Bourbon Classic Returns to Louisville: You Need to Be There

Many times I have praised Cincinnati’s proximity to the heart of bourbon country, but never was I more thankful for it than last February when I was able to attend the Bourbon Classic. I learned more about bourbon history and the current  bourbon industry in that weekend than I had in the previous year. This year it is back and looks to be just as good as 2014. Once again Fred Minnick is MCing the Bourbon Masters Session and this year Jim Rutledge of Four Roses will be joining the line up. He was the one distiller I was very disappointed not to meet last year. The Bourbon University has some great classes lined up, including a very timely class on bourbon collecting. Here is the press release but for now all you need to know is this is the best bourbon opportunity you have within such an easy drive. And keep in mind that WhiskeyFest in Chicago is already sold out. Hope to see you there.

Bourbon & Culinary Weekend Returns to Louisville in February 

Third Annual Bourbon Classic Focuses on World-Class Culinary and Bartending Talent

Louisville, KY (February 2, 2015) –Bourbon Classic 2015, the third annual Bourbon-culinary experience will take place in Louisville at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts next weekend, February 20 – 21, 2015. The event attracts Bourbon enthusiasts and culinary adventurists from across the country. A complete cross-section of the Bourbon industry will attend: Bourbon distilling legends, writers, chefs, bartenders, connoisseurs, and casual enthusiasts.

This year, Bourbon Classic will kick off with an exclusive pre-event reception, Bourbon Classic Taste, on Tuesday, February 17^th. Chef Ed Lee and Julian Van Winkle will participate in this progressive tasting experience hosted at Copper & Kings American Brandy. Kentucky Proud-inspired food, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Four Roses Bourbon, Copper & Kings Brandy, Copper & Kings Absinthe, Van Winkle Special Reserve (12 year), Van Winkle Family Reserve (15 year), Van Winkle Family Reserve (20 year), and 1,000 Stories Barrel Finished Wine will be available. A limited number of tickets to this Kentucky Proud supported reception are available to the general public.

Friday, February 20 – Bourbon Classic Cocktail Challenge:

• MC Jared Schubert, winner of the 2013 Bourbon Classic Cocktail Challenge, will guide attendees through the event featuring contemporary and classic cocktails and small plates prepared by teams of chefs and master bartenders representing distilleries. Cocktails and pairings will be judged by an expert panel including Hannah Hayes, Southern Living, Joy Perrine, Jack’s Lounge, and Chef Albert Schmid, Sullivan University. Participating teams are as follows:

  Barton 1792 Distillery
  Beth Burrows, Down One Bourbon Bar
  Chef Newman Miller, Harrison-Smith House, Bardstown, KY

  Blanton’s Bourbon
  Marie Zahn, St. Charles Exchange
  Chef Levon Wallace, Proof on Main

  Buffalo Trace Distillery
  Jason Cobbler, Harvest
  Chef Coby Ming, Harvest

  Four Roses Bourbon
  Isaac Fox, Volare
  Chef Josh Moore, Volare

  Heaven Hill Distilleries
  Gary Gruver, Southern Wine & Spirits
  Chef David Danielson, Churchill Downs

  Jim Beam
  Sean Thibodeaux, 8-UP Elevated Drinkery & Kitchen
  Chef Todd Rushing, 8-UP Elevated Drinkery & Kitchen

  Michter’s
  Hannah Kandle, Old Seelbach Bar
  Chef Patrick Roney, Seelbach Oakroom

  Wild Turkey
  Amber Yates, Feast
  Chef Ryan Rogers, Feast

  Woodford Reserve
  Jacquelyn Zykan, Doc Crow’s
  Chef Jonathan Schwartz, Doc Crow’s

Saturday, February 21 – Ultimate Bourbon Experience:

• Bourbon Masters Session
  Mark Coffman, Alltech Brewing & Distilling Company
  Wes Henderson, Angel’s Envy
  Ken Pierce, Barton 1792 Distillery
  Fred Noe, Jim Beam
  Harlen Wheatley, Buffalo Trace Distillery
  Jim Rutledge, Four Roses Bourbon
  Denny Potter, Heaven Hill Distilleries
  Nicole Austin, King’s County Distillery
  Willie Pratt, Michter’s
  Jimmy Russell, Wild Turkey

  Author Fred Minnick will MC this session sponsored by the Urban Bourbon Trail.

• The “Bourbon Classic University,” exploring focused learning sessions like Country Ham & Bourbon, The Life of the Barrel, Essential Bourbon Cocktails Past and Present, Straight Up Storytellers, Bourbon & Cheese Pairings, The Art of the Glass, Entertaining with North American Whiskey, Bourbon Collections, Bourbon Flavor Profiles, and Bourbon Icons. Sets of five sessions will be offered and attendees will have the opportunity to choose which sessions to join.

• The Bourbon Marketplace offering exhibits and displays featuring Bourbon tastings, book signings, food tastings, and culinary and Bourbon-related products.

• Bourbon Culinary Tastings prepared by Coby Ming, Harvest, Sean Ward, Ward 426, Levon Wallace, Proof on Main, and Ouita Michel, Holly Hill Inn.

Some of the bourbon industry’s most well-known brands are sponsoring the event. The Urban Bourbon Trail is the welcoming sponsor of this event joining Buffalo Trace Distillery, Four Roses Bourbon, Michter’s, Alltech Brewing & Distilling Co., Barton 1792 Distillery, Bulleit Bourbon, Heaven Hill Distilleries, Jim Beam, Woodford Reserve, 1,000 Stories Barrel Finished Wine, Blanton’s Bourbon, Wild Turkey, Bingham Greenbaum Doll, LLP, Old Forester, Angel’s Envy, Corsair Distillery, Jefferson’s, Kings County Distillery, Copper & Kings American Brandy, and Willett Distillery. Media sponsors include The Bourbon Reviewand Louisville Public Media.

The Bourbon Classic was co-founded by Tony Butler of FSA Management Group, an established event planning and marketing firm based in Louisville, and Justin Thompson, Seth Thompson, and Bob Eidson of The Bourbon Review.

Ticket sales for the event are available by calling the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts at 502-584-7777. Details are available at bourbonclassic.com.