Bootlegger’s Day 2024
June 8, 2024 at Neeley Family Distillery
Forty participants lived the early/mid 20th century bootlegger’s life for a day at Neeley Family Distillery. The group shot a vintage Tommy gun, selected a barrel, heard tales of bootlegging history and lore and enjoyed vintage cocktails made by Molly Wellmann.
Bourbon Palooza 2024
aka Bourbon Palooza #1
Place: Bardstown, Kentucky
Dates: March 15 - 17, 2024
Hosting Hotel: Bardstown Motor Lodge
Participants: 57
Bourbon Palooza Event #1
The Ultimate Brunch & Dusty Tasting
Where: Bourbon Bistro (2255 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206)
Time: 9:30 AM
Includes: A buffet brunch cooked at served by the Bluegrass Bourbon Baron himself, Jason Brauner. This will be followed by three highly desirable vintage pours with a class led by the dusty chaser himself, Wes Hardin. What’s great about this event is that we’re talking 1 ½ ounce pours so we’re talking more than just a taste of these highly desirable whiskeys. Jason and Wes will present these three whiskeys curated for this event and include some history of the brands in this one as well.
Bourbon Palooza Event #2
Heaven Hill Behind the Scenes with Bernie Lubbers & Jodie Filatreau
Where: Heaven Hill Distillery, 1311 Gilkey Run Rd, Bardstown, KY 40004
Time: 10:00 AM
Includes: Bernie Lubbers & Jodie Filatreau (master distiller at the Evan Williams Experience) are going to take you behind the scenes at Heaven Hill Distillery. The group will get the rare opportunity to practice the barrel roll on the same course used to train Heaven Hill employees for the barrel rolling competition at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. Afterwards, Bernie & Jodie will host a tasting of Heaven Hill products.
Bourbon Palooza Event #3
Brunch and Cocktails with Denny Potter & Jane Bowie
Where: Jane Bowie’s House
Time: 10:00 AM
Includes: You read this one right, Jane Bowie is going to invite you over to her house where she will be joined Denny Potter. There, she is curating a whiskey tasting of “her best stuff” for the event. Food will be served as well. Jane has requested to please let us know if anyone selecting this event has dietary restrictions and she will do her best to accommodate you
Bourbon Palooza Event #4
Bardstown Bourbon Company Behind-the-Scenes with Head Distiller Nick Smith
Where: Bardstown Bourbon Company, 1500 Parkway Dr, Bardstown, KY 40004
Time: 10:00 AM
Includes: Tour Bardstown Bourbon Company and thieve barrels from the honey spot with Director of Distilling Operations and Head Distiller Nick Smith. The experience will take 90 minutes and involve a full behind the scenes tour in addition to the barrel thieving in our rickhouses.
Bourbon Palooza Event #5
Brindiamo Penthouse Whiskey Tasting with Ross Cornelissen, Master Distiller for Barton 1792
Where: Brindiamo Penthouse at Spalding Hall, 114 N 5th St, Bardstown, KY 40004
Time: 2:00 PM
Includes: First, you get access to the Brindiamo Penthouse. This is a playground for the bourbon elite at Spalding Hall in Bardstown. Seriously. It’s a private club that most people don’t get to see. That’s just part of the story here, though. Barton 1792 Master Distiller Ross Cornelissen is going to take you through “Impacts on Flavor” when it comes to bourbon. We’re talking about different locations in the warehouse, different types of wood, etc. You’ll be tasting through multiple offerings from each of his different experiments.
Bourbon PaloozaEvent #6
Limestone Branch VIP Tour with Stephen Fante + Whiskey & Cigars in the new Tasting Lounge
Where: The New Tasting Lounge at Limestone Branch Distillery, 1280 Veterans Memorial Hwy, Lebanon, KY 40033
Time: 2:00 PM
Includes: This one starts with a VIP tour and tasting led by Stephen Fante. After the tour/tasting, the group will enjoy whiskey, cigars, charcuterie and conversation with the amazing Stephen Fante at the brand new Tasting Lounge at Limestone Branch. Our group will literally be one of the first groups to experience this new part of the distillery
Bourbon Palooza Event #7
Flight of 3 Dusties + Any Cocktail on the Menu Tasting with Owen Powell, Co-Owner/Co-Founder of Neat Whiskey Bar & Bottle Shop
Where: Neat Whiskey Bar and Bottle Shop, 1139 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204
Time: 2:00 PM
Includes: A curated dusty tasting of three vintage pours led by Owen Powell. This is followed by a question and answer session where you enjoy any cocktail on the menu.
Bourbon Palooza Event #8
The Art of Blending
Where: Bardstown Bourbon Company, 1500 Parkway Dr, Bardstown, KY 40004
Time: 2:00 PM
Includes: Experience an immersive and education look into the approach and process of creating Bardstown Bourbon Company’s World-Class blends. Led by National Brand Ambassador, Jaz’min Weaver, enjoy a sensory overview of bourbon, rye and international whiskey with flavor pairings designed to highlight each spirit’s unique essence.