Have you thought of all that we have missed this year? All the concerts, sports, and mostly bourbon events. This has most certainly been a different year. 2020 has hit Kentucky hard with The Kentucky Derby being postponed and will be limited to who can attend, Bourbon and Beyond, Louder than Life and Hometown Rising were all cancelled but we have one chance left in 2020 to celebrate Bourbon in a grand fashion. While the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, KY was moved to October 15th-18th it will still happen and I had a chance to sit down with Steve Coomes to discuss what to expect.
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Steve was hired to help revitalize the Festival and to me moving it was a step in the right direction for the future and I can only hope that the dates are the same for next year. It wont have to compete against the Louisville events that are held in September or the late summer heat that can make any outdoors almost painful. The Bourbon Capital of the World is a stunning place to visit in the fall and I cant wait to see the changes that they have in store for the new look. With all that it will still be limited to around 1500 people per day so ensure you buy your tickets in advance.
Moved away from the main lawn will be the craft booths that made it look like a country fair. The distillery booths and bourbon education events will now play main stage on the main lawn to ensure that Bourbon is front and Center for you to enjoy and Steve ensures me that there will be quite a few new surprises. New to town are three new hotels that were not there last years so plenty of places to stay if you want to do the entire weekend. Heck, why wouldn’t you want to do the entire weekend, I do. Think of the possibilities, of the weekend, you hit Makers Mark, Barton’s 1792, Bardstown Bourbon Co., Heaven’s Hill, Willetts, LuxRow and Preservation. That’s just the ones in Bardstown.
With several of the distilleries adding restaurants, these are amazing places to grab lunch or dinner before or after your tour. Back in Bardstown you will find that main street has added several new places to grab a drink or even eat at. If your feeling adventures you can take a country drive and see the thoroughbred race horses, that seem to lined on the fence rows ready for their photos to be taken. What a time to visit Kentucky. Pick up some country ham or some breakfast sausage at the famous Boones Butcher Shop that will pair nicely with that bourbon that you have picked up over the weekend. Don’t forget to pick up a copy of Steve’s books (Country Ham: A Southern Tradition of Hogs, Salt and Smoke or The Home Distiller’s Guide
Until then, well you will just have to give Listen as Steve and I chat about a plethora of topics from the Kentucky Bourbon Festival to Rick House Locations and maturation. So grab some bourbon, a glass and kick back as Steve Coomes takes another trip down The Bourbon Road with Big Chief. Cheers
Mike (Big Chief)
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