Kentucky Bourbon Festival

The Best Things to Do in Kentucky for Couples

There are so many fantastic things to do in Kentucky for couples looking to reconnect this year—especially in Bardstown, KY, the “Bourbon Capital of the World” and a charming small town with a lovely selection of distilleries, restaurants, and southern hospitality. Bardstown has a charming downtown area featuring historic buildings and architecture. Couples can explore the area’s antique stores, cozy pubs, and intimate restaurants. The picturesque countryside can be enjoyed by taking a relaxing train excursion, touring bourbon distilleries, or hiking in a local park.

Heading to the bourbon distilleries for tastings and tours is, of course, one of the best things to do in Kentucky for couples, and Bardstown is the best place to do just that! After all, it is the official gateway to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and a fantastic collection of Bardstown distilleries are within striking distance from one another. Planning a bourbon-tasting tour with multiple stops around town is such a memorable and unique outing!

One of the best things to do in Kentucky for couples is to book a romantic Bardstown KY Bed and Breakfast, and the Bourbon Manor B&B is the ultimate choice for your getaway. Not only will you have a stunning and historic manor house as your home base, but you’ll be pampered with a homemade breakfast each morning, an on-site spa facility, and be in the ideal location to head out and explore. There’s nothing quite like planning a romantic weekend getaway with your partner in the heart of bourbon country. Start planning and book your room today!

The Best Things to Do in Kentucky for Couples near Bardstown

If you are planning a little memorable getaway with your partner, this romantic area of the South is the perfect place! There are so many great things to do in Kentucky for couples to explore and grow their bonds ever deeper. From bourbon tastings at our local Bardstown distilleries to long walks through our stunning bluegrass countryside, you’ll find so many places to spark romance and reconnect.

Here are the top things to do in Kentucky for couples on your next getaway:

Bourbon Tastings & Tour: When you start to explore all the best things to do in Kentucky for couples, it will be no surprise that bourbon tastings and tours will be at the top of that list. These immersive tours occur on-site at these distilleries, offering an impressive look inside this industry. Not to mention, the bourbon goes down smooth and warms up any romantic getaway! A few of our top recommendations are the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, Bardstown Bourbon, and Maker’s Mark.
Exploring the Kentucky Wineries: If you’re more of a wine fan, there’s a lovely selection of wineries in Kentucky for tours and tastings as well. These vineyards are set back in some of the most picturesque countryside, so the adventure of getting there is all part of the fun. Be sure to check out our list of great Kentucky wineries here.
My Old Kentucky Dinner Train: As a guest at our Bardstown KY Bed and Breakfast, you’ll be within walking distance of the depot for one of the best dinner trains in Kentucky! Sign up for the romantic dinner ride at sunset with a delicious meal and bourbon pairings.
Romantic Bardstown Restaurants: There’s a fantastic selection of restaurants in Bardstown, and considering one of the best things to do in Kentucky for couples is a romantic dinner for two, you’ll be all set! Our top favorites are The Rickhouse Restaurant and Toogie’s Table.
Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest: If you’d like to go out and about, this beautiful nature preserve offers miles of hiking trails with outdoor sculptures and famous works from Thomas Dambo. There’s also a cafe for lunch and gardens to tour.
Spa Couples Massage: Our cozy and warm on-site spa room is the perfect way to relax with your partner on your getaway to Kentucky. Our licensed and professional massage therapists work magic to make our guests feel completely pampered and rejuvenated. Reach out before your arrival, and we’ll get a treatment on the books.
Add a Special Enhancement Package: As a guest at our Bardstown KY Bed and Breakfast, we have the perfect selection of romantic add-ons and packages just for two. By far, one of the best things to do in Kentucky for couples is to retreat to your private suite with wine, chocolates, and special touches awaiting your return.

Spend a Lovely Getaway at our Bardstown KY Bed and Breakfast

There’s nothing better than choosing a small Inn for your lodging on your romantic getaways, and that’s why staying at our Bardstown KY Bed and Breakfast is one of the best things to do in Kentucky for couples! Not only will you be pampered from the moment you step into our impressive and historic space, but you’ll also be in the perfect central location to head out and explore. We’ll greet you with a cocktail or a glass of wine and show you to your comfortable and beautifully appointed guest room, either in the main Manor House or the Federal House Cottage.

When you do retire to your guest room, you’ll not only be bathed in the soothing warmth of our charming historic decor, but you’ll feel pampered by our vast array of contemporary amenities — high-quality linens and toiletries, plush robes, high-speed internet, flat-screen TV with free cable and movies, and of course, the best Southern hospitality around. Our Inn has been recognized by the Bed and Breakfast Association of Kentucky as the best B&B in our state for lodging for groups and couples alike.

As you explore all the best things to do in Kentucky for couples, we genuinely hope you’ll make our Bardstown KY Bed and Breakfast your home base. You’ll enjoy beautiful breakfasts with us each morning, book a spa massage or two, and be in the ideal location to head out and explore the nearby Bardstown bourbon distilleries. We can’t wait to host you; book your stay today!

Explore the Kentucky Bourbon Trail at Lux Row Distillers

One of the stops along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail that you absolutely must visit is Lux Row Distillers. This state-of-the-art distillery offers six distinct brands under one roof, including Rebel Bourbon, Ezra Brooks, and Blood Oath. The award-winning distillery provides behind-the-scenes tours, a gift shop, and a cocktail bar that serves craft cocktails and neat …

Explore the Kentucky Bourbon Trail at Lux Row Distillers Read More »

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a popular self-guided road trip dedicated to exploring the signature bourbon distilleries of Kentucky, where ninety-five percent of the world’s bourbon is produced. Visitors and locals alike have the opportunity to taste these pours and tour these excellent establishments, including places like Lux Row Distillers. Bardstown is the best place to stay for those who enjoy America’s spirit, with a great selection of bourbon distilleries close to one another.

First, you’ll need to book your lodging near the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and the Bourbon Manor Bed and Breakfast offers luxurious accommodations, daily gourmet bourbon-inspired breakfasts, and is located near all of the best Bardstown attractions. Guests can enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep in one of our ten elegant, antique-appointed guestrooms in our two pre-Civil War plantation homes. Additionally, we are located near some of the top distilleries found on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Start planning your next getaway and book your room today!

Head to Lux Row Distillers on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail

As a guest at our Bardstown Bed and Breakfast, you’ll only be about ten minutes from the tour and tasting at Lux Row Distillers. In fact, Lux Row Distillers is just one of the many bourbon distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail within a quick drive from our Inn.

Here’s what to expect on a tour and tasting at Lux Row Distillers:

Lux Row Distillers is in the number two spot on TripAdvisor of the best things to do in Bardstown. Of the 460 five-star reviews, the most notable aspects are the friendly staff, knowledgeable guides, beautiful facility, and excellent bourbon tastings.
John Rempe is the master distiller at this location—he has more than 20 years of experience, is passionate about the process, and oversees the production of all the lines produced at Lux Row Distillers.
Aside from the Lux Row Distillers brand, five other bourbon brands call this space home, including Rebel Bourbon, Ezra Brooks, Daviess County, David Nicholson, and Blood Oath.
Lux Row Distillers is situated amidst a beautiful scenic drive lined with trees. The modern building spans 18,000 square feet and houses ten barrel warehouses and a 43-foot custom copper still. Visitors can experience all of this firsthand on a tour.
Choose from various tours at this distillery, including the Lux Row Libations Cocktail Course and the Top Shelf Experience. You’ll learn about the bourbon distilling process and taste some fantastic products.

More Bardstown Distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail:

After you’ve enjoyed a tasting a Lux Row Distillers, there’s more to discover at the nearby Bardstown bourbon distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail:

Heaven Hill Distillery: Known as the largest family-owned spirits producer, this distillery creates lines like Elijah Craig, Larceny, and Evan Williams. The award-winning visitor’s center at Heaven Hill offers tours, educational information, and tastings.
Bardstown Bourbon Company: This local distillery and restaurant gives guests various bourbon-focused activities. Check out the cocktail classes, exclusive vintage whiskey tasting, or distillery tours. Grab dinner at the Kitchen & Bar for elevated Southern fare.
Maker’s Mark: Perhaps one of the most well-known bourbon distilleries in the world, Maker’s Mark is one of the most popular stops in the area. Take a tour, taste, and dip your own red wax bottle in the gift shop. It shows that they’ve been perfecting the art of distilling since 1953.
Jim Beam: You’ll find great interactive tours stimulating your senses at this world-class and newly remodeled distillery. Learn about every step in making their stalwart brand name and the Knob Creek bourbon label.
Preservation Distillery: Just two miles from the center of Bardstown, find this distillery located in a historic tobacco barn on a small Kentucky farm. After admiring the roaming longhorn cattle on the property, sample their small batch and unique bourbons.

The Best Lodging for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival

Every fall, the Kentucky Bourbon Festival comes to Bardstown for a weekend-long celebration of this classic, historic spirit. You’ll find some of Bardstown’s biggest names at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. You will taste some fantastic bourbons from Heaven Hill and Four Roses to Maker’s Mark and Lux Row Distillers. Grab a cocktail in the open-air beer garden and enjoy the live music from local talent. The vendors offer unique wares for sale, and you’ll love the selection of food trucks and more.

All the true bourbon enthusiasts love to stay at our elegant Bardstown Bed and Breakfast. All our luxurious guest suites with private en suite baths are named after classic bourbon cocktail names. Guests also enjoy our bourbon-inspired breakfasts, an on-site day spa, and, eventually, our brand-new bourbon lounge, opening in the fall—everything needed for a bourbon-loving vacation on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

If you plan to head to Bardstown in September for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, it’s time to act fast! They are already selling out on the VIP events, and lodging in Bardstown fills up quickly. Start planning your fall getaway to the birthplace of bourbon and make a reservation at the historic Bourbon Manor Bed and Breakfast in Bardstown, Kentucky, today!

Kentucky Bourbon Festival Reveals Upcoming 2023 Ticket Launch Date and New Experiences

Tickets for Bardstown’s 2023 Kentucky Bourbon Festival will go on sale May 11, with early-access for “Bourbon Insiders” starting May 10. The long standing festival taking place Sept 15 – 17. The festival will offer three levels of VIP packages this year, along with weekend general admission tickets and Sunday-only access. “Our goal is to […]

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Tickets for Bardstown’s 2023 Kentucky Bourbon Festival will go on sale May 11, with early-access for “Bourbon Insiders” starting May 10. The long standing festival taking place Sept 15 – 17.

The festival will offer three levels of VIP packages this year, along with weekend general admission tickets and Sunday-only access.

“Our goal is to create a truly exceptional experience for bourbon enthusiasts,” said David Mandell, board chair of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. “We’re looking forward to welcoming guests back to Bardstown. We listened to our guests from 2022 and as a result we have some exciting upgrades planned to make the festival even better this year.”

The popular Flask Force and Enthusiast VIP packages return and include early entry, premium branded Glencairn glassware and access to the VIP Penthouse with catering and bar service throughout the festival. Flask Force ticket holders will once again receive a Jacob Bromwell flask, exclusive tee shirt, commemorative KBF credential and a bottle of the 2023 KBF single barrel pick, featuring Bardstown Bourbon Company and signed by master distiller Steve Nally.

New this year, all VIP packages include early admission to the festival — those guests can arrive an hour early, ensuring speedy entry and first access to bottles being offered by participating distilleries throughout the festival. A new Decanter Club ultra-VIP package has also been added, with just 50 packages available, and with four premium add-on events included. Decanter Club members will receive many of the popular package items included in the other VIP packages but will add a branded Glencairn crystal decanter.

All KBF tickets include unlimited re-entry to the festival, sampling from more than 50 Kentucky distilleries, access to exclusive barrel picks, engaging programs with industry experts, expanded dining options and the Bourbon Marketplace with more than 30 vendors.

“Our number one area for improvement with the 2023 festival is expanding the dining options for our guests,” said Randy Prasse, COO and president of the festival. “To accomplish this, the Kentucky Bourbon Festival is partnering with the Louisville Food Truck Association to offer additional and improved dining options, along with a new adjacent tented area with tables and chairs for guests to enjoy their meals and take a break.”

KBF Insiders — those who subscribe to the festival’s e-newsletter — will be able to purchase tickets beginning May 10, with sales open to the public on May 11. Premium add-on event tickets will also go on sale during those dates, earlier than in past years. VIP packages are expected to sell out quickly.

Learn more at www.kybourbonfestival.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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To Your Health! (Episode 962: July 24, 2022)

Alcohol has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, even when the healers of history didn’t always know they were distilling alcohol when they made their potions. Some of those potions even sound a lot like today’s cocktails, and drinks writer Camper English has been studying the links between alcohol and medicine for his new book Doctors and Distillers. We’ll explore some of that history with him this week on WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, the American Craft Spirits Association has handed out its annual awards, and we’ll have the details. We’ll also get a preview of this September’s Kentucky Read More »

Alcohol has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, even when the healers of history didn’t always know they were distilling alcohol when they made their potions. Some of those potions even sound a lot like today’s cocktails, and drinks writer Camper English has been studying the links between alcohol and medicine for his new book Doctors and Distillers. We’ll explore some of that history with him this week on WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, the American Craft Spirits Association has handed out its annual awards, and we’ll have the details. We’ll also get a preview of this September’s Kentucky Bourbon Festival, and on Behind the Label, we’ll answer the question “What’s in a (distillery) name?”

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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 […]

The post Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2022 Tickets are on Sale appeared first on The Bourbon Review.

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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Heaven Hill Workers on Strike

By Mark Gillespie September 11, 2021 – With the biggest weekend of the year in the “Bourbon Capital of the World” just a few days away, visitors to Bardstown, Kentucky for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival may be greeted with picket signs at the town’s newest attraction. Heaven Hill workers started a strike today after their five-year contract expired at midnight and are staffing a picket line outside the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, which opened this summer after a two-year renovation and upgrade project. Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 23-D voted overwhelmingly in favor of the strike Read More »

By Mark Gillespie

September 11, 2021 – With the biggest weekend of the year in the “Bourbon Capital of the World” just a few days away, visitors to Bardstown, Kentucky for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival may be greeted with picket signs at the town’s newest attraction. Heaven Hill workers started a strike today after their five-year contract expired at midnight and are staffing a picket line outside the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, which opened this summer after a two-year renovation and upgrade project.

Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 23-D voted overwhelmingly in favor of the strike Thursday night, according to Louisville television station WDRB. The local represents 420 production workers at Heaven Hill’s main campus in Bardstown and its maturation warehouses around Nelson County, and also represents workers at Barton 1792 Distillery and the Four Roses maturation and bottling facility in Cox’s Creek. Workers at the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience visitors center are not represented by the union.

Union leaders are upset with what they claim is a proposal to change work shifts to create a “non-traditional” work schedule that includes Saturdays and Sundays, instead of the current Monday-Friday schedule for all production workers. “They feel that rather than working to live, they’re trying to implement things to make them live to work,” Local 23-D president Matt Aubrey told WhiskyCast in a telephone interview. “They’re family-owned and ‘hey, we want to treat everyone like family,’ they’re not treating these members like family…all these members out here, they have a family, they have sons and daughters, grandchildren…they have loved ones that if what the company wants to preserve and what it wants to push, it’s gonna take these members away from their family,” he said.

In 2016, workers were divided on whether to accept the contract that expired last night. That deal included $7,250 in bonuses for each worker over the length of the contract along with annual pay raises in the final three years, and 66% of those voting cast ballots to accept the new deal. According to union leaders, 96 percent of those voting Thursday night supported going on strike as soon as the contract expired.

Heaven Hill executives were not available for interviews, but shared this statement with WhiskyCast.

“Thursday evening, the membership of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 23-D failed to ratify a new five-year contract with Heaven Hill. Since the company was founded, the support of our employees has been a source of pride and we have had productive conversations with the union for several months now regarding components of the contract. We will continue to collaborate with UFCW leadership toward passage of this top-of-class workforce package.”

The strike will also affect Heaven Hill’s participation in the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, which gets underway this Thursday. Festival officials have confirmed that Heaven Hill will not be taking part in tastings and other events during the festival, including the World Championship Bourbon Barrel Relay competition in which the distillery’s teams have dominated in recent years. Aubrey told WhiskyCast his members will not be allowed to carry picket signs anywhere other than at Heaven Hill facilities represented by Local 23-D, including the Bardstown campus and nearby maturation warehouses. However, they can wear t-shirts promoting their support for the strike in public – including at the Festival grounds around Spalding Hall in Bardstown.

The walkout will primarily affect Heaven Hill’s Bardstown-based bottling and maturation operations. Workers at Heaven Hill’s Bernheim Distillery in Louisville are represented by a different UFCW chapter, and spirits distilled at Bernheim are trucked to Bardstown to be filled into barrels before being placed in one of the company’s warehouses for maturation. Heaven Hill has not indicated whether production at Bernheim will be stopped or slowed down during the strike.

The last strike affecting a major Kentucky distiller came in September of 2018 when Four Roses workers walked out for two weeks over the company’s plans to create a different benefits package for new employees. That dispute ended when the company agreed to allow all employees to choose between the current sick leave policy or sign up for short-term disability insurance that takes effect after an employee uses 10 sick days in a year.

Aubrey also denied reports on social media suggesting that a strike is also coming at Sazerac’s Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, noting that the union’s contract at 1792 Barton does not expire until 2024.

This story will be updated with additional information as it becomes available.

Editor’s note: This story was updated with additional information following an interview with UFCW Local 23-D president Matt Aubrey. In addition, we have clarified where Local 23-D members are allowed to picket to include the company’s maturation warehouse sites where union members work.

Links: Heaven Hill | United Food & Commercial Workers

Get Your Drink on at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival & CHEERS to Bardstown

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown. Last year was a little bit different where events were held virtually, but now we’re back in person and everyone is ready to celebrate! And more importantly, we’re ready to drink some amazing bourbons. You’ll find more than 50 vendors, educational events, …

Get Your Drink on at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival & CHEERS to Bardstown Read More »

Kentucky Bourbon Trail

The Kentucky Bourbon Festival runs from September 17th to the 19th from 10am to 10pm Friday and Saturday, and 11am to 3pm Sunday. There are premium VIP events available to add on to the cost for general admission. Tickets are selling fast! So make sure to plan ahead and get booked for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. Where else can you peruse an open air market full of vendors with a bourbon buzz on?

Our Kentucky Bed and Breakfast is within minutes from downtown Bardstown and the location of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. It’s only about a 20 minute walk from our front stoop for those who want to imbibe our local spirit and avoid driving. Our Bardstown Inn is really the best place for any bourbon enthusiast, each of our 10 guest rooms are named after some of our favorite whiskey cocktails.

Come celebrate the spirit that put our small town on the map at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival and book your lodging with us!

Kentucky bourbon festival

A World of Whiskey at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival

You’ll find some of Bardstown’s biggest names at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. From Barton 1792 Distillery and Blanton’s to Maker’s Mark and Jim Beam, you’re going to taste some classic and impeccable bourbons. Grab a cocktail in the open air beer garden and enjoy the live music from local talent. The vendors offer unique wares for sale and you’ll love the selection of carnival food and more.

While the Kentucky Bourbon Festival is a great event to get to know the purveyors in the area, there’s also so much to explore on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. This is an excellent way to fully experience Bardstown and beyond. The selections for tours and tasting is second to none in this neck of the woods.

Kentucky bourbon festival

Hit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Near Bardstown

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail offers so many options for touring and tasting at these amazing local distilleries. Thankfully, there are a ton of resources for finding the best route and itinerary along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. For example, if you choose to stick nearby, the Bardstown tour looks a little something like this:

Heaven Hill Distillery: Known as the largest family-owned spirits producer, this distillery creates such lines as Elijah Craig, Larceny, and Evan Williams. The award-winning visitor’s center at Heaven Hill offers tours, educational information, and of course, tastings.
Bardstown Bourbon Company: This local distillery and restaurant gives guests an array of options for bourbon-focused activities. Check out the cocktail classes, exclusive vintage whiskey tasting, or distillery tours. Grab dinner at the Kitchen & Bar for elevated Southern fare.
Lux Row Distillers: This grouping of distilleries is great destination along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail to taste an array of whiskey from five different brands in one space. You’ll find the likes of Rebel Yell, Ezra Brooks, and Blood Oath.
Maker’s Mark: While this distillery is one of the sponsors for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, a visit out to its home court facility is always in order. Take a tour, taste, and dip your own red wax bottle in the gift shop. They’ve been perfecting the art of distilling since 1953 and it shows.

Allow us to help you with reservations or recommendations for touring the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. We’re always happy to assist our guests! Additionally, we offer special packages with bourbon tours to pair with your stay.

Kentucky Bourbon Festival

The Best Lodging at our Bardstown Bed and Breakfast

As we mentioned above, we offer some amazing packages to add-on to your stay for bourbon tours in the area. These packages include a self-guided option with advice and routes or fully-guided tours with bourbon experts and transportation. When you’re booking your room with us, make sure to ask about these amazing add-ons that truly enhance your stay.

If you’re planning a romantic getaway to Bardstown, be sure to check out our Manhattan Honeymoon Hideaway. This is our largest and most private guest room, located in our charming Manor house. In this suite you’ll find everything you need for a restful vacation with your partner, including spa amenities, Jacuzzi tub, cozy featherbed topped King with luscious linens.

Start planning your romantic retreat and book your room today!

Bardstown Tourism, Main Street and the Bardstown-Nelson County Chamber of Commerce invite the public to join us downtown in the Bourbon Capital of the World for “Cheers to Bardstown”, a free event in celebration of our rich culture from Thursday, September 16th to Saturday, September 18th.

Cheers to Bardstown will feature live music, craft vendors, local food, beer, tastings, cocktails, shopping and more — no tickets required. Bardstown Tourism will have Bardstown Ambassadors on hand to direct you to all of the exciting experiences available. In addition to these offerings, the Bourbon Capital Community Alliance (BCCA) organization will provide information on expanded distillery experiences during these dates. Click the link for our music lineup, with information on food trucks, cocktails, tastings and more coming soon!

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Many of our local stores and restaurants are extending their hours, menus and offerings for this special Cheers to Bardstown weekend. Come sip, shop and dine with us to try out all the new flavors Bardstown has to offer.

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Bourbon Comes From Bardstown, and our distilleries are pulling out all the stops for city locals and visitors during the Cheers to Bardstown weekend celebration. We invite Kentucky Bourbon Festival ticket holders to come enjoy a selection of expanded experiences from our finest distilleries here in Bardstown.

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The festivities continue all across our beloved city, with more special events to enjoy than just downtown. Don’t miss out on the fun!

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