BBQ and Barrels is returning to downtown Owensboro May 9-10, and tickets for the bourbon tasting portion of the weekend are now on sale.
On May 9, there will be a dinner/cocktail pairing at Green River Distilling Company, with tickets costing $145 per person.
For the May 10 distillery sampling event, VIP tickets are $120 and general admission tickets are $70. VIP tickets include special pours and bbq samples. A companion ticket is also being sold for $20 that doesn’t include sampling bourbon. The May 10 event will start at 2 p.m. with educational sessions, the VIP portion begins at 3, and the general admission session is from 4-6. The educational session tickets will be announced and go on sale at a later date.
BBQ & Barrels is put on by Visit Owensboro, with the bourbon tasting portion of the event sponsored by Baird Private Wealth Management.
Tickets can be purchased at owensborotickets.evenue.net/events/BBQBF.
“I’ve been amazed at the appetite for this event, both consumer- and distillery-based,” said Seth Thompson with The Bourbon Review. “In its third year, it continues to grow and shows how much potential there is for BBQ & Barrels to become a national magnet lifestyle event. I’m also excited to announce that Freddie Johnson, Buffalo Trace Distillery VIP Visitor Lead will be in attendance and lead one of the bourbon classes.”
A new dinner/bourbon pairing event at Lure Seafood and Grille will take place May 8, and tickets can be booked directly by calling Lure.
Last year’s distilleries participating in the bourbon tasting event included:
- Bardstown Bourbon Company
- Green River Distilling Company
- Castle & Key
- French Lick Spirits
- Four Roses
- Heaven Hill
- Hemingway
- Western Kentucky Distilling Company
- Makers Mark
- Old Steel House
- Augusta Distillery
- Casey Jones Distillery
- Pinhook
- Angel’s Envy
- Bulleit
- New Riff
- Jeptha Creed
- Michters
- Broadleaf
- Lexington Brewing Company
- Barrel House
- Jefferson’s
- Log Still
- RD1
- Starlight
- Whiskey Thief
- Blue Run
- Coal Pick
- EJ Curley
- MB Rolland
- Old Louisville Distilling CO
“I anticipate we’ll end up with a new record of over 40 distilleries by the time of the event with most distilleries returning from last year and a few new ones,” said Dave Kirk, Visit Owensboro. “It’s unbelievable but more accurately a reflection of Owensboro’s strong bourbon heritage that this many distilleries will be at BBQ and Barrels. And the fact that you’ll also be able to purchase bottles directly from the distilleries is a huge bonus for attendees.”
