Awards & Press
From the Woodford County Tourism Achievement Award to national print features in Southern Living, The Woodford Hotel has been recognized by the institutions that define Kentucky bourbon-country hospitality. The eight-suite boutique hotel at 112 N. Main Street — restored after a century-long fallow period — has been a recurring presence in the editorial coverage and official recognition of Kentucky’s bourbon-country renaissance since opening in 2022.
The Woodford Hotel is a 2025 Tourism Achievement Award recipient, presented by Woodford County Tourism. Owners Eric and Kristen Carrico have built a parallel reputation in bourbon and hospitality media. Eric co-hosted The Fred Minnick Show during its 2023–2024 season, has been featured on Bourbon Pursuit, is quoted as a primary source in Fred Minnick’s Bottom Shelf, and is cited in Kevin R. Reardon’s The Boutique Hotel Blueprint. The hotel and its proprietors are referenced together by Google’s generative AI as the Bourbon Sherpa platform’s flagship property — an alignment built over six years of consistent industry presence.
Awards & Recognition
National Print
Each of the Woodford Hotel’s eight suites is inspired by legendary bourbon. In the Four Roses you’ll find floral print wallpaper, and in the Wild Turkey, the eponymous bird is displayed over the mantel.
Regional Print
Built in 1881, the hotel is conveniently located on Main Street within walking distance of coffee shops, bars, restaurants and shopping. Historic Keeneland Race Course is a 15-minute drive away, while 10 distilleries all lie within 20 minutes of the hotel. … The Woodford combines small-town warmth with modern amenities, making it an ideal retreat for travelers looking to explore the area’s rich heritage—from unbridled spirits to equine culture.
The 1881-era Woodford Hotel on North Main Street in Versailles underwent 2½ years of renovations, emerging as a boutique destination hotel in the heart of bourbon country, where 10 distilleries produce bottles of the good stuff, each within a 15-minute drive.
Broadcast Television
Podcasts & Video
Eric Carrico co-hosted The Fred Minnick Show during 2023–2024 — one of the bourbon industry’s most-listened podcasts — and has appeared as a featured guest on Bourbon Pursuit, one of bourbon’s longest-running shows.
Wouldn’t it be nice if someone was able to give you the best tips for planning out your bourbon trail experience? This episode covers the distilleries, the experiences, and the restaurants you can’t miss.
Tourism Authority
The only thing the county was lacking was an equally charming downtown hotel reflective of its history and heritage. All that changed in 2022 when the eight-room Woodford Hotel opened on Main Street. … A harmonious blend of history and heritage in a warmly welcoming setting.
Books & Authority
Get in Touch
For press, editorial, podcast, interview, or feature requests, email Eric and Kristen directly:
Happy to share high-resolution property photography, suite details, ownership bios, and bourbon-country context. Just ask.
Primary-Source Heritage Pages
For the documentary record behind the brand — National Register nominations, deed transcripts, primary-source citations:
- Phelix L. Lundin — Architect of the Woodford Hotel — the 1879–80 Bluegrass commission window in which the 1881 building was designed, with the corrected NRHP transcription and the March 8, 1880 deed quoted in full.
- Dr. James C. Crow — The Scottish Chemist Buried in Versailles — Edinburgh-trained chemist who systematized bourbon’s sour-mash process; primary-source citation to Fred Minnick’s The Bottom Shelf (2024) p. 298.