Bardstown, Kentucky -- It was the weekend full of bourbon and entertainment in Bardstown. The 11th annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival started on September 18th with tours of local distilleries, Cigar & Jazz and Bourbon, The Great Bourbon Tasting & Gala, Kentucky Bourbon Golf Tournament, Master Distiller's Auction, Culinary Art Bourbon Cooking School, the Spirit 5K Run and Walk and more. (Photo Gallery)
With the economic impact of $7.5 million in the United States, over 25,000 visitors came to the festival last year. More international visitors made it to the event this year as they cancelled their flight on the weekend of September 11th last year. "We've had calls from the Netherlands, Switzerland, Japan, France, Poland," told festival director Pam Gover.
This American spirit category is in fact globaly owned and managed. Four Roses bourbon is now owned by The Kirin Brewing Company of Japan. Maker's Mark has its parent company, Allied Domecq in London. Another British based company, Diageo markets Bulleit Bourbon. French Pernod Ricard is known for its wide vareity of whisk(e)y portfolio. And the Wild Turkey is one of them.
Business can be handled anywhere in the world, but the making of bourbon whiskey is all here in Kentucky. Hosted by Jim Rutledge of Four Roses Bourbon, Let's Talk Bourbon provided extensive education on how bourbons are made at Four Roses Distillery. Bourbon whiskey's fundamentional production requirements are limestone water, sugar and yeast. Bourbons are aged at least two years in a new charred American white oak barrels. During the maturation, whiskey gets it dark color, aroma and flavors. For more information on making a bourbon whiskey, click here.
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