We’re in the heart of and that means the world’s best celebrations of America’s Native Spirit are officially . just wrapped this past weekend, and it featured well over 6,000 guests, 62 participating distilleries, and an unfathomable amount of whiskey available for festival-goers to enjoy. The annual festival, which has been growing in size since its inception in 1991, takes place in Bardstown, Kentucky, otherwise known as the Bourbon Capital of the World, for three days of fun where brands introduce new products, pour some of their most beloved bottles, and bring out the founders, brand ambassadors, and master distillers of America’s biggest brands.
Throughout the festival, enjoying its third consecutive sold-out year, tents feature brand reps pouring special bottles, and some brands made the experience even more attractive by offering limited-edition expressions to try or even buy during limited times. A large part of the fun was exploring all of the booths, either in the main area or in the craft village where nascent brands were grouped, but don’t discount the value of going off the beaten path. To wit, some of the best pours we tasted over the weekend were only available at adjacent events at nearby distilleries, like Heaven Hill, or local bars like Mr.
Tubs. To truly get the most out of your festival experience, the only way to unlock all of those achievements (or at least try to) is to talk to people. Making new friends at KBF is often as enjoyable as trying .