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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.

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 […]

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

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.

TRAVEL: Bourbon Country’s “Northern Kentucky Region” Makes Condé Nast “2023 BEST PLACES TO GO” List

It’s closing time for 2022 (good luck trying to get that song out of your head today). Time to reflect. Time to make those goals and dreams for 2023. As you hunt and gather ideas for your future travel itinerary, you’ll definitely want to keep Bourbon Country’s “Northern Kentucky Region” on your travel wish list. […]

The post TRAVEL: Bourbon Country’s “Northern Kentucky Region” Makes Condé Nast “2023 BEST PLACES TO GO” List first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

It’s closing time for 2022 (good luck trying to get that song out of your head today). Time to reflect. Time to make those goals and dreams for 2023. As you hunt and gather ideas for your future travel itinerary, you’ll definitely want to keep Bourbon Country’s “Northern Kentucky Region” on your travel wish list.

Why? For starters, the prestigious travel guide Condé Nast (CN) just named it on its “2023 BEST PLACES TO GO” list. Here’s a breakdown of what CN had to say…

Bourbon Distilleries – Northern Kentucky Region

Northern Kentucky (NKY) sits on the banks of the Ohio River. It’s ground zero for Kentucky’s beloved Bourbon history as its famed Limestone Port going back to the late 1700’s was THE commerce trading hot spot for loading up that frontier corn whiskey on the journey down the mighty Mississippi, all the way to New Orleans. Its famed Senator John G. Carlisle (Covington, KY) co-founded 1897’s Bottled-in-Bond Act, along with E.H. Taylor Jr.

That was then. Flash forward a deuce and quarter century later, NKY continues to thrive with Bourbon energy.

Neeley Family Distillery. Sparta, KY. Head Distiller Royce Neeley comes from a long bloodline of booze makers. Royce has the distinction of being the first in his family going back many generations to do it legally.

Second Sight Spirits. Ludlow, KY. Small craft distillery. Just check out that Sultan’s piercing gaze and the top of that beautiful copper still and tell us you’re not intrigued?!

New Riff Distillery. Newport, KY. One of the leading “new” distilleries (est 2014) in the country, putting out some very notable American Whiskey.

Eat. Imbibe. Shop. Stay.

CN dining highlights include local eat spots Libby’s Southern Comfort (famed goetta hush puppies), the original Agave + Rye with its slushy and tacos, and not noted in CN but one of our favorites being Rich’s Proper.

For the bar scene, CN hat tips local legendary bar owner Molly Wellman, who 10 years prior started My Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar in Covington, KY. The Bourbon bar scene is now thriving as the NKY region boasts 12 spots in The Bourbon Review’s “2022 Best Bourbon Bars in America” list. You’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming dazzling rooftop bar Opal in Covington by local legendary bartender/restauranteur Bill Whitlow (owner of Rich’s Proper).

For lodging, CN notes the gorgeous boutique Hotel Covington. When in Bourbon Country, you have to swing by Revival Vintage Bottle Shop, a world class “dusty” destination” by local Brad Bonds. And if you really want to immerse yourself in a unique experience, check out Wenzel Whiskey as they offer a “blend your own” whiskey, including bottling. Not shockingly, co-founded by Bill Whitlow. If you can think of a better Bourbon Country souvenir than your very own blended whiskey, we are all ears.

For more info on travel in NKY, make sure to check out MeetNKY’s “The B-Line“.

For CN’s full article read: CLICK HERE

The post TRAVEL: Bourbon Country’s “Northern Kentucky Region” Makes Condé Nast “2023 BEST PLACES TO GO” List first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Block Party Weekend! Northern KY Event Dec 2 – 3 Featuring “Chocolate Pretzel Bourbon Ball Imperial Stout” 13% ABV

We all love a good party, right? Even better, a good block party, right? Even better, a good block party that boasts a CHOCOLATE PRETZEL BOURBON BALL IMPERIAL STOUT, right?!! Now this sounds like our kind of gathering, and it’s all going down this Friday and Saturday (Dec 2nd – 3rd) in Northern Kentucky’s river […]

The post Block Party Weekend! Northern KY Event Dec 2 – 3 Featuring “Chocolate Pretzel Bourbon Ball Imperial Stout” 13% ABV first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

We all love a good party, right? Even better, a good block party, right? Even better, a good block party that boasts a CHOCOLATE PRETZEL BOURBON BALL IMPERIAL STOUT, right?!! Now this sounds like our kind of gathering, and it’s all going down this Friday and Saturday (Dec 2nd – 3rd) in Northern Kentucky’s river city of Covington.

meetNKY (the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau) and The B-Line^® (a collection of Bourbon Trail distilleries and bourbon forward bars and restaurants in Northern Kentucky) have partnered with Braxton Brewing Co. for the brewery’s famous Dark Charge event. The winter block party takes place from 3 – 11 p.m. Friday, December 2 and 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Saturday, December 3.

The organizations have partnered on a limited-edition Dark Charge variant, Chocolate Pretzel Bourbon Ball Imperial Stout, which is ONLY AVAILABLE for purchase onsite during the now two-day event. Bourbon aficionados and beer enthusiasts alike can enjoy this rich, imperial stout, aged in bourbon barrels from three distillers along The B-Line^® – Old Pogue Distillery, New Riff Distilling and Boone County Distillery – finished off with hints of cacao nibs and pretzels.

“This year’s Dark Charge event is a full-on, two-day collision of beer and bourbon,” said co-founder and CEO of Braxton, Jake Rouse. “There’s no surprise that the crossover between bourbon and craft beer is a quickly emerging trend, so when we approached our annual Bourbon Barrel Aged beer release Dark Charge we knew we wanted to play into this crossover. Additionally, partnering with meetNKY and The B-Line^® on this event allows us to fully showcase all that our region has to offer on a national level.”

Attendees will also be able to enjoy the new B-Line^® Lounge in the brewery’s loft space during the event. All three distillers will have booths in the lounge where they’ll be pulling bourbon tastings from the barrel and serving them alongside another holiday staple – bourbon balls.

“Nothing speaks to the uniqueness of our region like a fusion of bourbon and beer,” said Jay Erisman, co-founder of New Riff Distilling. “We’re excited to partner with Braxton on this limited-edition B-Line^® brew and to tap into the beer enthusiasts who are curious to learn more about bourbon.”

2022 Dark Charge Variants

In 2022, Braxton plans to release seven variants of its beloved Dark Charge Imperial Stout. So far, the brewery has announced and released for sale:

Dark Charge Imperial Stout – The original bourbon barrel aged imperial stout, serves as the base for the other variants with an 12.6% ABV.
Dark Charge Triple Vanilla Stout – This variant, selected by the Braxton Builders, features Madagascar bourbon, with Tahitian and Indonesian vanilla with an 12.7% ABV.
Dark Charge Maple Pecan – This variant features warm, nutty hints of maple syrup and roasted Georgia pecans with an 13.1% ABV.
Dark Charge Cinnamon Whiskey – Nothing says Happy Holidays like cinnamon whiskey. This double barrel aged in Wild Turkey and cinnamon whiskey barrels, imperial stout has an inviting flavor reminiscent with tastes of the holidays and an 12.9% ABV.
Dark Charge Chocolate Pretzel Bourbon Ball Imperial Stout – Only available for sale at the event, this bourbon centric brew was aged in bourbon barrels from three distillers across The B-Line^® and finished off with hints of cocoa nibs and pretzels with an 13.3% ABV.

Entertainment Lineup

To celebrate this year’s Dark Charge Winter Block Party expanding into a two-day event, Braxton is going bigger than ever with music and entertainment, pulling both local and nationally touring music artists. Open format DJ, DJ JAY KAY, will be playing on the main stage in a special all-day set, establishing a groove throughout Dark Charge Day. Additional acts include:

Friday, December 2

From 6 – 8 p.m., another well-known “progressive auditory ensemble” will take the stage. The final musical act will be announced on November 23.
From 9 – 11 p.m. nationally acclaimed MAGIC GIANT will take the main stage. The band has amassed over 60M streams and was named one of the “10 Artists You Need to Know” by Rolling Stone. In addition, MAGIC GIANT has played festivals such as Coachella, Firefly, BottleRock, Electric Forest and Lightning in a Bottle. Having shared the stage with the likes of Foster the People, The Lumineers, Vance Joy and Mumford & Sons, MAGIC GIANT has shown they are an alt powerhouse.

Saturday, December 3

From 3 – 5 p.m. Jake Speed & The Freddies will play a mix of traditional and original folk, country blues, and ragtime tunes that muse on Cincinnati’s unique past and present.
From 6 – 8 p.m. The Hot Magnolias, Cincinnati’s finest Creole/Cajun shake yo’ tail feather, wave your hanky New Orleans musical act, will take the stage.
Finally, from 9 – 11 p.m. Juice, a band from Boston blending rock, pop, R&B, and hip-hop will get crowds dancing with the diversity of their signature sound.

Dark Charge-Infused Bites

To complement the theme of the event, Braxton worked with seven local food vendors to create food that leverages Dark Charge for attendees to enjoy. These including Dewey’s Pizza, Taco Fuerte, Rich’s Proper Food & Drink, The Empanada’s Box, Parts & Labor New School Barbecue, Smoke Justis and Coppin’s.

While the event is free to attend, two VIP experience options are available for purchase in various packages. The Dark Charge VIP Tickets are available as single day passes or two-day passes ranging from $90 to $175. Dark Charge Winter Block Party Igloobar Experiences are also available for private parties of up to eight ranging from $600 – $1,200. For more information on these packages and general information and updates on the event, visit https://www.darkchargeday.com/.

“This event is a true celebration of all things Northern Kentucky,” said meetNKY President and CEO, Julie Kirkpatrick. “It’s been incredible to see how this winter block party has evolved over the years. We can’t wait to welcome music, bourbon and beer fans from across the country for this exciting two-day event in the Commonwealth and show off some of the southern hospitality we’re known for.”

For more information on The B-Line^® visit thebline.com. To learn more about meetNKY visit meetnky.com/.

The post Block Party Weekend! Northern KY Event Dec 2 – 3 Featuring “Chocolate Pretzel Bourbon Ball Imperial Stout” 13% ABV first appeared on The Bourbon Review.