We are so excited for our 2024 event in just over a month! We thought we’d get in the spirit for our 2024 event by doing a recap of 2023! The 2023 Bourbon Classic was a huge success! With 17 special guest chefs and bartenders, and attendees making their way across the country, from over 25 states, it was bound to be one for the books. Here’s what Mark D. Rucker, CEO/Creative Director from The Bourbon Life had to say, “Hands down it was the best experience that I’ve ever had in the Bourbon world!”
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 Chef Robert Bleifer, Paul Clarke from Imbibe, and Sam Fore from Tuk Tuk Sri Lankan Bites.
The 2023 Bourbon Classic Cocktail and Culinary Challenge winners were…
Judges’ Choice Best Cocktail
Medjool of the Nile
Featuring Angel's Envy Bourbon
Created by:
Bartender Mike Bohn, Angel’s Envy Distillery
Distillery Partner:
Angel’s Envy Distillery
Judges’ Choice Best Small Plate
Freedom Run Smoked Lamb Hummus with Pomegranates, Jerusalem Artichokes, Pine Nuts and Soft Herbs
Featuring: Lamb from Freedom Run Farm
Created by:
Chef Noam Bilitzer, Meesh Meesh Mediterranean
Distillery Partner:
Angel’s Envy Distillery
Judges’ Choice Best Pairing
The Peerless Archivist
Featuring Peerless Double Oak Bourbon
Created by:
Bartender Karla Green, Watch Hill Proper
Marksbury Farm’s Pork Belly with Smoked Curry Coconut Cream, Pineapple Togarashi Jam and Cucumber Blossom
Featuring: Pork Belly from Marksbury Farm and Togarashi and Smoked Curry from Bourbon Barrel Foods
Created By:
Chef Michael Crouch, Watch Hill Proper
Distillery Partner:
Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co
Peoples’ Choice Best Cocktail
Straw Hat
Featuring Basil Hayden Straight Bourbon
Created By:
Tin Le, The Kitchen Table
Distillery Partner:
James B. Beam Distilling Co.
Peoples’ Choice Best Small Plate
Lexington Pasta with Bourbon, Bacon and Ricotta Stuffed Ravioli. Served with a Sailor & Smoke Rubbed Berry Farms Brisket Burnt End and Horse Soldier Bourbon Local Honey Demi Cream
Featuring: Special Made Pasta from Lexington Pasta, Brisket from Berry Family Farms and Rub & Marinades from Sailor & Smoke
Created by:
Chef Chris Roth, Kentucky International Convention Center
Distillery Partner:
Horse Soldier Bourbon
Peoples’ Choice Best Pairing
Smooth Moves
Featuring Barrell Bourbon Batch 32
Created by:
Bartender Oliver Miller, Red Hog Butcher Shop & Restaurant
Smoked Red Hog Sausage
Featuring: Pork from Valley Spirit Farm, Mushrooms from Frondosa Farm and Sweet Potatoes from Rootbound Farm
Created By:
Chef Katie Smith, Red Hog Butcher Shop & Restaurant
Distillery Partner:
Barrell Craft Spirits
Thank You!
A huge thank you to our sponsors who helped make this event possible: Angel’s Envy, Buffalo Trace Distillery, James B. Beam Distilling Co., Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co., Michter’s Distillery, LLC, Barrell Craft Spirits, Bulleit, Buzzard’s Roost Whiskey, Daviess County Bourbon, Four Roses Bourbon, Green River Distilling Co. and Bardstown Bourbon Co., Horse Soldier Bourbon, Jefferson’s Bourbon, JetTech Management, Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co., Limestone Branch Distillery, Pro Jet Consulting, Rabbit Hole Distillery , Ross & Squibb Distillery (Remus & Rossville Union Rye), Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon, Castle and Key Distillery, Heaven’s Door Whiskey, Jeptha Creed Distillery, Log Still Distillery, O.H. Ingram River Aged, Old Carter Whiskey Co., Woodford Reserve.
Also a big thank you to our specialty sponsors:
Welcoming Sponsor: Kentucky Department of Tourism
Signature Sponsor: Pappy Van Winkle
Culinary Sponsor: Kentucky Proud
Official Wine: E&J Gallo Winery - Franciscan Estate and J Vineyard & Winery
Water Sponsor: Pepsi
Official Ice of Bourbon Classic: Kentucky Straight Ice
Media Sponsors: The Bourbon Review and Imbibe Magazine
