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UPCOMING EVENT: Ultimate Bottled-in-Bond Celebration! “Bonded Spirit Bluegrass Festival” in Covington, KY

National “Bottled-in-Bond Day” is March 3rd. As if you didn’t already know? This very special occasion which rightfully celebrates the 1897 “Bottled-in-Bond” Act is coming in hot. Thankfully, the good folks in Northern Kentucky’s Covington area have us covered with a tongue smacking foot tapping delicious celebration. And for good reason. Hang with me here. You […]

The post UPCOMING EVENT: Ultimate Bottled-in-Bond Celebration! “Bonded Spirit Bluegrass Festival” in Covington, KY first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

National “Bottled-in-Bond Day” is March 3rd. As if you didn’t already know? This very special occasion which rightfully celebrates the 1897 “Bottled-in-Bond” Act is coming in hot. Thankfully, the good folks in Northern Kentucky’s Covington area have us covered with a tongue smacking foot tapping delicious celebration. And for good reason. Hang with me here.

You see, the “BiB” Act was the first major legislation providing specific standards of quality for American Whiskey. It guaranteed you knew who made your whiskey, where it was aged, a minimum age of at least 4 years, and a 100 proof (50% abv). Hard to imagine now but back in those days, it was truly The Wild Wild Wild Wild West and a lot could happen to your whiskey from producer to barkeeper. Keep in mind, whiskey was a common remedy in those day for infants and children. Nothing like coating those teething baby gums with whiskey that was adultered with tobacco spit and just a smidge of some rust for coloring and good measure. Maybe a dash of paint thinner to top it off.

The Kentucky Connection: Bottled-in-Bond’s Hero

Northern Kentucky’s Covington area was the native stomping grounds to the most important politician backing BiB – US Secretary of Treasure John G. Carlisle (resume also boasts US Senator, POTUS candidacy, and a bunch of other gov stuff). As a proud Kentuckian, he was certainly immersed in the Bourbon world as he, along with close friend E.H. Taylor, fought hard and diligently to push BiB through.

Heyyy…Where The Party At?!

*MARCH 2nd – COVINGTON, KY* Mark your calendar March 2nd for the first-annual Bonded Spirit Bluegrass Festival from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, at Smoke Justis in Covington, Ky. Brought together in partnership with meetNKY and The B-Line^®, the festival celebrates the spirit of the Bottled-in-Bond (BIB) Act of 1897 and features a cocktail competition, food and a live music lineup featuring Grammy-nominated bluegrass artists Sister Sadie and The Goodwin Brothers.

“Everyone knows Kentucky has a rich history rooted in bourbon but what many don’t know is Northern Kentucky’s role in that history,” said president and CEO of meetNKY, Julie Kirkpatrick. “The Bonded Spirit Bluegrass Festival is the perfect way to celebrate the Bottled-in-Bond Act, which Covington’s very own John G. Carlisle was instrumental in passing in 1897. We partnered with our friends at Smoke Justis— a B-Line location — to bring together the perfect collision of bourbon and bluegrass to draw visitors to our region and give them and locals another fun thing to do that weekend in addition to Bockfest.”

DATE: Saturday, March 2nd, 2024

TIME: 5 – 10 pm EST

LOCATION: Smoke Justis (302 Court St, Covington, KY, 41011)

COST: $100 General Admission and $175 VIP

TICKET INFO: HERE

Bottled-in-Bond Cocktail Competition!

In the spirit of celebration, the festival also hosts a competition to crown the best BIB cocktail, enlisting bartenders from across the Commonwealth to showcase creativity and highlight the unique qualities of BIB spirits. Bartender contestants will represent Second Sight Spirits and Rich’s Proper from Northern Kentucky, Old Bourbon County (OBC) Kitchen and The Manchester Hotel from Lexington, Ky. and 21c Proof on Main and Goodfella’s from Louisville, Ky. All participating bars were selected to participate by The Bourbon Review.

GENERAL ADMISSION INCLUDES: Roebling Rickhouse General Admission tickets are $100 and include six samplings of BIB cocktails, one beer or wine drink ticket, light bites and access to the music lineup.

VIP TICKETS: John G. Carlisle VIP Experience Tickets are available for $175 and include exclusive access to the Smoke Justis Bourbon Lounge, the opportunity to cast a vote for the Best BIB Cocktail, six samplings of BIB Cocktails, two full BIB cocktails, a buffet dinner served in the Smoke Justis Bourbon lounge, and more.

Arrangement of Grammy-Nominated Artists

The music lineup includes Grammy-nominated acts, Sister Sadie and The Goodwin Brothers, as well as regional musical group Moonshine Drive. Doors open at 5 p.m., with Moonshine Drive taking the stage at 5:30 p.m., followed by Sister Sadie at 7 p.m. and The Goodwin Brothers at 8:30 p.m.

“Covington owns the unique Bottled-in-Bond aspect of bourbon’s long-standing history in this country,” said Smoke Justis founder, Richard Dickmann. “Smoke Justis looks forward to celebrating bourbon and bluegrass with whiskey enthusiasts from all over against the backdrop of our iconic Roebling Bridge.”

Those interested in purchasing tickets can through Eventbrite here. Guests must be 21 to attend.

The post UPCOMING EVENT: Ultimate Bottled-in-Bond Celebration! “Bonded Spirit Bluegrass Festival” in Covington, KY first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

NEW RELEASE: Augusta Distillery’s “Buckner’s 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon”

Augusta Distillery in Northern Kentucky’s town of Augusta has some tasty news as they have just released (starting today DISTILLERY ONLY) their Buckner’s 10 Yea Single Barrel Bourbon. AGE: 10 Year PROOF: 126.4 proof (63.2% abv) AVAILIBILITY: Augusta Distillery (Northern Kentucky) The brand got a tremendous boost this year being named “BEST IN THE WORLD” […]

The post NEW RELEASE: Augusta Distillery’s “Buckner’s 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon” first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Augusta Distiller y in Northern Kentucky’s town of Augusta has some tasty news as they have just released (starting today DISTILLERY ONLY) their Buckner’s 10 Yea Single Barrel Bourbon.

AGE: 10 Year

PROOF: 126.4 proof (63.2% abv)

AVAILIBILITY: Augusta Distillery (Northern Kentucky)

The brand got a tremendous boost this year being named “BEST IN THE WORLD” at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Learn more about Augusta Distillery in our article HERE. Looking for a little fun and adventure in Bourbon Country? Check out Northern Kentucky’s The B-Line, a collection of distilleries, bars, and restaurants – all of which are Bourbon bonified.

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TRAVEL: Northern Kentucky’s “The B-Line” Adds 5 New Bourbon Destinations

Northern Kentucky Tourism (meetNKY) is celebrating the 5th Anniversary of its Bourbon travel destination creation “The B-Line” in proper style and fashion. Think of The B-Line as a collection of Bourbon distilleries and Bourbon bar/restaurant destinations that you certainly want to both add and check off your experiential list. A B-Line official stop must follow […]

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To honor The B-Line’s half decade milestone and also National Bourbon Day (June 14th), they are adding 5 new Bourbon destinations:

Pompilio’s (Newport, KY)
Revival Vintage Bottle Shop (Covington, KY)
Lisse Steakhuis (Covington, KY)
Knowledge Bar & Social Room (Covington, KY)
Caproni’s on the River (Maysville, KY)

“We launched The B-Line^®in 2018 as a way to remind people that Northern Kentucky is the gateway to Bourbon Country,” said meetNKY President and CEO, Julie Kirkpatrick. “It celebrates the businesses that are passionate about being part of the Commonwealth’s rich bourbon heritage, representing and elevating Northern Kentucky on an international scale. There’s no better way to celebrate National Bourbon Day, a holiday created to recognize the high standards for distilling and celebrating ‘America’s Native Spirit’ than by adding these five new spots for visitors and locals to enjoy!”

The B-Line was created to help capture the bourbon-curious audience of millions of people who drive down I-75 or fly into CVG (Cinci Airport, actually in NKY) annually to visit Kentucky’s famed Bourbon Trail, of which there were 2.1 million in 2022.

“Revival is known for our vintage, rare and eccentric collection of spirits, which is a perfect addition for The B-Line^®,” said Shannon Smith, co-founder of Revival Vintage Bottle Shop in Covington. “We look forward to showcasing what Northern Kentucky has to offer to bourbon fans who come to us from all over the world to experience our region’s own rare and eccentric nature.”

The new additions to The B-Line^® bring the number of bourbon bars, craft distilleries and bourbon-centric restaurants throughout Covington, Newport, Independence, Sparta, Augusta and Maysville, Ky., to 23. A full list of participating establishments can be found on The B-Line’s website.

These spots are the real deal. Matter of fact, 12 B-Line stops were included on our AMERICA’S BEST BOURBON BARS 2022 LIST.

“On this B-Line stop expect to experience history, tradition, hospitality, a continued passion for family, a little Hollywood and great Italian food,” said lead bartender for Pompilio’s, Kristin Knollman. “The bar at Pompilio’s dates back to 1886, was the first bourbon bar in Northern Kentucky and houses a vast and growing bourbon selection. Once alcohol became legal again, Pompilio’s earned and still holds the first liquor license awarded in Kentucky after prohibition. Pompilio’s has provided visitors from around the region and nationally with classic cuisine and great spirits for over 90 years. With a heritage almost as rich as bourbon itself, this new B-Line stop is the perfect backdrop to create your own traditions.”

There are seven, strict criteria the new stops have to agree to in order to be a part of The B-Line^®. These include things like fostering a culture around bourbon through continuing education and stocking certain types of bourbons. Restaurants must have at least 50 labels of bourbon (with a preference for Kentucky Bourbon) while bars must stock at least 100. Weekly bourbon-infused food and drink specials are also a requirement. For bars, they must also host bourbon-related events and offer specialty flights.

Distilleries must be a member in Good Standing with the Kentucky Distillers Association and be part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail^® or Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour^®. Full details on qualifying for The B-Line^® can be found on meetNKY’s website.

In conjunction with the new additions and National Bourbon Day festivities, The B-Line^® also launched a new line of merchandise, designed by BLDG, including t-shirts featuring bourbon-centric puns, hats, and glasses. People can receive this new swag by completing their B-Line^® passport by visiting each stop along Northern Kentucky’s bourbon trail. (Passports can be acquired at any official B-Line location.) To redeem a passport, visit meetnky.com/redeem.

The post TRAVEL: Northern Kentucky’s “The B-Line” Adds 5 New Bourbon Destinations first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

EVENT (May 4th): Wenzel Whiskey’s “Blend Your Own” Evening Extravaganza in Bourbon Country’s Covington, KY

Wenzel Whiskey (Covington, KY) has a special evening in store for you. It involves creating your own whiskey, in an architecturally captivating setting, led by a top industry whiskey palate. Wenzel Whiskey is a gateway for creating your own juice. And like many things in life, its the experience and the journey of how you […]

The post EVENT (May 4th): Wenzel Whiskey’s “Blend Your Own” Evening Extravaganza in Bourbon Country’s Covington, KY first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Wenzel Whiskey (Covington, KY) has a special evening in store for you. It involves creating your own whiskey, in an architecturally captivating setting, led by a top industry whiskey palate.

Wenzel Whiskey is a gateway for creating your own juice. And like many things in life, its the experience and the journey of how you reach your end destination in which makes this company’s concept so unique. So memorable. So rewarding. And having a liquid trophy to sip and share your experience with friends and family, well, that ain’t so bad either;)

*Blending Experience at Wenzel Whiskey. Photo: Patrick McNamara*

Your whiskey journey will take place in the Wenzel Building, a 150 year old (circa 1873) revitalized building which in itself is the perfect blend of old world exposed brick and hardwood beauty meets modern accent nuances.

Proprietor and co-founder Bill Whitlow is a top palate and whiskey expert. He’s a decorated mixologist, owns Rich’s Proper Food & Drink in Covington (on Bourbon Review’s BEST BOURBON BARS IN AMERICA list), and knows the whiskey game as well as anyone.

Here’s the breakdown of what could be on your horizon of special memories, encapsulated by delicious whiskey of which who’s flavor profile you masterminded.

“Blend Your Own” Details…

DATE: May 4th, 6:30pm EST
BLEND BASE: 6 + 7 Year Indiana Ryes (Carefully Curated)
INCLUDES
- Blending Experience
- Food catered by Rich’s Proper Food & Drink
- Wenzel T-Shirt
- 750ml Bottle of your specific blend
- Additional bottle available for $100
COST: $150

EVENT LINK: CLICK HERE

STAY HERE: Boutique Hotel Within Wenzel Building

How fitting the Wenzel Building should have its very own boutique hotel, should you need a place to rest your head after a hard day’s work of blending;) “The Pickle Factory Hotel” has unbound unique charm to match its unconventional namesake. In a former life, it was a pickle factory.

HOTEL: CLICK HERE

The post EVENT (May 4th): Wenzel Whiskey’s “Blend Your Own” Evening Extravaganza in Bourbon Country’s Covington, KY first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Revival Vintage Spirits Expanding to 2nd Location in Covington, KY

{COVINGTON, KY} Things are continuously humming and buzzing on the Northern Kentucky Bourbon scene…Revival Vintage Spirits and Bottle Shop has both an impressive collection of vintage spirits (not just American Whiskey) and modern day bottles. Founders Shannon Smith and Brad Bonds opened their business just shy of two years ago, and already, they’re making big […]

The post Revival Vintage Spirits Expanding to 2nd Location in Covington, KY first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

{COVINGTON, KY} Things are continuously humming and buzzing on the Northern Kentucky Bourbon scene…Revival Vintage Spirits and Bottle Shop has both an impressive collection of vintage spirits (not just American Whiskey) and modern day bottles. Founders Shannon Smith and Brad Bonds opened their business just shy of two years ago, and already, they’re making big moves and opening a second location in Covington, KY. Revival, no stranger to us, making our 2021 America’s Best Bourbon Bars list.

The upcoming new location will be within Hotel Covington, a gorgeous chic boutique 55 room hotel property, and slated to open later this year.

“Our entire team is incredibly excited with the addition of Revival to our master development at North by Hotel Covington. Their business is a great fit not only for our project but for the community at large and continues the development momentum in Covington.” – Guy van Rooyen, President and Partner of vR Group.

Revival Vintage Spirits location, Hotel Covington — Hotel Covington Lobby and Bar. Courtesy

At the new location, Revival will have a full-service bar on the first floor, boasting one of a kind vintage spirits and cocktails, and will continue with their tasting flights.

On the second floor, Revival will have its library of over 4,000+ bottles for sale ranging from your favorite store picks, to Pappy, to that pre-prohibition spirit you never knew you needed to try.

Team Revival will also offer room rentals and will shortly restart their revamped Membership and Subscription Series.

“I am incredibly excited for Revival’s future and the opportunity to share my passion of tasting history through bourbon with everyone! We are looking forward to attracting tourists to the wonderful community of Covington.” – Co-founder and Curator, Brad Bonds.

“We are incredibly excited to expand into North by Hotel Covington, the 55+ guest roomexpansion scheduled to open in late-2022. This area was one major piece behind the catalytic renaissance of Covington’s central business district and our business will continue the trend by supporting the ‘revival’ of 614 Madison.” – Co-Founder Shannon Smith.

You can purchase bottles online at revivalky.com. Revival also purchases bottles from the public, so if you have some old bottles you are looking to sell or trade, give them a call at 859.479.2676. You can follow Revival on Instagram, Facebook, and/or TikTok.

Make a weekend trip to Northern Kentucky and check out “The B-Line“, a collection of first class Bourbon Bars and Restaurants.

Our 2021 America’s Best Bourbon Bars list featured 9 spots from The B-Line.

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EVENT, Aug 10th: Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s “John G Carlisle” Release Party at Northern KY’s Smoke Justis

PRESS RELEASE from “The B-Line“ for Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s upcoming launch Party. Co-founders of Kentucky Senator Bourbon, KY State Senator Majority Leader, Damon Thayer, and equine attorney, Andre Regard, will be at Covington KY’s Smoke Justis on August 10th from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. to launch Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s new release, the John G. Carlisle. […]

The post EVENT, Aug 10th: Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s “John G Carlisle” Release Party at Northern KY’s Smoke Justis first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

PRESS RELEASE from “The B-Line“ for Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s upcoming launch Party.

Co-founders of Kentucky Senator Bourbon, KY State Senator Majority Leader, Damon Thayer, and equine attorney, Andre Regard, will be at Covington KY’s Smoke Justis on August 10th from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. to launch Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s new release, the John G. Carlisle.

ARTICLE: Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s 3rd Release: John G. Carlisle

Smoke Justis is on our 2021 “America’s Best Bourbon Bars‘ List. Cool vibe. Solid food and first class Bourbon selection.

Kentucky Senator Release Party, Smoke Justis — Smoke Justis. Part of Northern KY’s “The B-Line” and member of The Bourbon Review’s 2021 America’s Best Bourbon Bars list.

Kentucky Senator Bourbon is a storied brand in the state of Kentucky with deep Northern Kentucky roots. Whiskey makers of excellence, Crigler & Crigler, were based in Covington, KY on Pike and Scott streets prior to Prohibition. They originally produced the Kentucky Senator brand for the world as one the finest Kentucky Bourbons.

Senator Thayer and his business partner Regard gave Kentucky Senator new life by working with various providers to recreate this celebrated brand. They dedicate each release to a Kentucky Senator that has left their mark on history. The first release of Kentucky Senator honored Alben W. Barkley, a Kentucky Senator that became Vice President of the United States under President Harry S. Truman. The second release commemorated William J Deboe, a sponsor of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution. We are especially excited about the third release of Kentucky Senator, celebrating Covington’s John G. Carlisle, who was critical to the passing of the Bottled in Bond Act in 1864.

The John G. Carlisle Kentucky Senator release is a seven-year-old bourbon at a 107 proof. We asked Executive Bourbon Steward and Head Bourbon personality at Smoke Justis, Jade Colwell, to give us some tasting notes to get you excited. She shared her thoughts on the new Kentucky Senator release as “a 7-year-old gem that has budding hints of freshly picked cherries on the tongue. As the bourbon progresses on the pallet shades of sour apple and freshly churned butter appear. Just when you think you are done it hits you with a perfect blend of walnuts and tangerine”.

Make sure to mark your calendar for August 10th at Smoke Justis for a chance to meet co-founders Thayer and Regard, sip some Kentucky Senator John G. Carlisle and learn more about what is next for the brand. The event is open to the public and begins at 6:00 p.m.

For more information on the Bourbon Destinations of Northern Kentucky, please visit www.thebline.com.

The post EVENT, Aug 10th: Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s “John G Carlisle” Release Party at Northern KY’s Smoke Justis first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

New Riff Distillery Breaks Ground On Barrel Warehouse Site

(NEWPORT, KY) New Riff Distilling broke ground this week on its new barrel warehouse facility in Silver Grove, Kentucky, a short drive from the distillery and existing warehouse. The 10 acre site will be capable of holding more than 40,000 barrels of whiskey with room for future expansion. The distillery is an anchoring member of Northern Kentucky’s Bourbon Experience […]

The post New Riff Distillery Breaks Ground On Barrel Warehouse Site first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

(NEWPORT, KY) New Riff Distilling broke ground this week on its new barrel warehouse facility in Silver Grove, Kentucky, a short drive from the distillery and existing warehouse. The 10 acre site will be capable of holding more than 40,000 barrels of whiskey with room for future expansion. The distillery is an anchoring member of Northern Kentucky’s Bourbon Experience titled “B-Line“, definitely worth a road trip.

“Last year we expanded our distillery to increase production,” said co-founder Ken Lewis. “With our Newport facility already nearing capacity before that, it is time to add more storage and we’re happy to be building in Campbell County.”

The 55,000-square-foot pre-engineered metal building is intended to be ready for use in spring 2023, Lewis said. JDL Warm Construction is the general contractor for the project.

Since its founding in 2014, New Riff’s products have attracted a wide following, with demand outpacing supply. New Riff is currently available in 15 states with distribution extending to Illinois and Florida this year. Lewis said the recent production expansion and increased storage capacity will allow the brand to better meet demand for New Riff products.

The 2021 expansion project increased the distillery by 800 square feet, allowing for the addition of three additional fermenters and increasing production to 12,000 barrels per year, up from 8,000 previously.

More About New Riff (Newport, KY):

Kentucky born and urban bred, New Riff is an independently-owned distillery in Northern Kentucky — the gateway to bourbon country. In 2014, founder Ken Lewis, a visionary Kentucky liquor retailer and entrepreneur, saw a need for a new riff on an old tradition when it came to Kentucky bourbon. The Newport, Ky., distillery produces bourbon, rye and Kentucky Wild Gin. Bourbon and rye are made with traditional sour mash methods and bottled-in-bond without chill filtration. Bourbon and rye are also available in single barrel selections, and the distillery boasts a popular private barrel selection program. New Riff sources its water from an aquifer under the distillery, accessed via a 100’ deep private well and providing water with four times as much dissolved minerals than found in other water supplies. New Riff believes in transparency, so all products feature an age statement and the mashbills are public. The modern venue hosts a variety of events and offers an on-site bar, The Aquifer.

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