The barrel grave yard.

The inaugural Kentucky Bourbon Affair (KBA) was held during the third week in May this year. Being a bourbon lover, I felt it was my civic duty to attend as many events as I could. Here is a glimpse of my schedule:

• The Opening Event (originally scheduled for Hermitage Farm, but due to severe weather it was moved to 21c)
• The Bulleit Experience at the Stitzel-Weller Distillery
• An Afternoon with Fred Noe at the Man Cave, featuring a Great Whisk(e)y Debate and Mixology Session with Bobby G.
• The Four Roses Experience (which included evaluating some of the distillates and maturates, grain testing, thiefing bourbon straight from the barrel, and then creating our own Small Batch bourbon)
• Woodford Reserve: Exclusive 5 Sources of Flavor Distillery Tour and Advanced Bourbon Palate training with Woodford Reserve Bourbon Master Taster, Marianne Eaves.
• Wild Turkey Experience
• The Golden Affair and Old Fashioned Bourbon Ball

There were more events I could have chosen from, including dinners with Master Distillers, and a polo match at the end of the weekend.   As much as I wanted to attend the dinners, My Guy is not a bourbon guy at all. So, I skipped (most) evening events, and left all of Sunday free so we could do our own thing.

I thought I was going to have a hard time deciding on a favorite event. There were unique happenings throughout the Kentucky Bourbon Trial. However, the Wild Turkey Experience won me over: skeet shooting, watching newly filled barrels being unloaded from a truck, and sent up the barrel elevator to be rolled into their new home in the biggest rick house on the property, trying our hand at rolling barrels ourselves, searching for the perfect souvenir in the barrel graveyard.

Each step along the way, we were accompanied by Jimmy & Eddie Russell, listening to their stories. We finished our time there with a private lunch inside the new Visitor’s Center. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the inaugural KBA, than with Jimmy Russell celebrating his 60^th anniversary at Wild Turkey.

All in all, I thought the KBA was a highly successful event, and I hope to attend the 2^nd Annual Kentucky Bourbon Affair – whenever that may be, hopefully May 2015.

This post was inspired by all great Kentucky bourbons.   Cheers!

The Golden Affair

Jimmy Russell mugging with me.

Me getting a shot off, and hitting the target. I am woman, hear me roar!

Woodford Reserve

The Debators, including Fred Noe of Jim Beam.

Canadian, Scottish, Irish, and Kentucky Whiskies.

Stitzel-Weller filling room.

Me at the Stitzel-Weller Distillery.