Beverage Events: 2017
April
Saturday, April 15, 6–10pm
Holler Festival 2017
New Riff Distilling
24 Distillery Way, Newport
A Celebration of Kentucky Craft Beer & Spirits featuring New Riff, Ei8ht Ball and other small breweries and distilleries. Tickets: $50–$75. NewRiffDistilling.com
April 22, Saturday, 11am–4pm
Wilderness Trail Distillery’s A Taste of Danville
4095 Lebanon Road, Danville KY 40422
Wilderness Trail Distillery’s A Taste of Danville will feature Danville restaurants providing sample portions of food, music, and a full array of spirited cocktails, beer and wine o ered by Wilderness Trail Distillery. $2 and $4 samples of food.WildernessTrailDistillery.com
May
Tuesday & Wednesday, May 2 & 3, 5–9pm
Kentucky Derby’s Kentucky Proud WineFest
Belvedere at Waterfront Park, Louisville
Did you know that there are over 66 wineries located here in Kentucky and nearly 30 in Indiana? The Kentucky Derby Festival WineFest event is your chance to learn more about them, and sample some great wines at a comfortable venue. Tickets: $45 and include a complimentary wine glass, event pin and samplings of some of Kentucky’s finest beverages. Designated Driver tickets $10. Discover.KDF.org/winefest/
Wednesday, May 3, 6–10pm
Kentucky Derby Festival BeerFest
Overlook at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville, 129 River Rd., Louisville
Enjoy the best of spring and summer beers, including both regional and national craft selections. Tickets: $5–$75 and includes beer tastings of over 200 selections, souvenir sampling mug and BeerFest event pin. Discover.KDF.org/beerfest/
Friday, May 12–Sunday, May 21
Lexington Craft Beer Week
Various times and locations around Lexington.
Celebrating the beer craftsmanship of the Lexington area. LexBeerScene.com
Saturday, May 13, 10am–7pm
Kentucky Wine & Vine Fest
150 S. Main St., Nicholasville
The three-day celebration of Kentucky’s thriving wine industry in Nicholasville offers strolling jazz and ragtime musicians, a spectacular art show presented by the Jessamine Creative Art League, a Run for the Merlot event (for those feeling a little competitive), fabulous food trucks, Kentucky artisan booths and much, much more. Enjoy a gourmet Farm to Table Dinner prepared by locally renowned chefs and paired with the Kentucky Wine Association’s 2016 award-winning wines on Thursday, May 11. KYWineAndVine.com
Saturday, May 20, noon–8pm
Alltech Craft Brews and Food Fest
Lexington Center, 430 W. Vine St., Lexington
The Alltech Craft Brews and Food Fest features over 60 breweries and 200 beers, and showcases the finest the craft beer industry has to offer. This year has an expanded food section with plenty of local and Kentucky Proud options to satisfy your hunger. Tickets: $35 at the door, or $30 in advance. AlltechBrewsAndFood.com
June
Tuesday–Sunday, June 6–11
The Kentucky Bourbon Affair
Times and locations vary
The Kentucky Bourbon Affair™ is the ultimate bourbon fantasy camp and the only event that’s actually hosted by the legendary distilleries themselves. Join us in Louisville—the heartbeat of bourbon culture and cuisine—for behind-the-scenes access, private barrel selections, rare tastings and exclusive nightcap events with the Master Distillers and Bourbon Barons of Kentucky’s signature industry. KYBourbonAffair.com
Saturday, June 10, 10am–5pm
Beer Cheese Festival
Downtown Winchester
Transforming Main Street into Beer Cheese Boulevard in downtown Winchester. Live music, food and shop vendors. BeerCheeseFestival.com
Sunday, June 18, 1–4pm
Beer, Bourbon & Bacon Garden Party
Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate, 121 Sycamore Rd., Lexington
Nothing goes together better than beer, bourbon and bacon! Come get all three, including a few special brews during this Southern-style affair. Tickets include beer and bourbon cocktails and an assortment of bacon-infused edibles, live music and more. TheBourbonSocial.com
June 24
Saturday, Starting 1pm
Kentucky Craft Bash
Waterfront Park Festival Plaza, Louisville
The Kentucky Guild of Brewers will host its first annual Kentucky Craft Bash, the state’s largest beer festival that will only feature beers produced within the Commonwealth by Kentucky Craft Brewers. This event will host over 30 breweries featuring more than 70 varieties of beer including sample experimental beers that will never go into widespread distribution, and beers rarely found outside of a brewery’s taproom or brewpub. kycraftbash.com
August
Friday & Saturday, August 18–19
The Kentucky Bourbon Mashoree
MB Roland Distillery
137 Barkers Mill Rd., Pembroke
Western Kentucky’s newest festival! This event will encompass two days, including a ticketed VIP Dinner/Meet & Greet & Industry Panel. MBRoland.com/events/kentucky-bourbon-mashoree/
Friday–Sunday, August 25–27, noon
Bourbon Women Sip-osium Conference
Brown Hotel, 335 W. Broadway, Louisville
Workshops with industry leaders, distillery excursions, bourbon tastings and mixology and more. BourbonWomen.org
Saturday, August 26, 6:30–10:30pm
The Bourbon Mixer
The Gillespie, 421 W. Market St., Louisville
The Whisky Chicks and the Bourbon Brotherhood joined forces to create the Bourbon Mixer, whose proceeds benefit a local nonprofit. This year’s beneficiary is Best Buddies Kentucky. Event includes a silent auction, live music, Southern cuisine and desserts. BourbonMixer.com
September
The month of September is Bourbon Heritage Month Celebration
21c Museum Hotel, 700 W. Main St., Louisville
167 W. Main St., Lexington
An all-bourbon cocktail menu at the bar, bourbon-focused overnight packages and bourbon dinners at Proof on Main combine in this month-long celebration of Kentucky’s native spirit. 21cMuseumHotels.com
Saturday & Sunday, September 2–3
Kentucky Bluegrass & Bourbon Experience
Louisville Water Tower Park
3005 River Rd., Louisville
Live bluegrass music, bourbon and barbecue—for years, that’s how Louisville has celebrated the last days of summer. Celebrate the true “spirit” of Kentucky with tastings of some of the finest handcrafted bourbons available in our very own Bourbon Tasting Lounge with Four Roses Bourbon. KentuckyBluegrassFestival.com
Friday, September 8, 6:30–10pm
South Oldham Rotary Bourbon & Wine Tasting
Yew Dell Gardens, 6220 Old LaGrange Rd., Crestwood
Taste over 80 bourbons and wines and enjoy hors d’oeuvres by Ladyfingers Catering at this sixth annual event. Live music by the Misty Mountain String Band; auction. Proceeds benefit local and international projects. Tickets are $70. SouthOldhamRotaryEvents.org/bourbon-and-wine-tasting/bourbon-and-wine-tasting/
Monday, September 11–Sunday, September 17
The Kentucky Bourbon Festival
Spalding Hall, 1 Court Square, Bardstown
The Kentucky Bourbon Festival gives you six full days of smooth bourbon, delicious food and great entertainment, with a healthy dose of Kentucky hospitality thrown in for good measure. From black tie galas to historical tours, there is something for all ages and interests. It’s a wonderful six-day event full of activities for the whole family. KYBourbonFestival.com
October to December
Friday-Saturday, October 13-14
Bourbon Chase
The Bourbon Trail
The Bourbon Chase is a unique overnight relay adventure in which teams of runners cover 200 miles of scenic byways along the famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Participants enjoy bourbon tastings afterwards. BourbonChase.com
Friday, October 13–Sunday, October 15
The Bourbon Social
Various times and locations
Located in the heart of the Bluegrass is a series of events celebrating over 100 bourbons, whiskeys and aged beer. Highlighting the craft and culture and the great people who share a love of America’s native spirit. Also features local small plates and sweet treats by some of Lexington’s best chefs, restaurants and foodie people, live music and other bourbon-inspired fun. TheBourbonSocial.com
Saturday, October 14, 6–10pm
Bardstown Craft Beer Festival
Bardstown Farmers’ Market Pavilion, Bardstown
Offering more than 50 craft beers, along with a few specialty tapped beers, live music, food trucks and auction. Commemorative tasting glass with ticket. Proceeds go to local nonprofit organizations, school scholarships and community improvements. Sponsored by Next Generation Nelson County. NCNextGen.org/events/bardstown-craft-beer-festival/
December 5
Repeal Day
Raise a glass to the anniversary of the Repeal of the Prohibition and the return of distillation. Look for events all over Bourbon Country.
