Visit Owensboro has announced the 35 distilleries — including big names such as Maker’s Mark, Angel’s Envy, and Heaven Hill, as well as craft brands — participating in the inaugural BBQ and Barrels bourbon tasting event on May 13. Distilleries will also be allowed to sell bottles of their products
The event will be held at the Owensboro Convention Center. VIP tickets have sold out for the event, but general admission tickets are available that allow attendees the opportunity to taste the vast selection of bourbons.
The bourbon tasting portion of the event, sponsored by RW Baird Private Wealth Management, will start at 2 p.m. with educational sessions. The VIP event will start at 3 p.m., while the general admission session is from 4-6 p.m.
“We had a goal of getting 15 distilleries to participate in our first year. It’s unbelievable but more accurately a reflection of Owensboro’s strong bourbon heritage that this many distilleries will be at BBQ and Barrels,” said Dave Kirk, Visit Owensboro. “The fact that you’ll also be able to purchase bottles directly from the distilleries is a huge bonus for attendees.”
Distilleries are mostly Kentucky based with the exception of a few from Indiana and Ohio. In addition to major brands, attendees can find some craft brands like Bard, Fresh Bourbon and Pinhook.
“One of the most exciting things for us is the diversity that this mix of both small and large distilleries bring. You’ll get to try local favorites like Green River Distilling Company. You’ll even get to taste some things that aren’t even on the market yet like Western Kentucky Distilling Company,” Kirk said.
The full list of participating distilleries are:
- 18th Street Distillery
- Angel’s Envy
- Backbone Distilling Company
- Bard Distillery
- Barrel House Distillery
- Bardstown Bourbon Co
- Bluegrass Distillers
- Broadleaf Whiskey
- Castle & Key Distillery
- Driftless Distillery
- Fresh Bourbon
- Four Roses
- French Lick Distillery
- Good Trouble Bourbon
- Green River Distilling Co
- Hard Truth Spirits
- Heaven Hill
- Hotel Tango Distillery
- Hemingway Whiskey
- Indiana Whiskey
- O.H. Ingram Bourbon Whiskey
- Jefferson’s
- Jeptha Creed
- KY 10 Bourbon
- Maker’s Mark
- Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.
- Log Still Distillery
- Old Steelhouse
- Pinhook
- Penelope Bourbon
- Pursuit Spirits
- RD1 Spirits
- Starlight Distillery
- Three Boys Farm Distilling (Whiskey Thief Co)
- Watershed Distillery
- Western Kentucky Distilling Co.
