An Intimate Tasting at Buffalo Trace

[bourbonmed]

A Day To Remember!!

Folks, this is real and legit. Ken Weber and our friends at Buffalo Trace have asked me to put together a list of 12 - 15 forum members for an intimate, truly special event during the annual Bourbon Festival. Some details so far...

Tentative Date / Time: Saturday, Sept. 15, 2001 (1 - 5 p.m.)

Plan (subject to change): A private van or minibus will pick us up at our various Bardstown hotels and "whisk-ey" us away to Buffalo Trace's historical Stony Point Mansion near Frankfort, approx. 1 hour 15 minutes away. Each of us should bring one exotic / unusual bottle of bourbon or rye to share in the ultimate "forum taste panel" at the Mansion. (Couples need bring only 1 bottle, if you have nothing exotic to contribute, that's okay too.)

Elmer T. Lee will join us in this informal setting and answer questions. Regarding the bourbons (real and experimental) that Ken and Elmer will share with us, I am sworn to secrecy. Ok, I can reveal one: Elmer's legendary (and impossible to find) 107 Proof Single Barrel.

Ken promises we will be returned to our Bardstown hotels in time to get ready for the black tie gala later that evening.

If you are sure you want to come, this is all I need from you right now...

Please reply to this thread. List name, day phone number and hotel where we can pick you up. If you are not yet sure where you will be staying (festival is still 7 and half months away!) please provide an e-mail or phone where I can contact you later. Example:

Omar Montejo (Bourbonmed) (305) 243-5654 office -- Hotel: Hampton Inn (502) 349-0100

Bill F. Legge (MashBill) ( ) --- ---- -- Hotel: ----

Looking forward to meeting you all,

Omar

[kitzg]

I realize there are always choices in life....but your proposal conflicts directly with the Master Distiller's auction which I truly enjoyed in 2000 as well as with the bartenders and servers 'olympics' which I missed in 2000 by trying to take everything else in. This is a very nice offer from Ken and BT. My experience last year was that Saturday was a really busy day and very full. I'd hate to leave Bardstown. On the other hand, last year on Sunday things had wound down and we made a great excursion to Loretto to visit Maker's Mark. Just thought I'd make sure you know of the conflict.

Greg

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Saturday rules me out. I have a talk to give at 11:00, the Master Distillers Auction at 2:00 and the Oscar Getz Academy of American Whiskey at 7:00. Good idea but bad timing as far as I am concerned.

Mike Veach

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Hi Omar,

First of all, thank you for helping to arrange this wonderful event. It's always great to see what enthusiasm can accomplish.

However, there is also much to be said for experience. And the experience you'll have by this time next year would have told you that Friday and Saturday are absolutely the worst possible days to schedule such an affair. Although many (perhaps most) of us won't be attending the Black Tie Gala, you can bet your sweet bippie (yes, I AM that old, what's YOUR excuse?) that none of us here will want to (or in some cases be able to) miss the Bourbon Panel Discussion on Friday or the Master Distiller's Auction on Saturday. Greg mentioned Sunday as a good choice, and I agree; Linda and I would love to attend on Sunday. But that may be easier for us who are within driving distance than for those who must be back to work on Monday. The festival itself starts on Wednesday, and it seems to me that either Wednesday and Thursday would be the better choices.

=John=

http://w3.one.net/~jeffelle/whiskey

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Omar,

Vickie and I will be arriving on Thursday and leaving on Sunday. There were some plans to have a StraightBourbon.Com "Fun Raiser" Friday night after the panel discussion. Is there any reason we can't combine the two and have our cookout and bourbonization at the Elmer T. Lee Clubhouse? We would miss out on the bands & we wouldn't able to "whiskey-away" the Heaven Hill Girls - Bettey Jo & Connie! But it would be a good time!

Linn Spencer

Have Shotglass. Will Travel.

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Linn,

At first glance I thought your suggestion would be a good solution to the scheduling conflict but on reflection, I found a problem. The whole purpose of the "Fun Raiser" was to have an open party where as many of the straightbourbon.com people that can, could come and join us. This is not possible if only 16 or so people would be allowed to come. It would be too great of a strain on Buffalo Trace's resource to ask them to host a larger gathering during the festival especially if they were providing transportation.

Maybe the best solution is still out there. Your idea has merits but maybe someone can come up with a better solution.

Mike Veach

[bourbonmed]

Guys, thanks for the feedback.

I'm trying to get an updated schedule of events for the festival to see if there's a better time/date slot. Remember, this is tentative and subject to change and (Elmer's) availability.

Thursday may be a dicey proposition -- how many of us are in town that day?

Four Roses has something at the distillery Friday. Don't know the time yet.

Sunday may be a slow day -- but it's also the day the majority of us will be driving home or dropping off rentals at the airports. Not exactly the day I want to sample a dozen bourbons.

Hopefully we can find a window of opportunity before Sunday. We could ask Elmer if he would join us in Bardstown -- but I'd hate to miss an opportunity to drink and share stories at Stony Point Mansion.

If you have access to a schedule, please drop me a note.

Thanks,

Omar

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Omar,

Everything you need to know...

http://www.kybourbonfestival.com/

=John=

http://w3.one.net/~jeffelle/whiskey

[kitzg]

schedule is at

www.kybourbonfestival.com

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Mike there were only seven of us there last year. How many are really going to show up? Also this "economic downturn" that we now find ourselves in is either going to be over by Sept. or we're going to be in recession. We won't know for sure about that until July or so. That reality will surely effect attendance.

Linn Spencer

Have Shotglass. Will Travel.

[bourbonmed]

Mike, Greg, Linn, John, et al...

The schedule on the official festival web site isn't finalized. Pam will post an update in a couple of weeks. But here's another idea:

Four Roses is holding a very detailed "Let's Talk Bourbon Tour and Presentation" with Master Distiller Jim Rutledge Friday, 9 a.m., at the distillery. I believe there's an optional lunch which would wrap up around 12:30 or 1 p.m. I'm also told "Let's Talk Bourbon" is all about Kentucky, its heritage, bourbons, (not just about Four Roses) and that it would be essentially the SAME kind of information presented later in the afternoon in the Bardstown Panel. In other words, we wouldn't miss much if we were to go on (as a forum group) from Four Roses to Buffalo Trace -- just a SHORT DISTANCE AWAY. We would also be back in our hotels earlier, using our excursion time more efficiently.

What say ye ladies and gents?

Omar

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

I can not miss the Bourbon Heritage Panel since I am the Moderator. Chuck has also agreed to participate on this panel. We are asking Elmer T. Lee to participate as well even though Gary would be an excellent replacement if he attends your tasting. Both Gary and Elmer were asking to be on the panel last year at the press lunch at the museum (as well as Jimmy Russell, Jim Rutledge and others) but we decided to invite Elmer because he was so popular the last time he was on the panel. I am sorry that you feel that "you would not miss much" by skipping the panel but I would not miss it myself.

Mike Veach

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

The Heritage Panel is fasinating and a definate do not miss for the Bourbon Festival. Lots of discussion before, during and after. Most definatly one of the highlights of the fest!

~Linda~

http://w3.one.net/~jeffelle/whiskey

[cowdery]

Mike and I are committed to the Heritage Panel on Friday, 9/14, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM, and to the Oscar Getz College of Whiskey Knowledge on Saturday, 9/15, from (I'm guessing now) 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Those are my only commitments at this point and I would be interested in attending a tasting at Buffalo Trace. I'll probably have a car.

--Chuck Cowdery

[kitzg]

If I make it to the festival I won't miss the Panel either. I know the attempt here is to find a time when everyone can get to Buf. Trace. I truly appreciate the efforts. My observation from last year was that Mike really could not tear himself away from Bardstown on either Friday or Saturday. I'd rather not either. It was tough enough last year to try to decide what I'd skip and what I would make just being in Bardstown the whole time. That's why I suggested Sunday but it might be that Thursday is better for those with long drives. Of course, as much as the offer is attractive don't count my opinion as that heavy since with Ken's generosity I can visit the distillery another time -- I'm only about 3 hours away.

Sorry I'm voicing my opinion about a week later but I've been so busy I've not been monitoring the forum.

Greg

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Hi Omar,

I've mentioned this once before on this thread, and also in personal conversation with you, but I think I should say it again for all...

The Bardstown Kentucky Bourbon Festival serves many purposes for different groups of people. It's not a single event put on by one organization, but more of a burgoo made up of different groups. Some are bourbon distilleries, some are local craftspersons and musicians, some are civic organizations, one of them is the Oscar Getz Museum, and so forth. The Festival committee tries its level best to coordinate these interests, each of which fervently believes that the whole purpose of the festival is to serve its particular agenda. Amazingly, they are quite successful at it. It should NOT be our goal to punch holes in this carefully-constructed schedule by putting a tempting diversion into the mix in competition with what's already there. And certainly not an event that serves one particular distillery (the weekend events make a point NOT to do that). Of COURSE we'd all like to have the things we want to do and see scheduled for the time we'd like to be there. But we're not just a bunch of bourbon-heads out for a good time; especially if Boone sets us up with an identifying logo. We need to remember that we've become leaders; that is, people who recognize StraightBourbon.Com (and there will be more each year) need to see what we do as being a contribution, not a competition.

I would like to see the Buffalo Trace special tour and tasting be an event that EXTENDS the Festival, not one that competes with other, established events. I believe that it should be held on <u>Thursday</u>. I also think that its success should be an incentive for a different distillery to want to do the same thing the following year. If it goes over well enough, we might even get another one going on Wednesday. I'm afraid, though, that if it's held on Friday or Saturday, not only will many people not come, but the event itself would be counter-productive. Omar, we've just seen you spend about $1500 dollars in a Kentucky shopping spree, and I think Creggor's probably close on your heels. An event that would keep you two away from the Distillers' Auction on Saturday (whose sole purpose is to raise money for the Getz Museum) would not be one that would gain the respect of most of us. And although it sounds really exciting to get a chance to meet and talk with Elmer T. Lee, the fact is that he's likely to be spending much of the rest of the weekend over at the festival grounds anyway.

=John=

http://w3.one.net/~jeffelle/whiskey

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

John Thursday is good for Vickie and I. That is what we did last year. Drove up on Wednesday and spent the night in Frankfort. Then we visited Buffalo Trace the next morning. I don't know how many forum members will be arriving in time, but this will work for us.

Linn Spencer

Have Shotglass. Will Travel.

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Your experience last year was part of what made me think of Thursday. You basically did this whole thing then.

=John=

http://w3.one.net/~jeffelle/whiskey

[bourbonmed]

Greetings Forum Friends. I hope this date works...

-- Thursday, Sept. 13th, 2001.

That's right, we have a green light for Thursday to attend our intimate tasting event with Elmer and Ken at Buffalo Trace.

John, Chuck, Mike, Greg, Linn, Bill, Brenda and all who have expressed serious interest, is Thursday afternoon ok? We aren't trying to force early arrivals or extend the festival intentionally, but the truth of the matter is we got too much going on Fri/Sat and some of our key forum contributors are tied up with conflicting festival events. Thursday is perfect IF (and this is the dicey part) enough of us are in town. We need 12-15 forum members at most.

New Proposed Date / Time: Sept. 13, (2:30 or 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. or so).

I'd still ask participants to try and bring a bottle of an unusual/rare/idiosyncratic bourbon or rye to share in the lofty settings of Stony Point Mansion. Linn, you must bring an extra pair of pants just in case. Remember, we will be tasting Elmer's 107 proof single barrel, and other amazing (and experimental) stuff from our hosts.

WHAT SAY YE BOURBON FANS? Is there a better way to start the festival? Please provide contact info as requested in the original posting of this thread. We do need to know if you wish to come.

Thanks

Omar

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Absolutely! And OF COURSE we'll be bringing something special to add to the mix.

=John=

http://w3.one.net/~jeffelle/whiskey

[MashBill]

Omar,

Thursday sounds great! Count me in!

Those of you that want to taste something in my collection, just drop me a note and I'll bring it along.

Damn, September is a long way off.....

Bill

http://home.kc.rr.com/mashbill/

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Omar,

That date is just fine with me. How about a pint of WWII vintage Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond? I have a bottle I might be willing to share with the forum and it will let people know just how much better the wheat recipe was when it had low entry proof. This 5 year old taste better than the current 12 year old in my opinion.

Mike Veach

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

That's good enough for us Ormar! I'll bring a jar of authentic Blue Ridge peach hooch garendamnteed to be less then 48 hours old!

Linn Spencer

Have Shotglass. Will Travel.

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

oh-ho Mike you don't say! Better than 12 YO VSOF?! You'll just have to pull the cork on that jug! Even Better than that let's blind taste the two.

Linn Spencer

Have Shotglass. Will Travel.

[MashBill]

Linn,

Blue Ridge Peach Hooch? Sounds like a damn sissy drink!

Just kidding, I would love to try it! One of the best whiskeys I ever tasted was some Arkansas moonshine given to me by a fishing guide in northern Arkansas. I asked him to get me more, but his supplier is now a "guest" of the Federal government.

Bill

http://home.kc.rr.com/mashbill/