2021 Bourbon Classic Recap

The 2021 Bourbon Classic was a huge success! With 1,415 weekend attendees, 25 special guest chefs and bartenders, and 22 participating distilleries, all making their way across the country, from over 30 states, it was bound to be one for the books. It was great to finally be back together again after months of lockdown. A huge thank you to our sponsors who helped make this event possible: 1792, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Thomas S. Moore, Kentucky Proud, Four Roses Bourbon, Michter’s, Bardstown Bourbon Company, Bell, Blanton’s: The Original Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey, Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, Heaven Hill Distillery, Jefferson’s Bourbon, Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co., Log Still Distillery, Pro Jet Consulting, Rabbit Hole, Barrel Craft Spirits, Glencairn Crystal, Lux Row Distillers, New Riff Distilling, Old Carter Whiskey Co., Castle & Key Distillery, Four Gate Whiskey Company, J. Shepherd, Jeptha Creed Distillery, Old Dominick, Widow Jane, Kentucky Straight Ice, Old Limestone. Also a big thank you to our media sponsors: The Bourbon Review, Edible Kentucky and Southern Indiana, Imbibe, Key: Official City Guide to Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Outfront Media. 

The Cocktail and Culinary Challenge is a crowd favorite with featured cocktails and small plate pairings, prepared by eleven teams of chefs and master bartenders representing sponsoring distilleries. Kentucky Proud products are the focus of this event. Chefs used ingredients that were raised, grown, or processed right here in Kentucky. These inventive and delicious creations were judged by an expert panel including Jack Beguedou, The Hood Sommelier; Robert Bleifer, Chef, Consultant, Culinary Producer; Paul Clarke, Imbibe; Kevin Gibson, Freelance Writer; Dana McMahan, Freelance Writer; and Andrea Meriwether, Chief Curator, BarFare Concepts.