If you’ve been putting off your bourbon education because you don’t have time to devote to driving all over the state touring and meeting people, you’re in luck. There are more bourbon events in Louisville each month than even I can attend. If you start next week, you can become an amateur bourbonite by the end of next month! Check out these awesome bourbon events around town and online:
1. Tuesday June 30 from 6-7 p.m., Four Roses Master Distiller Jim Rutledge will be answering your bourbon questions via Twitter. Just tweet @4RosesBourbon using the hashtag #AskJim and he’ll answer as many questions as time allows. Rutledge has been the Master Distiller at Four Roses since 1995, and he has been instrumental in bringing Four Roses back to the U.S. market after it was an export-only brand for nearly 20 years. Even if you don’t have questions to ask, reading along is sure to be very informative!
2. Haymarket Whiskey Bar hosts all kinds of special bourbon events, large and small. July 1 at 8 p.m. Haymarket will host Whistle Pig for an opportunity to learn more about the brand started by former Maker’s Mark distiller Dave Pickerell. They will also be premiering their first ever single barrel rye whiskey. You can also catch Pickerell again July 2 at Down One Bourbon Bar for their Bourbon Storytellers Series.
3. Westport Whiskey and Wine has some awesome and very affordable whiskey tasting events. July 15 at 7 p.m., Drew Kulsveene and Hunter Chavanne of Willett Distillery in Bardstown will be talking about the Willett family of brands, as well as the distillery’s history. July 22 the tasting room will host Joe Riggs of Redemption Rye at 7 p.m.
4. Check out the next Filson Bourbon Salon at Oxmoor Farm, all about craft distilling and tourism in Louisville. Although there’s no shortage of bourbon tourism around town, this is an opportunity to learn about Angel’s Envy, The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience and Copper and Kings all in one place.
5. Tour the brand new Kentucky Peerless Distillery, The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience and Copper and Kings. Head down to Shively afterward to check out The Bulleit Experience at Stitzel-Weller. You’ll have to start early to fit them all in, but you can learn a lot about distilling in one day right in Louisville!
Photos Courtesy of Maggie Kimberl
