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Friday, March 24
 

2:00pm CDT

Bourbon Judging
Limited Capacity seats available

A great opportunity for Bourbon-lovers to have their opinions heard.

Participants in this exclusive event will taste and judge Bourbons entered by the various distilleries for the honor of being the first New Orleans Bourbon Festival Award Winners!

Friday March 24, 2017 2:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
MCC
  Bourbon Judging

6:30pm CDT

Grand Tasting - VIP/ Ultimate VIP
Friday March 24, 2017 6:30pm - 10:30pm CDT
Sugar Mill
  Grand Tasting, VIP

7:30pm CDT

Grand Tasting
Friday March 24, 2017 7:30pm - 10:30pm CDT
Sugar Mill
  Grand Tasting, General
 
Saturday, March 25
 

9:00am CDT

"Why Does Bourbon Taste So Awesome? A Close Look into Yeast and other Determinants of Flavor Development"
Limited Capacity seats available

The title says it all!

Dr. Heist will dive into the science of that wonderful Bourbon taste.

Speakers
avatar for Dr. Pat Heist

Dr. Pat Heist

Co-Founder, Co-Owner, Wilderness Trail Distillery, Ferm Solutions
Dr. Heist is well known in the bourbon, beverage, and fuel alcohol industries for his expertise and problem solving skills relative to the microbiology, biochemistry of fermentation, and overall distilling process experience. Education includes B.S, M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
MCC - Rex Kern F
  Seminar

9:00am CDT

Bottled-In-Bond Act of 1897: The Law That Changed the Way Americans Think About Whiskey
Limited Capacity seats available

Creating the highest standards of quality for Bourbon.

Michael discusses the evolution of straight whiskey leading to the Act and later the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906.

Speakers
avatar for Michael Veach

Michael Veach

Bourbon Historian, Author, Bourbon Veach LLC
Michael Veach was the luckiest student at the University of Louisville's History department when he accepted a job as North American Archivist for United Distillers in 1991. The knowledge learned while spending five years at that position has made him a leading authority on the history... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
MCC - Rex Kern A
  Seminar, History

9:00am CDT

From Bourbon Street to Bourbon Country...the Ultimate Road Trip Experience
Limited Capacity seats available
We will share lessons’ learned and unique opportunities you may not learn about otherwise for your trip planning purposes. It will include planning your visit around bourbon distilleries, culinary ideas, visiting horse farms or experiencing racing at Churchill Downs, Louisville Slugger Museum, and the famous Urban Bourbon Trail in downtown Louisville. “The purpose of fun is to have some, so come join us….”
Speakers
avatar for Sean Higgins

Sean Higgins

Chief Fun Officer, Mint Julep Tours and Transportation
Mint Julep Tours is the only dedicated tour company focused on The Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. Based in Louisville, Kentucky they offer Custom and Public Bourbon Distillery Tours as well as unique Exclusive Experiences, Horse Farm Tours, Culinary Tours, and Louisville City Tours. As... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
MCC - Rex Kern B
  Seminar

9:00am CDT

How Bourbon is Made
Limited Capacity seats available
Speakers
avatar for Susan Reigler

Susan Reigler

writer, Speaker, Author, Bourbon Authority
Award-winning writer and Louisville native Susan Reigler is the author of Kentucky Bourbon Country: The Essential Travel Guide (now in its second edition), Kentucky Sweet & Savory: Finding the Artisan Foods and Beverages of the Bluegrass State, The complete Guide to Kentucky State... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
MCC - Rex Kern E
  Seminar

9:00am CDT

The Future of Bourbon
Limited Capacity seats available
Speakers
avatar for Carla Carlton

Carla Carlton

The Bourbon Babe, TheBourbonBabe.com
Carla Carlton, aka "The Bourbon Babe," is an award-winning bourbon journalist, author and speaker. She covers the bourbon industry on her website, TheBourbonBabe.com, which has been featured on NPR's "All Things Considered" and in the Washington Post and The New York Times. Her first book, "Barrel Strength Bourbon: The Explosive Growth of America's Whiskey," was published by Clerisy Press in June 2017. She is a regular contributor to The Whiskey... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
MCC - Rex Kern C
  Seminar

10:30am CDT

From Bourbon Street to Bourbon Country…the Ultimate Road Trip Experience
Limited Capacity seats available
We will share lessons’ learned and unique opportunities you may not learn about otherwise for your trip planning purposes. It will include planning your visit around bourbon distilleries, culinary ideas, visiting horse farms or experiencing racing at Churchill Downs, Louisville Slugger Museum, and the famous Urban Bourbon Trail in downtown Louisville. “The purpose of fun is to have some, so come join us….”
Speakers
avatar for Sean Higgins

Sean Higgins

Chief Fun Officer, Mint Julep Tours and Transportation
Mint Julep Tours is the only dedicated tour company focused on The Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. Based in Louisville, Kentucky they offer Custom and Public Bourbon Distillery Tours as well as unique Exclusive Experiences, Horse Farm Tours, Culinary Tours, and Louisville City Tours. As... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
MCC - Rex Kern B
  Seminar

10:30am CDT

State of the Industry
Limited Capacity seats available
Speakers
avatar for Chuck Cowdery

Chuck Cowdery

Author, Writer, Blogger, BourbonStraight.com
Charles K. ‘Chuck’ Cowdery is “the dean of American whiskey journalism” per the New York Times.* He is a Kentucky Colonel (Patton, 206), a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame (2009), and the author of: Bourbon, Strange: Surprising Stories of American Whiskey (2014... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
MCC - Rex Kern A
  Seminar

10:30am CDT

A Virtual Tour of Kentucky with Tasting
Limited Capacity seats available
Speakers
avatar for Susan Reigler

Susan Reigler

writer, Speaker, Author, Bourbon Authority
Award-winning writer and Louisville native Susan Reigler is the author of Kentucky Bourbon Country: The Essential Travel Guide (now in its second edition), Kentucky Sweet & Savory: Finding the Artisan Foods and Beverages of the Bluegrass State, The complete Guide to Kentucky State... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
MCC - Rex Kern E
  Seminar, Tasting/ Pairing

10:30am CDT

Bourbon Basics
Limited Capacity seats available
Want to know more about bourbon but don't know where to begin?  Are traditional tasting events too intimidating?  Maybe you are a wine or beer drinker who is curious to find out what all the buzz is about.  Let us ease your way into it as we create an experience with gateway cocktails that help your palate appreciate and enjoy the deliciousness of Kentucky Bourbon.  Join us as we take you on a leisurely stroll on the path to bourbon enlightenment beginning with a little history, background about the different types of whisky and then move into ways one can enjoy and share your new found passion and knowledge with friends.  Includes sample cocktails and tastings.
Speakers
avatar for Linda Ruffenach

Linda Ruffenach

Founder, Whisky Chicks
Linda Ruffenach, the author of How to be a Bourbon Badass, is a businesswomen, entrepreneur and the founder of the Whisky Chicks.  She believes that sharing a glass of bourbon and learning about America's native spirit are great common denominators to bring people together.  Ruffenach... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
MCC - Rex Kern F
  Seminar, Tasting/ Pairing

10:30am CDT

Legends in Bourbon - Fred Booker Noe III & Eddie Russell
Limited Capacity filling up
An open-ended and discussion of the Bourbon industry - past, present and future - by two living legends of the Bourbon world.  They've seen and done it all.

For Bourbon lovers, there is nothing better...Jim Beam's Fred Booker Noe III and Wild Turkey's Eddie Russell!
Speakers
avatar for Fred Booker Noe III

Fred Booker Noe III

7th Generation Master Distiller, Jim Beam
Frederick “Fred” Booker Noe III, son of the late Frederick “Booker” Noe Jr. and great grandson of Jim Beam, is a seventh generation distiller and keeper of a family flame that has burned for more than 200 years.  Fred is Beam’s Master Distiller, sharing the craft of whiskey... Read More →
avatar for Eddie Russell

Eddie Russell

Master Distiller, Wild Turkey Distillery
With more than 35 years of experience, Edward Freeman Russell knows a thing or two about Bourbon. As the son of legendary Master Distiller Jimmy Russell, and the third generation Russell to work at the Wild Turkey Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, Eddie Russell is of an unmatched... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
MCC - Rex Kern D
  Seminar

10:30am CDT

The Secrets to Bourbon Food Pairing
Limited Capacity seats available

The Secrets to Bourbon Food Pairing - WITH MASTER BOURBON TASTER, PEGGY NOE STEVENS

   - History and Tasting of three premium Bourbons

   - Food and Bourbon pairing and palate training

   - Setting the Perfect Bar based on Bourbon Flavors

As the world's first female Master Bourbon Taster and founder of the Bourbon Women Association, Peggy Noe Stevens is uniquely qualified to educate the audience about Kentucky's native spirit.  Whether you are new to Bourbon, or a seasoned enthusiast, she will present an entertaining overview of Bourbon's heritage, process and how to taste like a pro.  A customized food and Bourbon pairing will delight your senses and teach you why the many different "styles" of our amber elixir make Bourbon a signature industry for Kentucky.

Speakers
avatar for Peggy Noe Stevens

Peggy Noe Stevens

Founder, PNSA
Founder & President, Peggy Noe Stevens & AssociatesFounder of Bourbon Women Association

Saturday March 25, 2017 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
MCC - Rex Kern C
  Seminar, Tasting/ Pairing

1:00pm CDT

"Why Does Bourbon Taste So Awesome? A Close Look into Yeast and other Determinants of Flavor Development"
Limited Capacity seats available

The title says it all!

Dr. Heist will dive into the science of that wonderful Bourbon taste.

Speakers
avatar for Dr. Pat Heist

Dr. Pat Heist

Co-Founder, Co-Owner, Wilderness Trail Distillery, Ferm Solutions
Dr. Heist is well known in the bourbon, beverage, and fuel alcohol industries for his expertise and problem solving skills relative to the microbiology, biochemistry of fermentation, and overall distilling process experience. Education includes B.S, M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
MCC - Rex Kern B
  Seminar

1:00pm CDT

Uncut Bourbons...Full Proof Delight
Limited Capacity filling up
Featuring Makers Mark Cask Strength, Makers Mark Cask Strength Private Select, Bookers and Bookers Rye.
Speakers
avatar for Adam Harris

Adam Harris

Bour-Bon Vivant & American Whiskey Ambassador, Beam Suntory
Adam developed his love of Bourbon and a good cocktail while working in New York City bars. During his time in New York, the cocktails he created were published in several prominent publications, including the Wall Street Journal and the San Francisco Chronicle. He took his first... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
MCC - Rex Kern E
  Seminar

1:00pm CDT

Women in Bourbon Panel Discussion
Limited Capacity seats available
Speakers
avatar for Carla Carlton

Carla Carlton

The Bourbon Babe, TheBourbonBabe.com
Carla Carlton, aka "The Bourbon Babe," is an award-winning bourbon journalist, author and speaker. She covers the bourbon industry on her website, TheBourbonBabe.com, which has been featured on NPR's "All Things Considered" and in the Washington Post and The New York Times. Her first book, "Barrel Strength Bourbon: The Explosive Growth of America's Whiskey," was published by Clerisy Press in June 2017. She is a regular contributor to The Whiskey... Read More →
avatar for Susan Reigler

Susan Reigler

writer, Speaker, Author, Bourbon Authority
Award-winning writer and Louisville native Susan Reigler is the author of Kentucky Bourbon Country: The Essential Travel Guide (now in its second edition), Kentucky Sweet & Savory: Finding the Artisan Foods and Beverages of the Bluegrass State, The complete Guide to Kentucky State... Read More →
avatar for Peggy Noe Stevens

Peggy Noe Stevens

Founder, PNSA
Founder & President, Peggy Noe Stevens & AssociatesFounder of Bourbon Women Association

Saturday March 25, 2017 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
MCC - Rex Kern C
  Panel Discussion, Panel Discussion |   Seminar, Panel Discussion

1:00pm CDT

Bourbon and Cigar Pairing
Limited Capacity seats available
If you ask most people about pairing bourbon and cigars chances are you'll hear the same old dogma: pair a full-bodied cigar with a full-bodied bourbon.  Unfortunately in that combination you lose a lot of the subtle nuances in both your whiskey and in your cigar as they both compete for your attention.  Learn how to pair your bourbon and cigars with balance so you can more fully enjoy both!
Speakers
avatar for Maggie Kimberl

Maggie Kimberl

Writer, Blogger, Cigar Aficionado, Author
Maggie Kimberl is a bourbon writer focusing on bourbon culture and tourism in Louisville and Kentucky. When she's not covering the bourbon beat you can find her browsing through vintage vinyl with her kids or tending to her homegrown tomatoes. Follow her on Twitter https://twitte... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Sugar Mill - Cigar Lounge
  Seminar, Tasting/ Pairing

1:00pm CDT

Bourbon Basics
Limited Capacity seats available
Want to know more about bourbon but don't know where to begin?  Are traditional tasting events too intimidating?  Maybe you are a wine or beer drinker who is curious to find out what all the buzz is about.  Let us ease your way into it as we create an experience with gateway cocktails that help your palate appreciate and enjoy the deliciousness of Kentucky Bourbon.  Join us as we take you on a leisurely stroll on the path to bourbon enlightenment beginning with a little history, background about the different types of whisky and then move into ways one can enjoy and share your new found passion and knowledge with friends.  Includes sample cocktails and tastings.
Speakers
avatar for Linda Ruffenach

Linda Ruffenach

Founder, Whisky Chicks
Linda Ruffenach, the author of How to be a Bourbon Badass, is a businesswomen, entrepreneur and the founder of the Whisky Chicks.  She believes that sharing a glass of bourbon and learning about America's native spirit are great common denominators to bring people together.  Ruffenach... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
MCC - Rex Kern F
  Seminar, Tasting/ Pairing

1:00pm CDT

Bourbon Thru Bluegrass
Limited Capacity seats available
Imagine a Ken Burns documentary on bourbon brought to life through live bluegrass music.  Then all throughtout the performance, you actually experience the evolution of bourbon by tasting the different whiskies and bourbon that folks were drinking starting back in the 1700's, move on to what they were drinking throughout the 1800's, all the way up through present day, and you have, Bourbon Thru Bluegrass.
Speakers
avatar for Bernie Lubbers

Bernie Lubbers

The Whiskey Professor, Heaven Hill Brands
Known as The Whiskey Professor, Bernie Lubbers is the Global Whiskey Ambassador for the family owned and operated Heaven Hill located in Bardstown and Louisville, KY; the largest American owned bourbon company, and holders of 25% of the world's aging bourbon. He hosts the popular... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
MCC - Rex Kern D
  Seminar, Tasting/ Pairing

1:00pm CDT

The Six Sources of Flavor
Limited Capacity seats available

Ever wondered how Bourbon gets it's wonderful flavor?

Michael discusses the six manufacturing steps that contribute to the flavor of the final whiskey: grains, water, fermentation, distillation, maturation, and bottling.

Speakers
avatar for Michael Veach

Michael Veach

Bourbon Historian, Author, Bourbon Veach LLC
Michael Veach was the luckiest student at the University of Louisville's History department when he accepted a job as North American Archivist for United Distillers in 1991. The knowledge learned while spending five years at that position has made him a leading authority on the history... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
MCC - Rex Kern A
  Seminar, Tasting/ Pairing

3:00pm CDT

Maker's Farm to Bottle Process
Limited Capacity seats available
Greg Davis, Master Distiller and Director of Distillery Operations, presents the history of the Samuel family and creation of Maker's Mark's famous flavor profile.
Speakers
avatar for Greg Davis

Greg Davis

Director of Distillery Operations, Master Distiller, Maker's Mark
Maker’s Mark Director of Distillery Operations and Master Distiller Greg Davis has many responsibilities, but his most important mandate is: “Don’t screw it up.” To that end, from the selection of grains and overseeing milling, cooking, fermentation and distillation to taste... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
MCC - Rex Kern E
  Seminar

3:00pm CDT

Bourbon and Cigar Pairing
Limited Capacity seats available
If you ask most people about pairing bourbon and cigars chances are you'll hear the same old dogma: pair a full-bodied cigar with a full-bodied bourbon.  Unfortunately in that combination you lose a lot of the subtle nuances in both your whiskey and in your cigar as they both compete for your attention.  Learn how to pair your bourbon and cigars with balance so you can more fully enjoy both!
Speakers
avatar for Maggie Kimberl

Maggie Kimberl

Writer, Blogger, Cigar Aficionado, Author
Maggie Kimberl is a bourbon writer focusing on bourbon culture and tourism in Louisville and Kentucky. When she's not covering the bourbon beat you can find her browsing through vintage vinyl with her kids or tending to her homegrown tomatoes. Follow her on Twitter https://twitte... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 3:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
Sugar Mill - Cigar Lounge
  Seminar, Tasting/ Pairing

3:00pm CDT

Bourbon Basics
Limited Capacity seats available
Want to know more about bourbon but don't know where to begin?  Are traditional tasting events too intimidating?  Maybe you are a wine or beer drinker who is curious to find out what all the buzz is about.  Let us ease your way into it as we create an experience with gateway cocktails that help your palate appreciate and enjoy the deliciousness of Kentucky Bourbon.  Join us as we take you on a leisurely stroll on the path to bourbon enlightenment beginning with a little history, background about the different types of whisky and then move into ways one can enjoy and share your new found passion and knowledge with friends.  Includes sample cocktails and tastings.
Speakers
avatar for Linda Ruffenach

Linda Ruffenach

Founder, Whisky Chicks
Linda Ruffenach, the author of How to be a Bourbon Badass, is a businesswomen, entrepreneur and the founder of the Whisky Chicks.  She believes that sharing a glass of bourbon and learning about America's native spirit are great common denominators to bring people together.  Ruffenach... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 3:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
MCC - Rex Kern F
  Seminar, Tasting/ Pairing

3:00pm CDT

Bourbon Mixology
Limited Capacity filling up
From presenter Bobby G:

YOUR GOAL
When preparing and serving great cocktails, a complete sensory perception should enlighten and leave your guest with a memorable experience. A great bartender is someone who will be able to stimulate all of the human senses without them even knowing it:

Sight - witnessing the artistry of a bartender at work
Sound - the tinkling of shaker, the rattle of crackling ice
Smell - the aroma and character of spirits and liqueurs being mixed with fresh squeezed fruits, peels and herbs
Touch - the encouraging feel of a well chilled glass and the mouth feel of different textures
Taste - the overall impression of a well balanced satisfying concoction
Always remember this:

A GOOD COCKTAIL IS NOT A STRONG COCKTAIL
A GOOD COCKTAIL IS A WELL BALANCED COCKTAIL,
ALWAYS SEEK THE BALANCE!
Speakers
avatar for Bobby Gleason

Bobby Gleason

Master Mixologist, Beam Suntory
Bobby “G” Gleason began his spirits industry career in 1984 while bartending in South Florida. Now based in Las Vegas, the world-renown educator has been published in a multitude of magazines and has made many TV (CNBC, FOX & Friends, Food Net Work & DIY Network) and online video... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 3:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
MCC - Rex Kern B
  Seminar, Tasting/ Pairing

3:00pm CDT

Bourbon Thru Bluegrass
Limited Capacity seats available
Imagine a Ken Burns documentary on bourbon brought to life through live bluegrass music.  Then all throughtout the performance, you actually experience the evolution of bourbon by tasting the different whiskies and bourbon that folks were drinking starting back in the 1700's, move on to what they were drinking throughout the 1800's, all the way up through present day, and you have, Bourbon Thru Bluegrass.
Speakers
avatar for Bernie Lubbers

Bernie Lubbers

The Whiskey Professor, Heaven Hill Brands
Known as The Whiskey Professor, Bernie Lubbers is the Global Whiskey Ambassador for the family owned and operated Heaven Hill located in Bardstown and Louisville, KY; the largest American owned bourbon company, and holders of 25% of the world's aging bourbon. He hosts the popular... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 3:00pm - 4:30pm CDT
MCC - Rex Kern D
  Seminar, Tasting/ Pairing

4:00pm CDT

Bourbon's New Orleans Connection
Limited Capacity seats available

Where did it all begin?

Michael's theory of the origin of Bourbon as a whiskey developed to sell in New Orleans where the people were drinking French Brandy aged in charred barrels. 

Speakers
avatar for Michael Veach

Michael Veach

Bourbon Historian, Author, Bourbon Veach LLC
Michael Veach was the luckiest student at the University of Louisville's History department when he accepted a job as North American Archivist for United Distillers in 1991. The knowledge learned while spending five years at that position has made him a leading authority on the history... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
MCC - Rex Kern A
  Seminar, History

4:00pm CDT

The Boundaries of Bourbon
Limited Capacity seats available
Pushing the boundaries and definitions of Bourbon without bastardizing them.  Trey will discuss the history of bourbon and how today's consumers have shaped the current bourbon climate.
Speakers
avatar for Trey Zoeller

Trey Zoeller

Founder, Jefferson's Bourbon
Trey Zoeller is the founder and Master Blender of McLain & Kyne, Ltd., producer of the Jefferson's portfolio of bourbons.Founded in 1997, McLain & Kyne, Ltd. develops, produces and markets the Jefferson's family of "very small batch" Kentucky straight bourbons and ryes. McLain & Kyne... Read More →

Saturday March 25, 2017 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
MCC - Rex Kern C
  Seminar, Distiller

6:30pm CDT

Grand Tasting - VIP/ Ultimate VIP
Saturday March 25, 2017 6:30pm - 10:30pm CDT
Sugar Mill
  Grand Tasting, VIP

7:30pm CDT

Grand Tasting
Saturday March 25, 2017 7:30pm - 10:30pm CDT
Sugar Mill
  Grand Tasting, General
 
Sunday, March 26
 

11:00am CDT

Bourbon Awards Brunch
Limited Capacity seats available
Sunday March 26, 2017 11:00am - 1:00pm CDT
MCC
  Awards Brunch