Bourbon Festivals: A September to Remember

As the Summer begins to wain, the prospect of Autumn is upon us. Nothing is better in the Fall than going to a good festival and the good news is that the world of bourbon gives us plenty of options to celebrate our favorite whiskey. There are two major competing events this year being held on the same weekend vying for your attention. The weekend of September 18th-22nd will be the best option for all bourbon enthusiasts and the bourbon curious to escape to Kentucky and take in the plethora of sights, sounds, smells, and tastes.

The 28th annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival® will be held September 18st-22nd in Bardstown to celebrate it’s heritage as the Bourbon Capital of the World ®. As the home to many distilleries, Bardstown and Nelson County is nestled into the heart of bourbon country because of its prime resources and conditions for creating premium bourbon whiskey. Participating distilleries and highlighted brands at this year’s festival represent a who’s who in the industry: Barton 1792 Distillery, Heaven Hill Distillery, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Bardstown Bourbon Company, Blanton’s, The Brown Forman Company, Jim Beam, Lux Row Distilleries, Maker’s Mark, Michter’s, and Wild Turkey. This crown jewel event for the region offers tasting, opportunities to learn more about bourbon through both classes and exhibits, and entertainment options. This event is a bucket list item for any bourbon lover.

A brand new event this year to the scene is the music festival Bourbon and Beyond which will be held at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville September 20th-22nd. This event is being marketed as the perfect blend of bourbon, food, and music and should be viewed as the San Diego Com-icon of Bourbon. This 3 day festival will include the sounds of the Foo Fighters, Zac Brown Band, Robert Plant, Hall & Oates, John Fogerty, ZZ Top, Allison Krauss, The Flaming Lips, Grace Potter, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Live, and many other artists that span many genres of music. There will be over 40 bourbon brands, a dozen bourbon masters and celebrities, and a wide array of workshops, talks, demonstrations, and experiences. This festival also promises to highlight the exciting Louisville culinary scene and will play host to many local and national chefs and restaurants offering lots of choices to pair with your glass of bourbon. This event will surely become an annual event and huge draw for the industry.

If you have had any interest in immersing yourself into the world of bourbon, eating like Kentuckians do, and love to go to concerts, ask your boss if you can have some time off, book your travel now.

Cheers Y’all!