meetNKY
Bourbon enthusiasts are invited to celebrate National Bourbon Heritage Month this September, a month-long celebration of “America’s Native Spirit.”
While America’s distilling heritage started before the country was founded, an act of Congress first recognized bourbon as a unique product of the United States in 1964. Federal law states bourbon must be produced in America, contain at least 51% corn and mature in freshly charred oak barrels for at least two years. In 2007, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution declaring September as National Bourbon Heritage Month.
It’s no secret that the Commonwealth is home to world-famous bourbon, with several distilleries located in Northern Kentucky. According to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, distilled spirits has a total estimated annual economic contribution of $8.94B and supports nearly 22,540 jobs in Kentucky.
“Kentucky is the epicenter of bourbon culture and heritage and has helped set the high standards for distilling,” said meetNKY President and CEO, Julie Kirkpatrick. “We invite bourbon fans from across the country to join us throughout the month in celebrating the rich history and unique stories of the distilleries, restaurants and bars along The B-Line, the edge and beginning of the ‘Bourbon State.’”
First introduced in early 2018, The B-Line® was created to help capture the millions of bourbon-curious people who travel along I-75 or fly into CVG Airport annually to visit Kentucky’s famed Bourbon Trail™. The line is comprised of five craft distilleries – Boone Country Distilling Co., New Riff Distilling and The Old Pogue Distillery – all of which are also on The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour®. It also includes eight bourbon bars named to The Best Bourbon Bars in America by The Bourbon Review, and six bourbon-centric restaurants. All 19 stops are located throughout Covington, Newport, Independence, Sparta, Augusta and Maysville. A full list of stops can be found on The B-Line’s website.
Throughout the month of September, meetNKY, in conjunction with The B-Line®, will share a running-list of ways to celebrate. Some of the many festivities already planned include:
• Tousey House – In addition to celebrating 200 years in business during the month of September, Tousey House will feature two limited-edition cocktails: the Erastus Manhattan, featuring a Tousey Starlight Barrel Pick Bourbon, Carpano’s Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth, Peychard’s Bitters, topped with a Bada Bing Cherry; and the Union Square, featuring Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Boone County Maple Syrup, fresh pomegranate and lemon juice, topped with a rosemary sprig. The Burlington, Kentucky, restaurant will also feature two dessert specials – the bourbon-infused salted caramel apple pie a la mode and the pecan bourbon crème brûlée.
• Wiseguy Lounge – Wiseguy Lounge will offer a weekly featured distiller and weekly specials to celebrate the month. Participating distillers include Pinhook, Boone County Distilling, Rabbit Hole Distillery, Makers Mark, Old Forrester, New Riff and Four Roses. Weekly specials with the featured distillers include $5 Manhattans on Mondays, discounted bottles on Tuesdays and $5 Old Fashioned cocktails on Wednesdays. On Thursdays from 6 – 9 p.m., the lounge will host educational events with various bourbon brand representatives.
• Coppin’s – Located in Hotel Covington, Coppin’s will host a 25-person, ticketed Bourbon Heritage Tasting event at 5 and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 7. Featured bourbons include Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 20 and 15 year, George T. Stagg 2019 and the latest of W.L. Weller C.Y.P.B. Complimentary small bites are also included. Those interested in attending can purchase tickets on Eventbrite.
• Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar (OKBB) – Every Wednesday during National Bourbon Heritage Month, OKBB will offer tastings from “dusty” and rare bottles of bourbon from the bar’s collection. Once these bourbons are gone, they are gone for good. For more information about Dusty Bottle Wednesdays visit OKBB’s website.
• Smoke Justis – Every day in September, Smoke Justis will feature a B-Line flight and $6 Early Times BIB Old Fashioned cocktails. To kick off the long list of events for the month, on Thursday, Sept. 1 from 7 – 11 p.m. there will be live music in the Bourbon Lounge. The first featured cocktail will be a Buzzard’s Roost Manhattan, which patrons can enjoy along with a printed recipe card and history on the featured spirit. A full list of monthly events can be found on the Smoke Justis website.
• Prohibition Bourbon Bar – The Prohibition Bourbon Bar at Newberry Bros. Coffee in Newport, Kentucky, will celebrate National Bourbon Heritage Month by offering a few extra flight and drink specials to commemorate the momentous occasion. For more information on specific specials visit The Prohibition Bourbon Bar website. Reservations strongly recommended.
For a full, updated list of participating establishments, events and specials visit The B-Line® blog.
“We love showing off the great stops along The B-Line and tying this region to the rich bourbon heritage throughout the Commonwealth,” said Kirkpatrick. “This month is a perfect time for visitors across the Tri-State, and nationally, to come experience our Southern spirit – and spirits – right here in Northern Kentucky.”