This past weekend had the pleasure of visiting Bardstown, KY and the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. This was 9/13 – 9/15, 2024. Stayed in an Airbnb in Mt. Washington which was about 30 min. north of Bardstown. Purchased a weekend taster ticket.
Here is the list of tickets that were available:
- Weekend Taster
- Single Day Sampler
- VIP Decanter
- VIP Flask Force Gold
- VIP Flask Force
- VIP Enthusiast
VIP was able to enter the grounds an hour earlier than the Single Day and Weekend Taster tickets. The VIP tickets also had the ability to get to small bites, a VIP Bar with Premium Pours and many other options that could make your VIP ticket a purchase you would want.
Here are the details for 2024 Weekend Taster.
Friday was the first day of the event. Stayed in Mt. Washington and had that 30-minute drive down to Bardstown. Having been in Bardstown a few other times knew parking would be an issue. Also, being Friday, the schools are still in session so can’t park in those lots. Opening for weekend taster tickets is noon and headed down about 11:15 getting us there 15 minutes prior to opening. Driving around the Kentucky Bourbon Festival Park and you realized this was a bit late to arrive. Go down one road and find an empty lot accepting cars and we drive up over the curb, pay the fee and start walking the two blocks to get in line. This got us out of street parking and probably getting boxed in as people were parking on top of each other.
Walking to the line was the second realization that arriving only 15 minutes early was a mistake. The line was at least 2 blocks long.
Finally entered the Kentucky Bourbon Festival and went over to a few of the different distilleries for a tasting. We went to Yellowstone, Barton 1792, and Wild Turkey. Some lines were longer than others. Each distillery had 3 or 4 different bottles to try, and you could try a couple or just one. But you can come back as often as you would like. After a few tastings decided to hit the marketplace to see what was available for sale and get a snack. After all the bourbon needed something in the stomach.
Came across a great traveling cigar / whiskey kit. The Great Whiskey Challenge was the place, and we picked up some nice Christmas gifts for a couple of people.
From here went over for another round of bourbon. Went to Kentucky Owl, Four Roses, and Bardstown. Made a mistake with which line to go in as Heaven Hill was right next to Bardstown. Finally reached the hut and realized it was for purchasing bottles only and not tasting. Ooops wasted 30 minutes on that one.
After all the big distilleries went over to the craft area to catch a little shade and some smaller distillery bourbon. Visited Town Branch and a few others that I have not heard of but wanted to give them a try. Some were good and others were just so so.
A great first day at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. Had lunch out at the food trucks and they were great and quick with getting the food prepared and to you so you could go back and enjoy. The weather was warm so water was a must, and the festival did provide free water fills and many locations around the park. Also, many of the distilleries did releases while at the festival. This was great and ended up picking up Little Book Chapter 8: Path Not taken. Lines for these limited releases were long and you had to be at the right place and right time. Or needed to really follow the distilleries and know where you wanted to be. Until Saturday have a great day.
