New Riff Distillery will host a bourbon tasting at John Schickel’s Pickles and Wieners Feast on Saturday, September 26, a free community event benefiting Special Olympics Northern Kentucky. Last year the fundraiser raised for the program.
The even will run from noon to 5pm at Erlanger Lions Park, in Florence, Kentucky. A bourbon tasting is planned for guests aged 21 and older.
Alongside the New Riff pour, the event will feature food, a silent auction, two raffles and live music from the Lazy River Band.
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READ THE STORY“This event is supposed to be simple: Come as you are, bring your family, eat a pickle and a hot dog, listen to some good music and help some wonderful athletes,” said former Kentucky state Sen. John Schickel.
Schickel added: “People showed up in a big way last year. We raised $58,000, and I want to see if Northern Kentucky can top that this year.”
The Feast began in 2012 and has grown into a major fundraiser for the volunteer-run program, which provides year-round opportunities for local athletes.
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Special Olympics Northern Kentucky program director Mark Staggs said last year’s record $58,000 represented more than half of the program’s annual operating budget.
“Western Kentucky has its Fancy Farm. We have the Pickle Feast,” said Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore.
Moore added: “It has developed into quite a gathering spot for persons seeking statewide political office, and I look forward to seeing my friends from around the state.”
Organizers are accepting event sponsorships and select auction donations. Raffle tickets are available in advance from participating Special Olympics athletes and coaches, and will also be sold at the Feast.
New Riff Distilling is based in Newport, Kentucky, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. The distillery was founded by Ken Lewis and released its first bottled-in-bond bourbon in 2018.
The producer is known for its Kentucky straight bourbon and rye whiskeys, all made without the use of a sourced whiskey. New Riff also operates a visitor center at its Newport facility.
Admission to the Feast is free, though charges for food, beverages, raffle tickets and auction items may apply. Businesses or individuals wishing to help can contact organizers directly.
