2004 Kentucky Bourbon Festival Sampler

[bobbyc]

A great time for sure! Met some nice new folks, Randy, Val, Brian and Dane. Good to see all of the other SB.com folks too. The high points were the Lagavulin that Gary Gillman brought for the gazebo, and the distilling seminar by Chuck Cowdery at the Michters Stills with Craig Beam in attendance no less. Criag said Chuck did a great job there!

The only complaint with the event was they ran out of food too soon. I don't think that was a problem with the Bourbon.

Bottles of Bourbon signed by the Master Distillers were to be had if one were in the right place at the right time.

A hilarious story about an " Electrifying" experience my grandfather had, by David Beam rounded it all out.

A 2 hour lunch today reviewing the previous nites events, and so ends another fine Bourbon event.

[gr8erdane]

Wow, I may get my pictures (what few turned out) up first. Here's a few:

[gr8erdane]

Looks like one at a time: Hey Bobby, wake Ed up!

[gr8erdane]

Then there's Brenda with the official glassware of the GN Pavilion.

[gr8erdane]

Is it the old digital technology or the hand that was wielding it? Jeff and Cliff pondering the fate of the world. And I thought it was just my eyesight blurring last night....

[doubleblank]

We really enjoyed meeting everyone and had a great time in Bardstown. Where to start.....Bettye Jo's tour was a great time...thanks again. The BT and WR/L&G tours were also fun. The "Sampler"...I kept asking for a small taste and always got a full pour and a glass to keep. What a deal. Tasted JVW's new rye and probably like the earlier version better...but this one's good. Took a JVW Black Maple Hills 14yo to the gazebo and seemed to be well received by all, I liked it alot. Looking forward to seeing Bobby, Chuck, Cliff, Jeff, Ed, Gary, Bettye Jo, Brenda, Dane, John Ed, ( and others I've forgotten to mention and everyone's wives) in September. This was my first visit to Kentucky and it won't be my last.

Randy B.

[boone]

Bobby,

Here are some of my pictures...

This one was taken across the street from the General Nelson, in David Beam's garage...It's the Michter's Pot Still (in the background)...

Left to right, Dane, Bobby, Cliff and Gary Gillman

Bettye Jo

[brendaj]

Bettye Jo,

Yea Buddy! Was that a good time, or what?

I want to be sure David and John Ed (COPPERSTILL) know how much I appreciate their hospitality (after all, we were soaking wet... ). Gathering 'round the old Michter's still with Craig Beam and the rest of that group was a high point in the evening for me.

Thanks for making that happen!

Bj

[boone]

The "highlight" of the tour (for me) was Chuck's "Official" explaination of how to operate the Pot Still. As Bobby stated earlier, Chuck started explaining the process, stopped and said something like...Here I am telling how to do distill and Craig Beam, Master Distiller is right here with us...Everybody, got a kick outta that Even Craig

The sudden downpour of rain is evident by Chucks shirt

Chuck Cowdery is on the left and John Ed Beam (COPPERSTILL) is on the right. John Ed, owns this still with his brothers Troy, Bill and his Daddy, David Beam.

Bettye Jo

[boone]

This is Craig Beam beside the Michter's Pot Still... He's a great guy...I am so proud of him I could nearly bust

Bettye Jo

[boone]

Leslie, Jeff and Brenda inside the Gazebo...Leslie is Jeff's wife Leslie's brother, Brian, was with them but somehow I didn't get a picture of him Sorry ...

Bettye Jo

[boone]

Still at the Still

Left to right, my dearest friend, Amelia , my oldest daughter Therese , Me, and my baby girl, Erica

Bettye Jo

[gr8erdane]

Oh my goodness, I look like I've either been drinking for two days straight or the laxative just set in. Bettye Jo, if you're going to put this picture on the site, you really MUST put the Bobby 'Moongazer' picture here too. All your pictures turned out great. I guess my 'eBay bargain' camera is just not up to snuff. Half my pictures are so blurred you can't tell who's in them. Too bad Craig and John Ed didn't join us for 'breaklunch' today. I laughed all the way through Indiana about Bobby's grandpa story. I almost wet myself twice laughing so hard.

[boone]

Now here's a "fine" lookin' man...along with the "finest" Distiller of Bourbon in Kentucky ...

Cliff is on the left and Parker Beam, Master Ditiller, Heaven Hill is on the right Parker Beam is Craig's daddy Proof positive, where Craig's talent came from Beam's distilling secrets, handed down from generation to generation to generation...

Bettye Jo

[cowdery]

The quality of these pictures is even more remarkable considering the state of the photographer.

I should point out that neither Cliff's jacket, nor my own, was as wild as they appear in these photographs.

[boone]

Here is a picture of Bill Beam, ( John Ed, COPPERSTILL'S brother) with their father, David Beam. During the tour, Bill asked me to come inside to talk to his daddy. I did. He opened the door and said to me...Now this is a shrine I was taken . The entire room was filled with Beam memorbilia of bourbon disilling days gone by. In particular, the memento's that belonged to "Carl Beam", David Beam's daddy... This collection was awsome

Bill Beam is on the left and David Beam is on the right

Bettye Jo

[boone]

Here is Mr. Ed with his eyes open ...

Don't believe the image that is being drawn here. Mr. Ed is "the entertainment"...Flat out, keep ya laughing and smiling with his sense of humor

Mr Ed. (pepcycle) is on the left...Val Blank, in the center and her husband Randy (doubleblank) is on the right. This was Val and Randy's first Gazebo visit...they fit right in the group, just like they have known us for years... Good People

Bettye Jo

[boone]

The Heaven Hill Sampler booth

From left to right Parker Beam (Master Disiller), Nichole Willett (Marketing), Linda Beam (Parker's wife) Me, Craig Beam (Master Distiller) and Bill Osborne (Superintendent of Bottling Operations at Heaven Hill)

Right after this picture was taken, BERNCOW recognized me from my picture on this forum and introduced himself. A little later, schlep walked up and introduced himself also...

Bettye Jo

[boone]

The prized possesion Cliff's bottle of Elijah Craig 18 year single barrel, signed by the Master Distller himself, Parker Beam

Bettye Jo

[boone]

Last but not least, the "very pretty", Patty (Mr Ed's wife) with cousin, Bill Beam at the Gazebo

I hope everyone enjoys these pictures as much as I have. They are my "personal" album. They will be kept in my "books" and handed down to my children's children ...

Thanks to everyone for such a great time. It was a "wake up" call for me I can't wait until Septemeber

Ohhhhhhhhhh Yeahhhhhhhhh

Bettye Jo

[pepcycle]

I just got vertigo looking at Cliff's jacket. Moire'?

[pepcycle]

Close your eyes for five minutes and look what happens. I wonder if he used that "Wanna see my still?" line again.

[pepcycle]

Notice the technique. Glass firmly grasped with other hand placed over the top of the glass. Even in my sleep, I'm protecting my bourbon.

How could I have fallen asleep? What a wuss.

Up at 4AM, ran a Half Marathon, 4 hours of bourbon sampling, back to the Gazebo for an additional 30 seconds of bourbon sampling. I can't imagine why I dozed like that.

Somebody must have put something in my drink: Like ICE!!

[gr8erdane]

That has to be one of the best pictures I've seen of some of the finest folks I have ever had the honor to meet. We all know Bettye Jo from this forum, and we mostly get to know these people through her pictures and glowing prose. But through her, when I met all these people it was as though I was at my own family reunion, renewing old aquaintences rather than meeting new ones. Thanks again Bettye Jo for everything you do.

And before I forget, unless my bourbon-clouded memory is incorrect, I think we all need to thank one of the people in the picture, Nicholle, for taking on the HH booth at this year's Bourbon Fest so that we can all get to spend more time with our Bourbonian of the Year.

[Bob]

Bettye Jo, and everyone who attended the Sampler,

Looks like everybody had a great time! Man, am I jealous! I wish Nancy and I could have been there with you. All the more reason to look forward to September!

Bob