How was the latest Kentucky Bourbon Festival, and did it meet the expectations we had after attending the 2023 event? For starters, this year we got a lot more teaser e-mails from distilleries offering festival bottles to look out for as well as special announcements. We also knew that we would be offered all of this:
- 3 Day Access to the Festival Fri-Sun
- KYBF “Wee” Glencairn Tasting Glass
- Sampling from 60 Distilleries
- Opportunities to Meet Master Distillers
- Buy Unique Bottles Direct from Distillers*
- Entry to Bourbon Capital Bites Area*
- 40+ Vendors in Bourbon Marketplace*
- Admission to Oscar Getz Museum
- Access to Deployment Cigar Lounge*
- Bourbon :30 Show Viewing
- Unlimited Re-Entry to Festival
- Ability to Purchase Premium Events*
- Access to Bourbon Lockers*
What We Tasted + Special Announcements (Want briefer coverage: read the social media alone in part two next Friday September 27.)
Lawrenceburg Bourbon changed their name to Larrikin Bourbon and we continued to enjoy their brand, especially the rye whiskies.
RD1 Spirits had artist Kyle Lucks painting live. Lucks said he started the paintings in his studio, allowing about seven hours more at the fest to complete. Guests could enter the raffle to win either one, while enjoying tastes of the festival bottles from RD1. Of special note for us was the small batch finished with Brazilian Amburana wood.
During a “Bourbon Engagement” presentation with Angel’s Envy we got to taste four of their whiskies, and take home some cool swag including an etched Angel’s Envy coupe. We learned about the different oak barrels that are combined for their finished products.
We met the brand ambassador for Mary Dowling, Haley Graham Hicky, while enjoying their bourbons, especially one that had been finished in tequila barrels. Dowling had moved her distillery to Mexico during prohibition to continue distilling spirits, so this tequila finish was a nod to that time.
Red Line Bourbon had a new Mongolian oak finished bourbon (I still have a little left from last year’s bottle) and new for them was one finished in a Tokaji Hungarian wine cask that was delicious.
Bard Distillery presented a Cinder & Smoke 17 YO Excelsior that had really interesting cinnamon notes. I told as many people about that one as possible, so good. They also shared their bourbon finished in Oloroso sherry that we enjoyed as well.
Fear & Loathing Absinthe (the perfect bourbon palate cleanser and more) and Hidden Barn bourbons from Neeley Family Distillery were a new surprise for us. The absinthe is the first I’ve ever had that would be a stand-alone spirit, and not just an ingredient to enjoy in a cocktail or absinthe fountain. From their Instagram, “We can finally announce that our Fear and Loathing in Kentucky Absinthe has won a Platinum at the @sfwspiritscomp @thetastingalliance…”
Want more? From The B-Line: Northern Kentucky’s 25-stop, passport-guided bourbon tour — and an Official Gateway to the renowned Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Consisting of 7 craft distilleries (all on the Bourbon Trail), 9 bars (each with at least 100 bourbons) and 9 restaurants (each with at least 50 bourbons and a bourbon-infused dish), The B-Line offers an off-the-beaten path opportunity to explore the start of the Bluegrass state. Whether you’re seeing your future in a fortune-telling potstill at Second Sight Spirits, sampling century-old bourbon at Revival Vintage Spirits or eating Kentucky’s best fried chicken at Purple Poulet (per Southern Living), you can sip the road less traveled with The B-Line. Bonus: Get your passport stamped at 2 distilleries, 2 bars and 2 restaurants and earn free B-Line swag.
Tune into EveWine101.com to read more of what other guests thought and other news – next Friday, September 27.
Instagram: @kybourbonfest
Tags: #kybourbonfest and #kybf2024
Website: kybourbonfestival.com
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Proof Awards, Cellarmasters, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.
