The Kentucky Bourbon Festival started with a trip to the Maker’s Mark distillery in Loretto, KY.

Maker’s Mark Master Distiller Kevin Smith, tour guide for the day, explained the history behind the brand.

Ample sums of Maker’s Mark bourbon flowed along the tour, including the 130 proof clear distillate affectionately referred to as “white dog.” After dipping own Maker’s Mark bottles into red wax to create the traditional seal, the tour ended with Kevin Smith guiding a tasting of several kinds of whiskey, including bourbon, Tennessee whiskey and Canadian whiskey, comparing flavors and fragrance and noting the difference.

Drinks and dinner were at the home of Maker’s Mark President Bill Samuels, son of Maker’s Mark founder T.W. Samuels.

The next morning was a tradition: Bourbon for breakfast. Then on to the Jim Beam Distillery where Fred Noe was the guide.

The Jim Beam distillery appears and operates much differently than the Maker’s Mark distillery. While Maker’s Mark boasts luscious green hills and quaint buildings, the Beam distillery is an industrial factory, churning out enough barrels per day to meet demand for the most popular bourbon brand in the world.

On the tour, samples of the high proof clear distillate were offered.

The Beam portfolio includes the ubiquitious four year old white label bourbon, a five, seven and eight year old bourbon, plus a rye whiskey and the black cherry-infused Red Stag.  Jim Beam’s four small batch bourbons include Knob Creek, Basil Hayden, Baker’s and Booker’s.

The Hall of Fame induction was touching, warm and fun.
Tom Bulleit used his time to thank not only his immediate family but also the extended Bourbon family, who remains the spirits industry’s most close knit group. Bulleit commented,

when the water rises, all the boats float higher,” in reference to the incredibly close connection within the Bourbon industry.