Your biggest disappointment?

[jeff]

I don't want to be a downer here, but I am curious as to what you consider to be your biggest let-down during the festival? Maybe it was not meeting someone you had looked forward to meeting, or maybe an event didn't seem worth what you paid for it.

For me it was our "tour" of the Wild Turkey distillery on Friday afternoon. I had been looking forward to this tour for a long time. Since WT only tours during the week, I had not yet had the chance to take it. Well, the BF was the perfect opportunity, and we were comming from Four Roses, just a short hop down the street. Leslie and I arrived in caravan with Mark, Stacy, Chris, Kristan, Cliff, Bob and Nancy only to find out that the next tour is 2 hours away. Apparently everyone that works at WT was at the festival, leaving one semi-disgruntled lady as the sole tour guide. She told us that she wouldn't take another tour early because she hadn't had her lunch yet. So Leslie and I set out in search of a little lunch. On a positive note, we found this little tea-room at a bed and breakfast down the street that had a very nice lunch buffet. Old colonial-style farm house. Charming really with wonderful food...but I digress. We returned at about 2:30pm, the time for the next and final tour of the day, only to find that our caravan decided not to rejoin us Forbes and his wife were with us on the tour however . Anyway, the same lady was back from lunch and in much better spirits. The tour started by a very quick "explaination" of the bourbon making process using a small distillery mock-up model. If you didn't already know about bourbon-making prior to this, I don't know how you could have understood anything as she went so fast.

Next we were off on the "tour". The first major dissappointment was that once you crossed the street to the distillery, there were no pictures allowed. NO PICTURES ALLOWED Apparently they are over-reacting with safety measures put into place after their fire a few years back. Something ridiculous about a possible spark from a camera flash igniting bourbon fumes...insane.

Second dissappointment to me was that the distillery was closed for upgrades. We didn't get to see the still, the fermenters or anything. All we saw from the tour was the bottling line, which was filling WT101, and the lab, which was very non-impressive. Now back to the gift shoppe to encourage us to spend money

I still want to go back when everything is up and running, though I don't know when that will be. The lady said that they would resume production sometime in October, but when I will be able to get there again is anybodies guess. On a positive note, I did manage to buy a full set of my beloved Rare Breed glasses. I now have 6 of them Also, while the second bottling line was not running during our tour, it was loaded up with hundreds of WT Freedom bottles just waiting to be filled. That was neat to see.

Ok, I'm finished. Let us know what you think was the biggest dissappointment of your Bourbon Festival experience?

[Barrel_Proof]

I had so many good things to say about the festival this year that it never occurred to me to consider what could have been better. But alas, a pesky moderator threw in (more than a) little back-set to foment unrest.

Although I could mention some rather obnoxious interlopers at the gazebo on Uber Nacht and PC Night, they proved to be more entertainment than a disappointment.

My biggest disappointment, I must confess, was self-imposed and only recognized in retrospect: I didn't visit any of the local eateries recommended on the board: I missed Dagwood's, Talbott's and Furlong's.

Next year . . . DINE ON!!!

[Paradox]

I'll keep my post short and just say I agree with you Jeff, Wild Turkey was a complete letdown. It kind of was a let down last yeaar as well; I really thought they would have a much better tour then they did. But hey, just think of the look on that lady's face when she saw that chalkboard!

About the flash thing, what Chris did (and then I did with my camera as well) was just set the thing for night mode (you have to keep the camera steady as hell). It'll make the shutter stay open longer basically and allow more light in. Worked pretty good at Buffalo Trace while in those warehouses... You may have already known this so if you did please disregard

[Paradox]

After Me, Stacy, Chris and Kristin had bad experiences last year at Dagwoods and one this year at the Talbots, we did 2 nights at Kurtz's and enjoyed both. The others are still nice to goto when in Bardstown, don't get me wrong, but last year and this year we thoroughly enjoyed and were treated very well at Kurtz's.

I will not mention the letdown's at both places but if you really are that interested PM me, one is kind of stomach turning.

[jeff]

Cliff,

Definitly visit Dagwoods next year, as Leslie and I had a wonderfull lunch there on Saturday. We had dinner at Talbott's on Friday night prior to "Gazebo Fest '03". While the food was what I would consider to be average, I think the fried green tomatoes were the best I have ever had

[jeff]

Leslie and I almost ended up there on Saturday night, but the alure of "authentic Mexican food" and, I'm almost ashamed to say it, margaritas found us at a local mexican restaurant. Good food, but a very loud bachelorette party

[Paradox]

Oh yeah, actually there was a really big letdown Saturday night and that wasn't being able to say goodbye to Bettye Jo! As Jeff knows we waited there at the booth for her over an hour, but Omar was hitting her up for bottl... err I mean charming her over dinner. I hope you ordered the lobster Bettye Jo!

[bobbyc]

I had a pretty good time, Especially Saturday hanging out and drinking beer on the lawn at Spaulding Hall. My Festival was a good one. The only regret I can think of would to have drank half as much of twice as many different bourbons at the Gazebo.

[bourbonmed]

Mark,

Nope, no lobster for Bettye Jo, but the fried green tomatoes we shared were magnificent. 1st time I've tried them.

The only let down I can recall during the fest was when I twisted and sprained my foot going down the stairs at the General Nelson. I was laughing so hard listening to Jim's narration of late night events in the room next door that I lost my footing in the stairs. My ankle swelled up for a week.

Omar

[Bob]

Nancy and I were not impressed with Dagwoods when we went there for dinner. Not bad, just not that great. Our waitress was constantly asking if everything was OK. Maybe the one Jim had. Our first night in town, Nancy and I were STARVING and went to Talbots and enjoyed it a lot. We went again, on Fri night and were not as impressed. Like Mark, we went to Kurtz 2 nights. We enjoyed their food both evenings. I would recommend Talbots if its not the middle of the Festival, otherwise Kurtz!

Bob

[Bob]

Without a doubt, the Wild Turkey fiasco was the biggest disappointment of the entire festival. As we were SO close to WT, given that we were at 4 Roses, it seemed the perfect opportunity to go. Worse than not going on the tour was the manner in which that "Tour Guide" spoke to us. "Off our property...you are trespassing". You would have thought we were an invading army. Then to tell us she can't help us "I've got to go to lunch"...give me a break. She's lucky I didn't go into a half hour Tourette on her right then and there! I WAS tempted. As Jeff said, the rest of us took off, as we didn't want to hang around for over an hour waiting for Ms. Personality. Then after finding out from Jeff how poor the tour was, was also disappointing.

I know the folks at WT can do better than that. They have a year to get it right.

Bob

[OneCubeOnly]

"Off our property...you are trespassing".

NO WAY!?!?! Are you serious!? You mean, an actual Wild Turkey distillery employee told you guys that!?

[Bob]

WAY!!! Yes she did, this is the truth. As Jeff noted in the original post, our StraightBourbon crew that went out there was 11 people (I think that's right). We were trying to catch up with the previous tour, so we wouldn't have to wait there for 2 hours, and as we crossed the street from their gift shop to distillery, the other tour came out of the building. The tour guide, upon seeing that, yelled for us to get off the property, we weren't authorized to be there, we are trespassing. then she told us she was hungry...

[Paradox]

We kid you not... All we did was cross the road from where the gift shop was. On the other side was where a rickhouse was and up a slight hill to the left was the warehouse for the bottling line and where they stored all the palatized cases of bottled booze. Up the apth/driveway there is even a sign with something like "welcome to Wild Turkey - home of blah blah blah etc..." So one would think hey it's all good... Out form the warehouse she comes with another tour following yelling at us "go right back across that road, you dont belong here, you all are tresspassing etc..." I was rather comical, though you can tell a 'few' of us were mighty pissed when we got back into the parking lot across the street haha. Hell, we were pissed when we first got there to see they had like 3 tours running on a friday during the festival week especially when they knew a big event was running right down the road a 4 roses and there would be probable spillover.

[Paradox]

then she told us she was hungry...

, I left that out. Too funny we made responses at the same time Bob and each told the same story. Man, we'll never forget that I guess!

[Bob]

Mark,

To those of us that were there, it just ADDS to the wonder that was Bourbon Festival. Had that situation not occured, and we simply went on a shitty tour, we would be bitching about that. Instead, we have this fabulous true story that we can recall years down the road. It will go along with all the other great '03 Festival memories!

[boone]

Mark,

Missing the good-by's from you and Stacy was one of the biggest disappointments for me

Actually there were a lot of disappointing things that happend this year. It would take forever to write...All I can say is...that a light was turned on for me to pay attention...Just watch for folks actions...they can speak louder than words ...

I did have dinner with Omar that night. I looked for Lobster but I remembered this is small town Kentucky and there ain't gonna be any on the menu...So's...we had fried green tomatoes ...

The dinner was very good. I ordered more than fried green tomatoes . Took a long time to get it but it was good. Thank you, Omar. I had a good time. I need a break away from all the work.

Bobby, sitting there, drinkin beer, shootin the breeze, with you and my family was a very stress reducing, kick back, don't care bout nuthin, kinda feelin that was one of the best Thank you for being such a great friend

Bettye Jo

[MurphyDawg]

Leslie and I arrived in caravan with Mark, Stacy, Chris, Kristan, Cliff, Bob and Nancy

don't forget Tom & Jessica!!

LOL

TomC

[pepcycle]

My biggest disappointment was not being able to put together a Friday evening BBQ at the Gen. Nelson. Bobby and Brenda were all for it, but everybody else had other plans. I am committing that I will take the lead to organize something next year. Jim suggested that we rent the rec center, as the Gazebo was overflowing and access to the bourbon was severely restricted. If growth be what it is, we may need two hotels next year.

[brendaj]

Ed,

Oh yessss!

Friday evening BBQ at the Gen. Nelson

I'm in, just tell me how I might assist you. Bourbon and BBQ, this is so cool!

Jim suggested that we rent the rec center, as the Gazebo was overflowing and access to the bourbon was severely restricted

I think that's a wonderful idea. We could use both.

With room for longer tables, we'd get better presentation of the Bourbon and, I'm sure the rec center has fridge/sink facilities for some serious, good food.

Great idea!

Bj

[Marvin]

Jeff,

Disappointment - what in the world are you talking about?? There was no disappointment - it is what you make it!! I had a fantastic time. Just because something doesn't come up to your expectations doesn't make it a disappointment for everyone. For example, I met a lot of old friends and a whole lot of new friends for which I am truly greatful. Of all the trips that I have taken to the distilleries no two were ever the same - they were all great. At this time of year, during bourbon festival, how could anyone be down? Not me, I think of the good times I have had and the great ones that are just beyond the horizion, because when I peak the next hill someone will hand me a glass and toast a drink to the future and to this I am most greatful.

Cheers,

Marvin

[kgiammarco]

For me a MAJOR disappointment, which i believe sort of set the mood for the wild turkey fiasco was what immediately preceeded it.. The four roses 'lets talk bourbon' thing... At previous years they had the full line available for tasting, including the 'too good for US' bottlings like 4roses black label, super premium and the single barrel... It had sort of been a thing with me and mark that we were getting excited to be able to taste the superpremium (which is some very good stuff) again... Imagine my disappointment when i walked over to the tasting table and all that was to be found was a bunch of bottles with yellow labels

needless to say that set the stage for the major disappointment that soon followed at wild turkey...

Even with all the disappointments we still made it a great festival... we definitely had lots of fun at the gazebo... What fun would it be if we had nothing to complain about anyway?

-Chris

[jeff]

Marvin,

I didn't mean to imply that we had anything less than a fantastic time at the festival. Heck, meeting you was one of the highlights even if you did give me a hard time about the acetone But, there is always room for improvement. I am hoping to learn from others what might best be left undone at future festivals in order to focus on all the other good stuff. I'm hoping to hear from some of the people who paid for events like the flappers and dappers, the gala, the cooking session, Let's talk Bourbon and the cigar evening. Were they worth the money you put out for them? If not, what could they have done better?

Even at its worst, it's all good in Bourbonia

[Paradox]

I can tell you Jeff that the Cooking School is worth the money. In 2002 the Lets Talk Bourbon was WAY worth it, but this year I was totally upset I spent that money to go, next year me and Chrfis already said we are calling them and if they dont put put out their whole line-up again we are not going. The ghost tour thing at night was a waste in the 4 of our little clan's opinion haha. Anything else I have not done. Chris did the gala in 2001 and liked it. I just wont do it one for the money and 2 i do not want to bring a suit with me 800 miles. Plus I'm not one for dressing up like that at all anyways, I did for my wedding and that's about it haha.

[Guest]

Well Bettye Jo I couldn't have said it better myself. I was upset I couldn't say goodbye but knowing that we are friends makes things all the better. I am sure the girls told you and look forward to hearing from ya all soon.

4 Roses was also a disappointment considering that is one of the bourbons I can consume. They only gave us Yellow Label while I enjoy Super Premium.

Oh well; here's to next year's Fest!