The Barn Series - Day 6 - See Rock City

Today I am sharing a vintage barn featuring the SEE ROCK CITY logos. You can find these logo barns all over the South. You can find this barn outside the gate entrance to Maker's Mark. While we are in Kentucky, I wanted to share a little bit about Rock City which is situated atop Lookout Mountain, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and features massive ancient rock formations, beautiful gardens, a waterfall and caverns. You can walk on the Swing Along Bridge or hike the Enchanted Trail, or if you fancy it, visit Mother Goose Village to shop and dine. It's an experience to see the least!

If you take the state road from Loretto to Louisville, in Kentucky, just pat Bardstown sits another Rock City logo barn. I admit I have never been to Rock City. It is on my list of places to visit in Tennessee, I would love to photograph the waterfall and take a few snaps of the overlook on top of Lookout Mountain where you can see 7 states in that one spot. Impressive!

Stop back by tomorrow for another barn in our Barn Series. You never know where we might end up. And I love having you along for the ride, as much as I love reminiscing about these old barns I photographed over the years. Have a wonderful evening. ENJOY!

The Barn Series- Day 4 - Maker's Mark

Every barn tells a story. This story began as Burks Distillery way back in 1953, in the tiny town of Loretto, Kentucky. However, in 1953 the story changed when a Kentucky gentleman, Bill Samuels, bought the distillery.

Five years and much ado later in 1958, the first run of bourbon was bottled at Maker's Mark Distillery, complete with the dipped red wax seal, and a star was born. Maker's Mark is a global brand renowned as one of the best bourbons bottled. Having visited Maker's Mark multiple times, I have to say the one thing I love, almost as much as the barrel laden vintage wagon that sits in the yard, has to be this stark black barn with its distinctive red shutters that lends a hand to the Maker's Mark brand.

The story doesn't end there though. My father, Joseph Mattingly, was born right up the road from Maker's Mark, before it even became the renowned distillery it is today. Furthermore, if you were to travel the back roads surrounding Loretto, Springfield or Bardstown, Kentucky, you couldn't throw a stone without hitting one of my ancestors.

As vintage barns go, the barn at Maker's Mark is definitely one of my favorites for obvious reasons. Seriously, one minute we were in the heart of the Bluegrass State and the 'Horse Capital of the World' and nary a minute later we are in the 'Bourbon Capital of the World' and we didn't leave the state of Kentucky. Amazing!

It's Day 4 of The Barn Series and we are still traveling in Kentucky. If thoroughbreds and horse barns didn't peak your interest, I hope this little splash of spirits from Maker's Mark did. Let's get back in the car and head on down the road. Hey, you suppose we'll make it out of Kentucky? ENJOY!

Linking to Metamorphosis Monday

Grounds at Maker's Mark, Loretto, Kentucky

A few weeks ago I spent a Saturday afternoon shopping in Bardstown at some of my favorite home decor shops. Then I drove the twenty minute drive to Maker's Mark. I hadn't been to the distillery in over ten years and I didn't have any of those old images. So, allow me to give you a quickie tour of this famed distillery . . .

As you make your way from the parking lot to the main grounds, you'll pass this old painted wagon filled with, what else, but bourbon barrels.


Next you'll walk over a bridge and please do notice the creek which I'm sure plays a big role in the 'making of this mark'.



Oh, look. Here we are at the distillery building where you can go in and take the tour. No, I've never done the tour, but perhaps one day.


As you make your way back to the parking lot, you'll pass this black and red painted barn which no doubt plays a role in the bourbon making process. Tomorrow, as it happens, is the last day for the annual Bourbon Festival that's been going on all week in and around Bardstown, Kentucky. There are bourbon enthusiasts from all over the globe visiting Louisville and Bardstown this week just to tour the many bourbon distilleries and participate in the festival. Have a fantastic weekend all. ENJOY!

Photographer's Note: Before I close this post, I wanted to share that at one time I played a role in the branding of Maker's Mark. Back in the beginning of my career in advertising, I worked for a major ad agency here in Louisville. I managed the typesetting department and typeset many a Maker's Mark ad and billboard. One holiday, Bill Samuels gave me a signed bottle of Maker's Mark, with my name printed on the label and the top was dipped in gold wax instead of red.