TO GO OR NOT: KY Bourbon Festival

[TomH]

Based on this thread it sounds like I wouldn't miss much of interest by not going.

Whiskey Fest, on the other hand...

WhiskeyFest - Great selection of current whisk(e)y...very heavily tilted toward scotch, but the major bourbon players are well represented. The downside is that the best items are available for only 1 hour so you want to taste quite a few that first hour and after that I find my palette is pretty dead. You are also tasting in a crowded mass of whisk(e)y freaks and that while you can have quick chats with friends you see, it is not an atmosphere that's great for socializing. Finally the overall concentrated time frame (4 hours VIP - 3 hours regualar) has been known to lead some folks over the edge of intoxication as they try to sample as many items as possible

Bourbon Fest - Great selection of whiskies at the gazebo (current and dusties) with a few bottles from dark side making an appearance. Actual Fest events range from lame (spirit garden) to overpriced (The Gala) to fun and unique (barrel racing). However, the attraction (at least for me) is the chance to drink great whisk(e)y in a leisurely manner and socialize with great friends over the course of a few days.

I regularly attend both events and plan to attend them in the future (though I will occasionally will skip one of the other depending on my current mood and plans). The big tastings (WhiskeyFest, the Indy Spirit Festival, etc) are nice to getting to taste a few things that I can't find otherwise or taste some newer items (or pre-release items). I enjoy doing these once or twice a year. OTOH, drinking great whisk(e) with great friends is something that I will do whenever possible.

Tom

[p_elliott]

Tom hit right on it, Bourbon festival to me is all about getting to spend a few days doing bourbon activities with my good friends. Be it going to the distilleries, out to dinner or best of all sitting around the gazebo drinking incredible whiskies, and let's not forget the porch at Doug and Barbs more great food and more incredible whiskies. The Distillery tours never get old to me because we always have new members that have never seen them before. It's fun to watch them see them for the first time and experience that with them.

[StraightNoChaser]

I feel a little noobish for the Gazeebo...

[Josh]

I feel a little noobish for the Gazeebo...

Jack and Greg did just fine at the Sampler:cool:

No better crash course (hopefully not literally) in the world of bourbon exists outside of the Gazebo!