Bardstown Kentucky - BourbonSphere

Bardstown Now Has A Bourbon PENTHOUSE

As if enough awesome things haven’t happened in the “Bourbon Capital” of Bourbon Country – BARDSTOWN, KENTUCKY. Now, the charming town seeped in Bourbon history and oozing with new Bourbon development can add another jewel to it’s amber crown – PENTHOUSE. “Brindiamo Penthouse” to be precise. Located as any good penthouse should be, the Brindiamo […]

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Located as any good penthouse should be, the Brindiamo Penthouse sits on the top floor of the iconic Spalding Hall in downtown Bardstown. The magnificent space, made possible by a generous $150,000 donation from the Brindiamo Group, a Nashville-based beverage alcohol industry consulting firm, promises to become a centerpiece for bourbon enthusiasts that reflects Bardstown’s status as the Bourbon Capital of the World.

Aside from being eye candy, it will serve as a multifunctional venue for the Bourbon Capital Alliance, offering an exclusive setting for member meetings, tastings and enhanced exposure to the nine partner distilleries. The space will also house the Bourbon Capital Academy’s purpose-built classroom, designed to provide an immersive bourbon education experience complete with sensory components, interactive elements and the renowned Taste of Bardstown flight board featuring delectable bourbons from partner distilleries.

The concept and design were meticulously crafted by the Cadillac of Bourbon Industry architectural firms – Joseph & Joseph + Bravura Architects. A multi-generational family operated design firm (circa 1908) headquartered in Louisville that has been the creator of more Bourbon-centric experiences then you can shake a stick at.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear expressed his excitement, stating, “Kentucky’s signature bourbon industry is a vital part of the commonwealth’s continued success, whether that is through production, tourism or the numerous other opportunities the sector brings to our state. I am thrilled to see this new venue opening in Nelson County and the prosperity that bourbon continues to create throughout this region and statewide. Congratulations to the Bardstown community and everyone who had a hand in making this project possible.”

“We are thrilled to unveil the Brindiamo Penthouse to the world!” said Sam Lacy, Executive Director of the Bourbon Capital Alliance. “This extraordinary space embodies the essence of Bardstown’s bourbon heritage. Thanks to the generous donation from the Brindiamo Group and our partnership with the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, we have transformed the space into a premium meeting venue for the Bourbon Capital Guild and a cutting-edge classroom for our Bourbon Capital Academy.”

Jeff Hopmayer, Founder of the Brindiamo Group, expressed his support: “By contributing to the funding of this exceptional facility, Brindiamo Group is proud to be a part of advancing the Bourbon Capital Alliance, Kentucky Bourbon Festival, and the Bourbon Capital Academy. This dedicated space will serve as a focal point for raising awareness and knowledge about bourbon, further enhancing the global success of Kentucky bourbon.”

“We could not be more excited to help create and unveil the new Brindiamo Penthouse,” said David Mandell, Chairman of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. “This tremendously generous gift supports the bourbon industry, the KBF, and the community of Bardstown, Kentucky.”

About the Bourbon Capital Alliance

The Bourbon Capital Alliance is a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Bardstown, KY. Established in 2017, the organization has been dedicated to fostering additional bourbon experiences and events, enhancing the visual presence of bourbon in Bardstown/Nelson County, and preserving and promoting the rich bourbon heritage and culture.

About the Brindiamo Group, LLC

Founded in 2012, the Brindiamo Group is a leading consulting firm and one of the world’s largest bulk bourbon and whiskey suppliers. Comprised of seasoned entrepreneurs and executives with over 150 years of combined experience in the spirits industry, the Brindiamo Group has provided expert guidance and strategic partnerships to distilleries, brands, and individuals worldwide, shaping the future of the beverage alcohol industry.

About the Kentucky Bourbon Festival (Bardstown, KY)

The Kentucky Bourbon Festival, scheduled for September 15-17, 2023, is a celebration of Kentucky Bourbon and the esteemed Bourbon Capital of the World, Bardstown, Kentucky. What originated as a Bourbon tasting dinner has evolved into an authentic and immersive experience that brings together bourbon enthusiasts from across the globe. With over three decades of history, the Kentucky Bourbon Festival stands as one of the Commonwealth’s premier cultural festivals.

For the latest in Bourbon, visit www.thebourbonreview.com.

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2022 Kentucky Bourbon Festival “Premium Events” Are Now On Sale

(Bardstown, KY) The Kentucky Bourbon Festival in September (National Bourbon Heritage Month) has just released its “Premium Events” which are now on sale. Here is the full list to check out! NOTE, ticket purchase for the main event is required for access to the “Premium Events” opportunities. MORE INFO: www.kybourbonfestival.com Wed Sept 14th 1-2:30 p.m. […]

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MORE INFO: www.kybourbonfestival.com

Wed Sept 14th

1-2:30 p.m. Equipped and Ready to Cocktail: Great cocktails are made with correct tools, delicious amendments, precise recipes and specific techniques. In this hands-on session Samantha Montgomery, national brand ambassador for Bardstown Bourbon Co., will discuss the tools included in attendee’s personal cocktail kits, how cocktail amendments affect each drink, why drink recipes are necessary for good results, and lead the group through hands-on drink making.

Cost: $125 and includes each student’s cocktail kit and light bites.

Location: Bardstown Bourbon Co.

Thurs Sept 15th

1-2:15 p.m. Tasting Whiskey’s Past & Present: If you ask whiskey expert Travis Hill how best to understand American whiskey’s past, he’ll tell you to learn how differently it was made way back when—and then pour you some of it. Join Hill for this extended tasting of some fine “dusty” whiskey and their comparisons to some modern favorites. This year’s lineup includes:

Old Forester 1996 Olympic Bourbon, 96 proof, compared with Old Forester Single Barrel, 90 proof
Virgin Bourbon (distilled by Heaven Hill in 1992), 10 years old, 101 proof, compared with Henry McKenna (made by Heaven Hill) 10 years old, 100 proof
Old Granddad (made by United Distillers in 1981) no age statement, 114 proof, compared with Castle & Key Single Barrel Rye, 5 years old, 113.9 proof

Class cost: $150 and includes whiskeys and light bites.

Location: Bardstown Bourbon Co.

2:30-4 p.m. Discovery Series Deconstructed: Ever wondered how Bardstown Bourbon Co.’s (BBC) blending team creates its Discovery Series whiskeys? These amazing whiskeys contain as many as five unique bourbons, corn and rye whiskeys of widely varying ages that are blended into a single amazing product. Join us when Dan Callaway, vice president of hospitality and product development at BBC, deconstructs one of its Fusion whiskeys, lets you taste its individual parts and then guides you to reconstruct that amazing blend.

Class cost: $100 and includes whiskeys and light bites.

Location: Bardstown Bourbon Co.

FRIDAY SEPT. 16

12:30 Cocktail Creations: The Bitters Truth: Lynn House, who learned mixology firsthand working in some of the nation’s top bars, knows delicious and balanced cocktails require bitter notes. In this seminar, the well-known national brand educator at Heaven Hill will show you how to leverage bitters in three, easy-to-make and memorably tasty cocktails.

Class cost: $75 and includes cocktails and a Scrappy’s Bitters kit.

Location: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Loft

2 p.m. Cooking with Bourbon: Ouita Michel knows a lot about Kentucky foods. As co-owner of Holly Hill Inn and several other restaurants, Michel is a seven-time James Beard Award nominee, cookbook author and nationally revered chef. Bring an appetite when she cooks a few items from her recent cookbook, “Just a Few Miles South.”

Class cost: $95 and includes a welcome cocktail, tastes of Chef Ouita’s food and a signed copy of her cookbook, “Just a Few Miles South.”

Location: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Loft

3:30 p.m. It is Finished: A Deep Dive into Secondary Barrel-Finishing: Making and aging whiskey is no simple task, so why would whiskey makers complicate the process with secondary cask finishing? To create novel flavors, variations on longstanding grain themes tantalize whiskey lovers’ palates, of course. Join our expert panel of a distiller, a blender and a barrel maker to learn about—and taste—how secondary barrels drastically elevate whiskeys.

Class cost: $75 and includes tastes of finished whiskeys

Location: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Loft

5 p.m. The Mash Hour: The Fun Past and Frustrating Present of Whiskey Collecting. Brian Gelfo and Travis Hill remember whiskey collecting as fun. In the early aughts, dusties were easily found and affordable. Today, vintage whiskey difficult to find and prices are astronomically high. Same holds for modern whiskey, especially if it has a cult following. Listen in as Gelfo and Hill discuss how bottle shopping once was, what it’s now become, and what it’ll look like in the future.

Class cost: This event is free to VIP ticketholders only.

Location: VIP Tent

SATURDAY SEPT. 17

12:30 p.m. Cocktail Creations: That’s Amaro! From cocktails such as the black Manhattan to the Brooklyn and the Paper Plane, amaro and American whiskey play well together. Let one of our Distilled Living mixologists discuss amaro’s role in cocktails and show you how to make some.

Class cost: $75 and includes cocktails made by attendees.

Location: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Loft

2 p.m. Cooking with Bourbon: Newman Miller, chef and co-owner of the Harrison-Smith House in Bardstown, returns to the Bourbon Festival for another entertaining round of cooking, sips and stories. Settle in for some amazing culinary stories and tastes of his amazing food.

Class cost: $75 and includes a welcome cocktail and tastes of Chef Miller’s creations

Location: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Loft

3:30 p.m. Uniquely Single: The single barrel pick is the true unicorn of the bourbon world. Since every barrel of whiskey is unique, these one-and-done bottlings will never be repeated, and demand for them has never been greater. Join New Riff Distilling’s Creola Dickerson and Maker’s Mark’s Jane Bowie to learn the nuanced differences in each distillery’s single barrel program.

Class cost: $75 and includes tastes of multiple whiskeys.

Location: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Loft

5 p.m. The Mash Hour: American Whiskey Was Different We Started! For a combined 90 years, master distillers Chris Morris (Brown-Forman) and Fred Noe (James B. Beam Distilling Co.) have seen it all in American whiskey. And as both men will tell you, it’s a vastly different industry in 2022 than when they started in the 1980s. Grab a cocktail and a seat and soak up some of the most entertaining stories ever told by these industry legends

Class cost: This event is free to VIP ticketholders only.

Location: VIP Tent

SUNDAY SEPT. 18

12:30 p.m. Bourbon Brunch Cocktails Bourbon at brunch, you ask? Yes, and doubly yes at the Bourbon Festival. Let one of our Distilled Living mixologists demonstrate how to make three bourbon-based cocktails that’ll pair with any brunch menu.

Class cost: $75 and includes tastes of cocktails and light bites.

Location: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Loft

2 p.m. Go to the Source! A large portion of bottles on retailers’ shelves are filled with whiskey sourced by non-distiller producers (NDPs) from distilleries with excess capacity. Some sourced whiskeys become legends, and some are coveted bottles in the modern marketplace. Listen in as Barry Brinegar (founder of RD1 Spirits), David Mandell (co-founder and former president of Bardstown Bourbon Co.) and Monica Wolf (president of The Spirits Group) discuss the art, science, difficulty and luck involved in finding great sourced whiskeys.

Class cost: $75 and includes tastes of multiple sourced whiskeys.

Location: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Loft

3:30 p.m. Big Flavors from Craft Distilleries: “Craft” implies many things when it comes to distilled spirits, but as America’s 2,500 craft distilleries have proven, the plant doesn’t have to be big to produce great whiskey. Join distillers Caleb Kilburn (Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co.) and Royce Neeley (Neeley Family Distillery) for a fun and factual discussion of craft whiskey and, of course, some sips of their whiskeys.

Class cost: $75 and includes tastes of multiple whiskeys.

Location: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Loft

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NEW RELEASE: Bardstown Bourbon Co.’s Collaborative Series 10 Year “Plantation Rum Finish” Bourbon

{BARDSTOWN, KY} As the latest iteration of its acclaimed Collaborative series, The Bardstown Bourbon Company’s newest release brings together bourbon and Jamaican rum in partnership with Plantation Rum. This release features a 10-year-old Tennessee Bourbon finished for 22 months in Plantation Rum barrels. Per the brand, the resulting dram is sweet and spicy on the […]

Bardstown Bourbon Company Collaborative Series

{BARDSTOWN, KY} As the latest iteration of its acclaimed Collaborative series, The Bardstown Bourbon Company’s newest release brings together bourbon and Jamaican rum in partnership with Plantation Rum. This release features a 10-year-old Tennessee Bourbon finished for 22 months in Plantation Rum barrels.

Per the brand, the resulting dram is sweet and spicy on the nose with orange peel, allspice and cinnamon that highlights banana bread with rich caramel. On the palate, apple crisp and molasses lead to a balanced finish of fruit and spice, rounding out this luxurious summer sipper that combines the best charastics of bourbon and rum.

Plantation Rum, from the West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados, also pulls from distilleries in Jamaica, Trinidad, Peru, and Fiji where the rum is distilled and aged. The rum is then blended and finished by Maison Ferrand, a premiere Cognac maker in France. Their releases highlight the way terroir informs rum’s flavor and complexity. In this case, bourbon was finished in casks from the Xayamaca (Jamaican) expression to complement and showcase the best in both spirits.

The finished whiskey is presented at 104 proof (52 percent ABV) and offered at a suggested retail price of $159.99. It’s available in limited quantities at the Bardstown Bourbon Co. gift shop and limited retailers. For details on how to find it, visit the product locator at bardstownbourbon.com.

Bardstown Bourbon Company Collaborative Series finished in Plantation Rum Barrels

Tennessee bourbon (84 percent corn, 8 percent rye, 8 percent malted barley) finished for 22 months in Plantation Rum Xayamaca barrels.

Proof: 104 Proof / 52 percent ABV

SRP: $159.99

June 24th’s Distilled Dinner Series: Pairing with Plantation Rum Collaborative Series

Executive Chef Stu Plush prepares a one-time special prix fixe menu to celebrate the release of our latest Collaborative Series bourbon finished in Plantation Rum barrels. This four-course paired dinner will begin with cocktails in the Visitors Center at 6p.m. Guests will then be invited to the restaurant for dinner and a warm greeting by Chef Stu.

All tables will be communal seating for an enjoyable, premier dining experience.

Limited seats are available: PURCHASE TICKETS HERE!

Plantation Rum Collaboration Distilled Dinner image

Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2022 Tickets are on Sale

[BARDSTOWN, KY] Tickets for the upcoming Kentucky Bourbon Festival hit the public May 11, 2022. The festival brings bourbon lovers to Bardstown, Kentucky, the Bourbon Capital of the World, to celebrate the spirited history and crafting of bourbon during National Bourbon Heritage Month. The Kentucky Bourbon Festival returns for its 31st year Sept. 16-18, 2022. For more […]

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The VIP packages have sold out, but there is still plenty to look forward to.

“We’re excited to welcome guests and distilleries back to Bardstown for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival,” said Randy Prasse, president and COO of Kentucky Bourbon Festival. “We are looking forward to building on the successful festival format we unveiled last year with exciting updates based on feedback from our guests. Bourbon lovers will have three days to experience new products, meet distillers, attend programs and enjoy an experience they will not get anywhere else.”

The 2022 festival features expanded opportunities for bourbon enthusiasts to engage with the most sought-after brands alongside engaging and immersive educational experiences.

New this year, all bourbon sampling is included in 2022 festival passes. And for the first time, ticketed guests will be able to purchase bottles directly from their favorite distilleries at the festival. Tickets also include unlimited access to the festival from Friday through Sunday, panels with industry experts, access to more than 30 unique bourbon-themed marketplace vendors, food trucks and the annual Master Distillers’ Bottle Auction.

Bourbon enthusiasts will also be able to purchase 20 unique single barrel offerings in the Kentucky Bourbon Festival’s Distillers’ Row Series — double last year’s options. All bottles will be available for purchase through Justins’ House of Bourbon locations in Louisville and Lexington, beginning in late August, and throughout the festival weekend at the KBF Bottle Shop.

Newsletter subscribers get early access to ticket sales. The all-new Bourbon Taster weekend pass is $125. Single-day ticket option is available for Sunday only. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to attend.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.kybourbonfestival.com.

For mapping out your weekend agenda while you’re in The Bourbon Capital, check out visitbardstown.com.

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$135 MILLION DISTILLERY Investment Coming to Bardstown, Kentucky

BARDSTOWN, Kentucky In 1996, a hell-blazing fire devastated Heaven Hill Distillery. The blaze devoured the onsite distillery, seven rickhouses, and nearly 100,000 barrels of liquid. Post fire, all distilling moved to their Louisville based Bernheim Distillery. Now, 22 years later and nearly 90 years since first opening in 1935, something BIG is happening in Bardstown. […]

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BARDSTOWN, Kentucky

In 1996, a hell-blazing fire devastated Heaven Hill Distillery. The blaze devoured the onsite distillery, seven rickhouses, and nearly 100,000 barrels of liquid. Post fire, all distilling moved to their Louisville based Bernheim Distillery.

Heaven Hill Distillery Fire 1996 — Twitter via Heaven Hill Distillery fire of 1996 in Bardstown, KY

Now, 22 years later and nearly 90 years since first opening in 1935, something BIG is happening in Bardstown. Liquid will once again flow from the distilling veins of Heaven Hill Distillery. And plenty of it.

“The people of Bardstown have helped us create and build our brands over all these many years, so it’s a special homecoming to bring distilling back to this community,” said Max Shapira, President of Heaven Hill. “Our new distillery will honor our long-time Bardstown roots while applying state-of-the-art equipment and processes to produce the highest quality American Whiskey and build upon our meaningful partnership with Bardstown and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”

The $135,000,000 distillery is set to open 2024 with construction slated for Spring this year. Initial production is slated for 10 million proof gallons a year, or 150,000 barrels, and will have capacity to ramp up to producing 30 million proof gallons, or 450,000 barrels, over time. Heaven Hill will continue to age bourbon at existing locations and the Bernheim distillery in Louisville will continue to operate at full capacity.

Heaven Hill will build the new distillery on a vacant 61-acre site at 1015 Old Bloomfield Pike, off KY 245.

“Bourbon making is an old art, but we are applying forward-thinking approaches to ensure we are environmentally conscious and a good neighbor,” said Conor O’Driscoll, Heaven Hill Distillery Master Distiller. “Heaven Hill’s tradition of distilling with attention to detail, quality and craftsmanship will now be even more accessible as we grow our distilling heritage in Bardstown.”

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority approved incentives to support the Heaven Hill distillery project at its April meeting.

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Bardstown Bourbon Company announces $28M Expansion, Creating 29 New Jobs

Bardstown Bourbon Company announced a $28.7 million investment set to create 29 full-time jobs and increase the distillery’s annual capacity by about 55,000 barrels, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s office said in a news release. There will be a 15,000-square-foot expansion, allowing for the addition of 16 new fermenters, a new distillation column and equipment, a […]

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There will be a 15,000-square-foot expansion, allowing for the addition of 16 new fermenters, a new distillation column and equipment, a hot water processing tank, grain handling equipment, chemical treatments and glass towers to hold the still.

“In 2016 when we first distilled, we were at about a million and a half proof gallons. Eight months later 3 million proof gallons, and two years later up to 7 million proof gallons,” said Herb Heneman, Executive vice president of Sales and Marketing.

The company’s president and CEO, Mark Erwin, said in a news release that the investment will help increase the distillery’s capacity by 50% by 2024.

The company also purchased 300 addition acres to build rickhouses and added a second shift to its bottling plant.

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