We started in Louisville and ended in Clarksville, Tennessee. I spoke three times on the trip. I covered the history of Bourbon and there were samples poured. I also hosted a Manhattan cocktail contest giving the bartenders on board an opportunity to offer their best Manhattan for judgement. I will be doing the same themes on this next cruise.

Bourbon cruises on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers are a good value. You not only get to enjoy a relaxing river cruise, seeing the landscape from the river perspective, but also get to visit distilleries near the towns where the boat stops. There is something to see for everyone on the cruise. There is plenty of time to visit the local attractions with a hop-on, hop-off bus that allows everyone to experience the historic towns and local museums. While on the river, you will get to see historic places like Cave-in-Rock, a den of river pirates in the late 18th century, and experience the trip through the locks on the rivers. The scenery is beautiful so sitting on the deck and watching the river go by is a popular pastime on the cruise. If that is not your thing, then there is plenty of on board entertainment for you to enjoy. The stage shows have top notch performers. 

The Bourbon cruise has become very popular. The number of Bourbon drinkers has increased with every cruise that I have worked. It is a good value for those looking to get away for a week. I highly recommend it and I hope to see some of my readers on this next cruise.

Click here to book this cruise.

Photos Courtesy of American Queen and Rosemary Miller