I don’t need a special occasion to down whiskey, but sometimes real life gets in the way.

“One more round” sounds great in the moment. But not so much the next morning as your headache rages, you’ve hit the snooze button four times and you need to go to work… but all you can think about is finding a breakfast sandwich.

Maybe that’s why whiskey tours are booming. Day drinking isn’t just accepted; it’s expected. Who cares if you wake up with a hangover? The only thing you have to do is drink more whiskey.

And since you’re learning about the history and the science behind the beverage, you can even say it’s educational.

As summer approaches, it’s time to start planning your next getaway. So why not make it a whiskey vacation?

Here are five top whiskey destinations, whether you’re planning a roadtrip or you’re ready to get your passport stamped.

Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Of course, a visit to the birthplace of bourbon is at the top of this list. There are currently 56 distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, so if you’re pressed for time, you may need to sample the highlights.

Book early, though –  many of the most popular distillery tours are booked solid several weeks in advance.

Check out the Jim Beam American Stillhouse, where you can get whiskey from a self-serving machine, as well as Maker’s Mark in Loretto, where you can dip your own bottle in the classic red wax.

If you’re looking for a scenic drinking destination, you can’t go wrong with Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles.

Tennessee

Technically, Tennessee whiskey is considered a bourbon. But don’t mention that when you’re visiting the Volunteer State.

You can pay your old friend Jack Daniel’s a visit, but it’s located in a dry county. You can buy a souvenir bottle (that coincidentally) has whiskey inside. But it’s not for drinking, OK?

Or swing by one of the five Ole Smoky distilleries for some good old-fashioned moonshine.

Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest isn’t home to any big names in whiskey, but it offers some noteworthy micro-distilleries.

Distilleries in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia have even teamed up to offer a self-guided Pacific Northwest Whiskey Trail, which they say is the first whiskey trail to cross international borders.

Ireland

Ireland doesn’t have a single region that’s known for its distilleries. So if you visit for the whiskey, you’ll either need to rent a car to drive the Emerald Isle or take an organized tour.

A few of the top destinations include Kilbeggan Distillery, the oldest licensed distillery in Ireland, and the Jameson Distillery in Dublin, formerly the home of the Irish whiskey legend’s factory.

Speyside, Scotland

Speyside, Scotland is home to over 50 distilleries. The fact that it’s the capital of Scotch whisky may be a bit of a geographical coincidence. It’s situated between the Cairngorm mountains to the south and the North Sea to the north. Distilling whisky was illegal until 1823, but Seyside’s location made for a difficult place for those enforcing the law to reach.

Noteworthy distilleries include The Balvenie (if you’re up for a splurge) or The Macallan (known among Scotch lovers for its sherry casks). You could also visit in late April for the Spirit of Speyside Whiskey Festival, where you’ll find over 500 whisky events packed into six days.