New auction hopes to highlight ‘best of the best’ in Kentucky bourbon
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kentucky Bourbon Country Auction debuts Feb. 13–15 to showcase top Kentucky whiskey.
- Major distillers and rare “unicorn” bottles drive bidding and collector interest.
- Modeled on Auction Napa Valley and will highlight veterans, per organizers.
A new auction coming to Louisville will highlight the best in Kentucky bourbon and help veterans.
Inspired by the annual Auction Napa Valley that has raised millions for charitable foundations, the inaugural Kentucky Bourbon Country Auction, Feb. 13-15 in Louisville, will “bring out the best of the best,” said co-founder Tim Laird.
Laird, a Louisville chef with deep connections to bourbon, said that event will celebrate America’s native spirit and highlight the finest Kentucky whiskey.
It started slowly but has built with word of mouth and is poised to become a big annual event on the bourbon lover’s calendar.
“Major distillers have gotten involved, gotten excited, and it really turned out to be something else,” Laird said.
Among the lots are “unicorn” bottles from Heaven Hill, King of Kentucky, Old Forester, Blanton’s, Buffalo Trace’s O.F.C., Elijah Craig, Willett, Weller, Angel’s Envy, Dierks Bentley’s Row 94 with a signed guitar and more.
There also are special whole barrels, including Buffalo Trace and Four Roses barrel selections.
Laird said he thinks one barrel that is likely to draw a lot of attention is the U.S. Military Barrel Blend. It’s a blend of four whiskeys donated by Heritage Distilling, J. Mattingly 1845, Four Branches Bourbon and Pursuit Spirits, blended by Pursuit’s master blender Ryan Cecil.
Proceeds from the bourbon auction will go to the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which supports a variety of military and veteran-focused causes.
The auction will take place Feb. 14 at the Omni Downtown, with bidding in person and online.
In addition to the auction, there is a Grand Reveal Tasting at the Frazier Museum to kick off the weekend, a Blind Tasting and Brunch at Watch Hill Proper bourbon bar (recently named a James Beard semi-finalist for Outstanding Bar in the country) and a Final Pour lunch on Sunday at Savor at the River House Restaurant and Raw Bar.
Tickets for each event (or for the entire weekend) are available online at kybca.com. Prices range from $150 (general admission to the Grand Reveal Tasting) to $7,000 for Whiskey Royalty tickets for two for a VIP package for the entire weekend.
