Porches wrap the Main House and a 55-foot deck stretches into the grounds, giving you somewhere to land with a book or a bourbon between outings. The innkeepers live onsite and build each guest's itinerary around their interests, from distillery routes and restaurant picks to a scenic horse-country drive they share only with guests.

Where the house has stories and the hosts have recommendations.

Guestrooms are furnished with antiques and reproductions that match the house's character. Select rooms include spa tubs, steam showers, fireplaces, and private balconies or patios. One even has the original 1853 cooking hearth. The Rose Cottage stands apart as its own octagonal Gothic cottage with a 25-foot ceiling and a wraparound porch.

Every stay starts with a complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast in the dining room. The menu runs from omelets and biscuits and gravy to caramel French toast made with Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream. Later, explore a collection of more than 200 bourbons and whiskeys with a custom flight or a signature Black Walnut Old Fashioned. If you're curious about what you're sipping, the innkeepers are happy to talk you through it. Louisville's dining scene handles the rest of your meals.