The second annual Bourbon & Beyond festival makes its much anticipated return in 2018. It will return to Champions Park in Louisville, KY on Saturday, September 22 and Sunday, September 23. Festival-goers will experience the perfect blend of bourbon, food & music not found anywhere else in the world. Festival producers Danny Wimmer Presents, culinary curator Edward Lee and bourbon curator Fred Minnick have put together another incredible bourbon, music, and culinary lineup for the weekend.
World-renowned musicians including Sting and Robert Plant And The Sensational Space Shifters, as well as superstars John Mayer, Lenny Kravitz, Counting Crows and David Byrne, lead the music lineup of more than 30 artists. Tom Colicchio, Stephanie Izard, Aarón Sánchez and Ray Garcia lead the culinary lineup of more than 20 chefs.
Bourbon & Beyond Festival
Bourbon & Beyond is the world’s largest bourbon festival. It is an annual celebration of the craftmanship behind award-winning bourbons, master distillers, legendary musicians, world-class chefs, and an unforgettable showcase of the soul and spirit of Louisville, held during Bourbon Heritage Month. The festival attracted 50,000 people from all over the country in its inaugural year in 2017. It offered a series of onsite experiences, including bourbon and culinary workshops.
Not to mention, the festival’s centerpiece, the Big Bourbon Bar presented by Louisville Courier Journal, will feature more than two dozen bourbons selected by best-selling author and renowned bourbon authority Fred Minnick, Bourbon & Beyond’s official bourbon curator. Acclaimed Louisville whiskey bar The Silver Dollar will operate The Hunter’s Club, where attendees can find vintage bourbons dating as far back as the 1930s, as well as contemporary collectibles — which last year included more than 50 rarities. The festival also announces the return of Fred Minnick’s Mini Bar presented by The Bourbon Women Association, which will showcase this year’s craft bourbon selections: Hartfield & Co., MB Roland, Old Pogue, Wadelyn Ranch and Wilderness Trail.
Tickets
Bourbon & Beyond exclusive VIP packages, General Admission tickets, camping and hotel packages, as well as special event tickets are on sale today! Purchase yours here.
Lineup
Food Talent
Louisville has a thriving food scene as recognized by Top Chef, which will be filming their upcoming 16th season in the city. Bourbon & Beyond’s culinary celebration will highlight top talent including:
Tom Colicchio (Top Chef head judge; Crafted Hospitality founder)
Edward Lee (Executive Chef for 610 Magnolia, MilkWood, and Whiskey Dry in Louisville, KY; Culinary Director for Succotash in National Harbor, MD and Washington, DC)
Stephanie Izard (Chef/Partner at Girl & the Goat, Little Goat Diner, and Duck Duck Goat in Chicago, IL; Iron Chef Gauntlet winner)
Aarón Sánchez (Chef/Owner at Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans, LA;MasterChef judge)
Ray Garcia (Chef/Owner at Broken Spanish and BS Taqueria in Los Angeles, CA)
Damaris Phillips (Louisville, KY native, Food Network host, cookbook author)
Akhtar Nawab (Louisville, KY native, Chef/Owner at Alta Calidad in New York City, Fero in Birmingham, AL and Prather’s on the Alley in Washington, DC)
Alex Thomopoulos (Chef, blogger, Bravo.com’s Going Off The Menu)
Jose Salazar (Chef/Owner at Mita and Salazar in Cincinnati, OH; 2018 James Beard Foundation nominee)
Anthony Lamas (Chef/Owner at Seviche, a Latin Restaurant in Louisville, KY)
Annie Pettry (Chef/Owner at Decca in Louisville, KY)
Ryan Rogers (Owner of Feast BBQ, Royals Hot Chicken and bar Vetti in Louisville, KY)
Experience
“The underlying theme of Bourbon & Beyond is a celebration of craftsmanship. I’ve asked our team to approach every aspect of this festival with the same handcrafted spirit that is used by all of the participating artisans. Each and every one of these distilleries, master distillers, musicians, and chefs have spent years mastering their craft. I am honored and humbled that they have agreed to participate in our second year,” says Danny Wimmer, founder of Danny Wimmer Presents.
The first official pre-show activities on Friday, September 21 will include a Supper Club hosted by Tom Colicchio and Edward Lee and events at the Muhammad Ali Center. Furthermore, there will be an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at local distilleries from Mint Julep Experiences and bourbon educational sessions from Stave & Thief.
Bourbon Experiences available onsite include:
Tiki Barrel Bar presented by Jim Beam
Lock & Key Pizza Parlor presented by Larceny
Southern Soul BBQ presented by Maker’s Mark
Sip & Grill presented by Southern Comfort
Down The Rabbit Hole Speakeasy presented by Rabbit Hole
Stave & Thief Society: Exploring Bourbon Workshops sponsored by The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Tours
Boone County Distilling Back Porch
Whiskey Row Cigar Lounge presented by Diesel Cigars
Culinary demos and Bourbon workshops
Bourbon
Bourbon & Beyond offers over 40 Bourbon brands, a dozen bourbon masters & celebrities, a plethora of workshops, talks, demos & experiences. There will be a first-ever discussion between Jack Daniel’s master distiller Jeff Arnett and Jim Beam’s master distiller Fred Noe.
“Bourbon & Beyond makes history with our Jack & Jim seminar, which will showcase the world’s two best-selling American whiskeys and dissect an often polarizing subject. We want to entertain and educate, but this seminar is taking whiskey discussions to another level and is akin to the Beatles and Rolling Stones sharing the stage,” says Fred Minnick. “This is a rare opportunity to witness a live bourbon event that will never be duplicated.”
Other bourbon and food-focused onsite seminars at the festival include:
Family Affair: The Van Winkles—The Van Winkle family will have a few stories to tell, such as when nobody wanted their bourbon.
My Daddy Was A Moonshiner—Hear how Thomas Wade Daniels decided to break his family nighttime distilling practices and make legitimate whiskey.
The Audacity Of Sourced Whiskey—Panelists discuss one of the most controversial whiskey topics of the past decade.
We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Master Distiller—In an industry that covets its master distillers, the truth is, it’s a team effort.
Rarest Whiskey In The World—Hidden in local bars and liquor stores are the rarest bourbons in the world. Learn how to spot them.
The Joy Of Vintage Whiskey—In basements, at garage sales and even antique shops are old whiskey bottles collecting dust. Hear the story of America’s underground whiskey culture.
The Nearest Green Story—Nearest Green was the distiller the world never knew. Until now. Featuring Fawn Weaver, founder of Uncle Nearest Whiskey.
Food Pairings: Bird And Bourbon—America’s spirit pairs with more birds than the chicken.
Local Grains, Big Fame—Many distilleries have farmer relationships spanning several generations. In fact, some grow their own grains.
Bourbon Mixology: Slushie Time—Who knew that bourbon slushies would become all the rage?
In any event, for more information on Bourbon & Beyond, follow their socials:
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FestPop Staff Writer, Katherine Bennett