The upcoming Kentucky Bourbon Affair, set to happen this week June 3-7, is basically bourbon fantasy camp for whiskey nerds like myself. It is something our Bourbon Country Editor at Large Maggie Kimberl covered at length already, but I can tell you in summary there are over three dozen events all around bourbon land over the time of the event, with Louisville as the hub of the activities.
I’ll be in attendance at the Affair for five formal events between June 4-6, some of which entrance to has been provided to The Whiskey Wash at no cost. We appreciate this gesture by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, but as always will retain independent editorial control of any coverage we may provide while on site.
Below is the itinerary of what I’ll be at during my time on the ground there. If you have anything specifically you’d like to know about from these events, let me know in the comments and I’l try to address your questions as I post coverage of the Affair.
Thursday, June 4
Become a Four Roses Aficionado – Four Roses Distillery
Get a hands-on tutorial in every step of the Bourbon-making process, from milling to final distillation, at Four Roses Distillery, recently named Whisky Magazine’s Distillery of the Year! Sign up for two, two-hour sessions as Distillery Manager; Distillery Operator; Fermenter Operator; Utility Operator; Quality Lab Manager; Small Batch Mingling; or Bourbon Food Pairing.
Heaven Hill: An Evening with the Shapira Family – Evan Williams Bourbon Experience
Enjoy an intimate catered dinner with three generations of the Shapira family, founders and owners of Heaven Hill Brands, in the Speakeasy lounge at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in Louisville. There will be lots of personal interaction and a guided tasting of some rare and historic Heaven Hill bottlings throughout the years.
Friday, June 5
The Wild Turkey Experience – Wild Turkey Distillery
Talk about living legends. Spend a day with Jimmy and Eddie Russell, the father-son duo who are enshrined in the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, as they put you to work in the iconic Wild Turkey Distillery. Sample the distillery’s portfolio including Rare Breed and Russell’s Reserve.
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Bourbonque at the Historic Family Home of Jim Beam – Beam Family Home, Bardstown
Join Fred Noe, 7th generation Master Distiller and great grandson of Jim Beam, at the historic Beam family home in Bardstown. Start the night with an exclusive tour and tasting, followed by a down-home barbeque dinner. Cap off the evening with some of Beam’s newest expressions in Fred’s private Man Cave.
Saturday, June 6
Woodford Reserve: Exploring our 5 Flavor Sources – Woodford Reserve Distillery
Join Woodford Reserve’s sensory experts in this guided palate training through Bourbon’s subtle nuances of fruit, floral, spice and nut. The class will finish with a culinary-inspired cocktail and gourmet Bourbon lunch.
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