MB Roland and Dueling Grounds Distilleries' tasting rooms are set to open on Broadway Street in Cave City, Kentucky.
Craft Distillers Expand Presence in Southern Kentucky's Cave City
Home to Mammoth Cave National Park, Cave City now has some whiskey attractions
December 4, 2025 –––––– Laura Pelner
While it’s well south of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Cave City is poised to become a destination for whiskey fans: a distillery is set to open there, and a trio of craft distillers has announced tasting rooms in this Southern Kentucky town.
Cave City is best known as an entrance to Mammoth Cave National Park, home to the world’s longest cave system and a UNESCO World Heritage site. But beginning in mid-December, it will also be home to tasting rooms for Dueling Grounds Distillery and MB Roland Distillery, while
Festivities kick off December 12, when both distillery and municipal officials will host a ribbon-cutting to honor the opening of the tasting rooms for Dueling Grounds and MB Roland. Included in the celebration are whiskey tastings, exclusive bottle releases, and food vendors.
The tasting rooms are located adjacent to each other on Broadway Street. The Dueling Ground space, called The Barrel Room, will offer guided tastings of the distillery’s Linkumpinch bourbon and some small batch releases, as well as seasonal cocktails. The MB Roland site, called Cave du Bourbon, will pour its portfolio of pre-Prohibition-style bourbons and other whiskeys, flights, and cocktails, and will also offer cigars, cooking spices, and seasonings.
Cave City Distilling Co. is expected to open in 2026 within a mile of the two tasting rooms, bringing a full-scale distillery to the town, with its own tour and tasting experience. The new space will also house a cheese shop serving sandwiches and charcuterie boards. Cave City Distilling, formerly Balance Distilling Co. was founded in 2010 and produces Mammoth Cave bourbon, flavored moonshines, gin, and rum. The distillery was formerly located in Smiths Grove, Kentucky. In Cave City, it will be next to the Cave Area Conference Center.
The tasting rooms and distillery are key parts of the revitalization of downtown Cave City. Mammoth Cave National Park sees thousands of visitors each year. Now, whiskey lovers among them have a reason to extend their stay.
