Golden Tickets Gone – Individual Tickets to Bourbon Fantasy Camp On Sale Tuesday

For Immediate Release – February 1, 2015

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Fifteen minutes.

That’s all it took for 50 prestigious Golden Tickets to June’s Kentucky Bourbon Affair™ showcase to sell out, with dozens more signing up for the waitlist.

“Talk about a gold rush,” said Eric Gregory, President of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association that coordinates the signature showcase. “The word has clearly gotten out that the Kentucky Bourbon Affair is the hottest ticket around.”

The Kentucky Bourbon Affair is a six-day Bourbon fantasy camp featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes tours and tastings at the world’s most iconic distilleries, capped by VIP evening and weekend events that highlight Louisville’s leading Bourbon culture and cuisine.

It’s the only whiskey event that’s actually created and executed by the distilleries themselves.

Tickets to individual events will go on sale at Noon EST on Tuesday.

The website for more information and to purchase tickets is www.kybourbonaffair.com.

Attendees must be at least 21 years of age.

Tickets to individual events range between $35 and $275. Many include souvenir bottles, Bourbon-inspired lunches and commemorative gifts. Transportation is also included in all ticket prices. “You can leave the driving to us,” Gregory said.

This year’s Affair also will feature Whisky Live, an international celebration of the world’s finest whiskies, for the first time in the Commonwealth. The Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau is returning as Official Host City Sponsor.

Nine distilleries are featured this year: Bulleit, Four Roses, Heaven Hill, Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Michter’s, Old Forester, Wild Turkey and Woodford Reserve. Kentucky’s burgeoning craft distilleries also will be highlighted at an opening VIP party at Vendome Copper & Brass.

In addition to Whisky Live, the Kentucky Bourbon Affair has added an extra day of tours, giving guests more time to intimately experience the art and craft behind America’s only native spirit.

“Golden Tickets” offered top priority to tours and events, plus early registration for private barrel selections and special VIP receptions. The cost was $1,595 per ticket. Golden Tickets sold out last year in less than six hours.

Golden Ticket buyers came from 16 states and England: Arkansas, Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.

“Apparently people love Kentucky Bourbon – a lot,” said Adam Johnson, the KDA’s official Bourbon Affair Concierge. “The passion for this event is incredible. Our phones haven’t stopped ringing and the waitlist is filling up fast.”

Even though a handful of events are close to selling out, Johnson said there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy a wide variety of activities with a total of 37 ticketed events over six days.

“There’s plenty to sample and savor even if you don’t get a Golden Ticket, so check out the website on Tuesday and grab individual tickets while they last. This year’s Affair is bigger and better – don’t miss out on the fun and excitement.”

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For more information, contact Eric Gregory at (502) 875-9351 or Adam Johnson, (502) 875-9351, mobile (859) 583- 0301

The KDA is a non-profit trade association founded in 1880 to promote, protect and elevate Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Heritage members include Beam Suntory (Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark), Brown-Forman Corp., Diageo North America, Four Roses Distillery, Heaven Hill Brands, Michter’s Distillery and Wild Turkey Distillery. Proof members include Willett Distillery.

Craft members include Alltech’s Town Branch Distillery, Barrel House Distilling Co., Bluegrass Distillers, Boone County Distilling Company, Boundary Oak Distillery, Casey Jones Distillery, Copper & Kings American Brandy Distillery, Corsair Artisan Distillery, Dueling Grounds Distillery, Hartfield & Co. Distillery, Kentucky Artisan Distillery, Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co., Limestone Branch Distillery, MB Roland Distillery, New Riff Distillery, The Old Pogue Distillery, Second Sight Spirits, Three Boys Farm Distillery, and Wilderness Trail Distillery. The Distilled Spirits Epicenter is the KDA’s official educational distillery.

Member benefits include media relations, international trade development, private sampling events, technical assistance, economic development support, networking, legal defense, marketing strategies, governmental and regulatory advocacy and innovative tourism experiences through the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® adventures. The KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving. For more information about joining the KDA’s distilling family, contact KDA President Eric Gregory at (502) 875-9351. Visit www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com to learn more.

KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL®, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL CRAFT TOUR®, KENTUCKY BOURBON AFFAIR™ and BOURBON TRAIL™ are trademarks/service marks of the Kentucky Distillers’  Association. Please drink responsibly.