A Dozen Bourbon Events & Festivals in Louisville in 2024
Louisville boasts 11 Bourbon distilleries around the city, a culinary and cocktail adventure coined the Urban Bourbon Trail®, Bourbon-infused culinary foodways at area restaurants and a spirited calendar bursting with various Bourbon-themed events all year long. If you are planning a trip to Bourbon City, you might want to center your visit around one of these high-proof events.
February 21-24: Bourbon Classic – The holy trinity for experiencing the very best in the culinary, cocktail and Bourbon arts through a collection of rare, interactive events.
March 20, July 17 & November 20: Hermitage Farm, Whiskey Files Series - The Whiskey Files present a rare opportunity to enjoy a bourbon tasting while hearing from those who distill, blend, and produce the state’s most iconic product. Hermitage Farm knows bourbon is, ultimately, an agricultural product and grain-to-glass is an important story to tell for the agritourism destination. The 683-acre farm in Goshen is on land placed in a conservation easement to protect it from future development as part of owners Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown’s ongoing efforts to preserve Kentucky’s natural resources.
The 2024 Whiskey Files series lineup includes:
- Carson Taylor, Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co., March 20
- Elizabeth McCall, Woodford Reserve, July 17
- Nic Christiansen, Barrell Craft Spirits, Nov. 20
April 11: BourbonVille – Hosted by the Kentucky Derby Festival and Republic Bank at the Frazier History Museum and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcome Center, guests will taste signature Bourbon drinks from some of Kentucky’s top distilleries, enjoy Bourbon-inspired cuisine and meet Master Distillers.
April 23-28: Distilled – A week of once-in-a-lifetime events and experiences curated by Garden & Gun Magazine showcasing Kentucky's Bourbon Country. The six-day event with eight unique experiences offers unparalleled access to the birthplace of bourbon, bringing together featured talent from distillers to chefs, musicians, and more.
June 1-14: Old Fashioned Fortnight – Every year, Louisville celebrates the libation during Old Fashioned Fortnight by shining a spotlight on the spirited Bourbon concoction with special exhibits, events, cocktail classes, dinners and more.
August 15-18: Bourbon SIPosium – The only consumer-based, female-focused whiskey conference in the US. Part industry conference, part girls’ weekend, and part family reunion, SIPosium demonstrates the magic of 400+ bourbon-loving women in the room together.
August TBD: American Whiskey Festival - Hosted by Watch Hill Proper, known for having one of the world's largest collections of American whiskies, this annual event will take place at the Norton COmmon's North Village Square with access to live music and food trucks, and whiskey samples from participating distilleries.
August 29-September 1: Bourbon Boule – Presented by the Black Bourbon Society this gathering of premium spirits enthusiasts draws Bourbon lovers from across the country for a highly curated weekend-long experience.
September 13-15: Kentucky Bourbon Festival – Though hosted in Bardstown, the Bourbon Capital of the World ®, you can make Louisville your base and catch a complimentary shuttle to the event grounds.
September 19-22: Bourbon and Beyond – Known as the World’s Largest Bourbon & Music Festival, this four-day party brings together the perfect blend of bourbon, food, and music to celebrate what makes Louisville such a beloved festival destination. This year's headliners include Zach Bryan, Dave Matthews Band, Tyler Childers, and Neil Young.
October 2-6: Bourbon & Belonging - Considered the first LGBTQ+ inclusive Bourbon festival in the country, this Queer Bourbon Week event will take place4 all across Kentucky with 8 different cities and regions signed on, including Northern Kentucky, Louisville, Lexington, Frankfort, Winchester, Paducah, Bullitt County, and Bardstown.
December TBD: Sip and Sole – With a focus on adding to the style, culture, and authenticity of the industry – Sip & Sole aims to capture the next generation of spirits drinkers.
Learn more about Louisville's distilleries, Urban Bourbon Trail, and Bourbon-infused events here.
