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Posts Tagged Kentucky

Woodford Reserve Releases 2011 KY Derby Bottle

Mar 31

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March 31, 2011, Louisville, KY – Woodford Reserve, the Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby® is honoring the country’s favorite horse race with the release of the 2011 Kentucky Derby commemorative bottle. The limited-edition bottle features the artwork of award-winning artist and Virginia native Brett Amory.

Amory showcases two horses racing in those final moments towards the finish line with the only splash of color on the bottle. One can feel the intensity of the race shown by the two horses digging into the ground while dirt is tossed up in the air. The two colored horses along with their jockeys are the main feature on the bottle, standing out against a silhouette of muted browns and grays of the historic spires and fans in the background. The bottle also features Amory’s signature prominently at the bottom of the label as well as a neck-tag bearing information about him.

“The build up to the Derby is unlike any other sporting event,” says Amory.  “Louisville is absolutely transformed, and people from all over the world come to join the excitement.  I wanted to capture on canvas that one key moment they all came to see.”

The limited edition liter-size bottle will be available in early April in 42 US states at a suggested retail price of $42.99.

“The horses–what the Derby is all about–grab you on the bottle,” says Laura Petry, Woodford Reserve brand manager.  “So it is very fitting as a proud supporter of horseracing and the ‘official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby’ for the past 13 years, that Woodford Reserve is honored to be a part of the greatest two minutes in sports that takes our breath away every year.”

In addition to purchasing a true collector’s item, consumers can enter Woodford Reserve’s Kentucky Derby Sweepstakes with a chance to win a VIP trip to the 2012 Kentucky Derby. Consumers can enter by either registering their bottle’s unique number printed on the neck label, or by entering any random five digit code at www.WellCraftedDerby.com. Consumers may also enter by mail.  Upon registering they will be given a randomly-generated post position, from 1-20, for the 2011 Kentucky Derby. If the horse that starts from their assigned post position wins, he/she will be entered in the grand prize trip drawing. Official Rules are available at www.WellCraftedDerby.com.*

* NO PURCHASE NECESSARY – a purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Must be 21 or older to participate. Limit 12 entries per person and email address. Void in CA, VA and where prohibited. Other restrictions may apply.  See Official Rules for details.

Woodford Reserve also sponsors a Grade I race, the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, which is run on Derby Day, May 7, 2011, and has become one of thoroughbred racing’s premier turf events.

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Don’t Miss The Kentucky Bourbon Festival Sampler

Mar 18

Posted by Bourbon Buzz in Events | 1 Comment

The Kentucky Bourbon Festival Bardstown Sampler is set for April 30 from 6:30 – 9 p.m. at the Guthrie Opportunity Center, 900 Nutter Drive.

The Sampler is a tasting of the Kentucky Bourbons that will be participating in the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in September.  Regional restaurants and caterers will provide cuisine.  A silent auction will be held during the event.

The theme for the 20th Annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival as well as the new lapel pin will be unveiled at the Sampler.  Also, the winner of the 2011 KBF scholarship will be announced.  Distilleries and brands will draw for their location in the tasting area during the Great Kentucky Bourbon Tasting and Gala held in September.

Tickets are $40.  For more information or to purchase tickets, write the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, One Court Square, Bardstown, KY, call 502-348-3623 # 4 or visit www.kybourbonfestival.com.

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Bourbon in Pizza? YES!

Sep 8

Posted by Bourbon Buzz in Buzz, News | 1 Comment

Four Roses Bourbon and Impellizzeri’s Pizza have teamed up in celebration of Bourbon Heritage Month to create a unique pizza recipe combining two of Kentucky’s finest offerings – Bourbon and the classic Louisville dish, the Hot Brown.

“This pizza pairs two Kentucky classics, with the Hot Brown originating in Kentucky and 95 percent of the world’s bourbon being made in Kentucky as well,” said Four Roses Master Distiller Jim Rutledge. “This is one of the more creative uses of bourbon in cooking that I’ve come across and one I’d recommend Louisvillians try at least once while it’s available.”

The recipe for the Kentucky Bourbon Hot Brown Pizza calls for tweaking a house-made alfredo sauce with dry herbs, spices and cheese to emulate the traditional Mornay sauce used in a Hot Brown, yet giving it an Italian twist. Fresh-diced chicken in a Four Roses Dijon Marinade, bacon soaked in Four Roses bourbon, and shredded fresh mozzarella and cheddar cheese with a sprinkle of paprika and diced tomatoes round out the special fall offering.

The creation of the Four Roses Kentucky Bourbon Hot Brown Pizza was a “painstaking process” as described by the creators, Impellizzeri’s General Manager, David McNamara and Sullivan University culinary graduate, Brandon Lewis.

“I’ve been in the restaurant business for 15 years and the two of us were crestfallen when we discovered after at least half a dozen tries that we could not come up with the right taste,” said McNamara.

The final recipe was born of a newfound obsession with bourbon. Through experimentation, McNamara and Lewis thought a pizza based on the Hot Brown and spiced up with a splash of bourbon would be well received, and a very appropriate mix on two beloved Kentucky traditions. Appropriately, the final product would be released in September during Bourbon Heritage Month.

The Four Roses Kentucky Bourbon Hot Brown Pizza will be served throughout September and October at each Impellizzeri’s location – Bardstown Road, Old Brownsboro Road at Holiday Manor as well as the upcoming downtown Main Street location across from the KFC Yum Arena.

For more information, visit http://www.fourroses.us or http://www.impellizzeris.com.

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Heaven Hill Will Sponsor Bars in Louisville Arena

Jul 6

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LOUISVILLE, KY—Heaven Hill Distilleries, the nation’s largest independent family-owned and operated distilled spirits supplier, announced a partnership today with the Louisville Arena Sports and Entertainment Properties (LASEP) to sponsor two new clubs at the KFC Yum! Center, the state-of-the-art arena opening in downtown Louisville in the Fall of 2010. Heaven Hill signed a 10-year commitment to create and sponsor the Evan Williams Bourbon Bar and the Burnett’s V Lounge, two upscale clubs that will be located at the East and West Event Levels of the arena and accessible only to lower level Club Seat Holders.

The new KFC Yum! Center, which will offer state-of-the-art amenities and technology, is one of the centerpieces of downtown Louisville’s redeveloped waterfront and has garnered national praise for its design and functionality. Heaven Hill, a proud corporate citizen of Kentucky and Louisville since the company’s founding just after the end of Prohibition, will be creating its first branded club concepts to support two of the distiller’s top brands—Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, the second best selling and fastest growing Bourbon in America, and Burnett’s Vodka, one of the top selling vodkas in the nation and the 14th largest overall distilled spirits brand in the US.

The Evan Williams Bourbon Bar, a brand name which honors Kentucky’s first distiller of 1783—whose distillery stood within 300 yards of the new arena on the banks of the Ohio River—will be rendered in warm brown and red Bourbon tones featuring barrelhead décor and wood paneling. It will feature Evan Williams Bourbon, the second-largest selling Bourbon in the United States and the world, as well as several other top brands from the world’s second-largest inventory of aging American Whiskeys, such as Elijah Craig, Old Fitzgerald and Bernheim Wheat Whiskey.

The Burnett’s V Lounge, named after Burnett’s Vodka, the company’s top selling brand, will utilize a clean and crisp brushed silver and white color palette with a design reminiscent of the “ultra-lounges” of Las Vegas. It will offer a full range of traditional cocktails as well as newly-developed drinks featuring Burnett’s Vodka and Gin, PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, Hpnotiq Liqueur and Lunazul Tequila. Both clubs will be available exclusively to holders of lower level Club Seats, and will also offer a range of dining options.

“Heaven Hill Distilleries’ partnership with the Louisville Arena Authority is tangible evidence of our company’s commitment to the Louisville community, where our distillery and sales and marketing headquarters are located,” said Max L. Shapira, President of Heaven Hill. “Through our Evan Williams Bourbon Bar and our Burnett’s V Lounge, we are pleased to be part of this exciting new addition to Louisville and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”

Founded in 1934, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes The Christian Brothers Brandies; Evan Williams and Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Hpnotiq Liqueur; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Lunazul and Two Fingers Tequilas, and Dubonnet Aperitif.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”

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Splash of Bourbon Makes Food Taste Better

Mar 27

Posted by Bourbon Buzz in News, Recipes | 2 Comments

Click the image to purchase the book!

A splash of bourbon whiskey makes food taste better. Kentucky cooks have known this for a long time, and with the increasing popularity of bourbon, a new generation of food lovers have discovered many uses for this versatile spirit in the kitchen. With this in mind, veteran food writer and cookbook author David Dominé has published a collection of original recipes that will help readers enjoy bourbon’s distinctive flavors in dishes from crumpets and cakes, to dressings and dumplings, and pilafs and purées.

Not only does does Dominé entertain his readers with interesting tidbits about this distinctive American spirit, he discusses subtle differences in the bourbons used in this, the first-ever collection of recipes designed to showcase a wide variety of brands while promoting tourism at Kentucky’s distilleries.

In addition to sights along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, this “coffee table” style cookbook features stunning color photographs of each of the 70 food dishes. The author also includes brief histories of distilleries, notes from the master distillers and explanations for such terms as single barrel, small batches and bottled-in-bond.

Shrimp and Corn Hushpuppies, Bourbon Butternut Squash Soup, Kentucky Derby Salad, and Trout Gratin are just a few of the recipes included. Dominé also prepares whiskey-laced originals such as Bourbon Battered Fish with Pumpkin Seeds and Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes. The decadent Bourbon Ball Torte, a four-layer, chocolate concoction filled with rich butter cream, whiskey and pecans and coated in smooth chocolate ganache, is topped with one of the Bluegrass State’s most famous confections, the bourbon ball! Whether it is simmered in soups, drizzled in dressings or baked into breads, bourbon is sure to become a staple in your pantry after reading Splash of Bourbon, Kentucky’s Spirit.

Dominé will be signing his new book in many Kentucky bookstores throughout April. Check with your local bookstore for more information.

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Woodford Reserve 2010 KY Derby Bottle Out Of The Gate

Mar 25

Posted by Bourbon Buzz in Events, News | 2 Comments

Woodford Reserve is set to release the latest bottle in their Kentucky Derby collection. The year’s bottle will commemorate the 136th running of the KY Derby and feature artwork by Jeaneen Barnhart from Louisville, KY. The limited edition liter-size bottle will be available in early April in 42 US states at a suggested retail price of $42.99. Some folks seem to have gotten their hands on the bottles a bit early this year, as they are already showing up for sale on eBay.

Barnhart’s striking work depicts the vibrancy and intensity of Kentucky Derby racehorses as they charge toward the finish line. The artist’s signature adorns the neck of the bottle, and an attached neck tag bears information about the artist and product.

“As a proud supporter of horse racing, it is fitting that Woodford Reserve has been selected once again as the ‘Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby,’ America’s most prestigious horse race,” said Laura Petry, Woodford Reserve brand manager. “We are honored to partner with Jeaneen on this one-of-a-kind bottle that commemorates this historic partnership.”

In addition to purchasing a true collector’s item, consumers can enter into Woodford Reserve’s Kentucky Derby Sweepstakes with a chance to win a VIP trip to the 2011 Kentucky Derby. Though no purchase is required for entry, bottle buyers can enter by registering their bottle’s unique number, printed on the neck label, at www.WellCraftedDerby.com. Upon registering they will be given a randomly-generated post position, from 1-20, for the 2010 Kentucky Derby. If the horse that starts from their assigned post position wins, he/she will be entered in the grand prize trip drawing. Full details are available, for purchasers and non-purchasers, at www.WellCraftedDerby.com.

If you would like to get your bottle signed, Woodford Reserve will hold a free Derby bottle signing event on April 21, 2010 from 11:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. at the Woodford Reserve Distillery Visitor Center. The Woodford Reserve Derby bottle will be available for purchase in the gift shop.  Both the artist of the bottle and Master Distiller Chris Morris will be on hand to sign your bottle.

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Whisky Magazine Names Buffalo Trace – Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year

Mar 2

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FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ky., March 2, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — History, hooch and hospitality! Famed whisky publication, Whisky Magazine has named Buffalo Trace Distillery 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” The announcement was made at the annual “Icons of the Industry” dinner held in London, England, Thursday, February 25.

This award comes after Buffalo Trace was named “American Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year” last November as part of Whisky Magazine’s “Icons of the Industry” regional finals. After garnering the American title, Buffalo Trace went on to compete with distilleries from around the world before being named “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year” for the entire industry.

“This is so exciting and such an honor,” said Elizabeth Hurst, visitor center manager. “We are always trying to improve our tour to draw new visitors, while encouraging old friends to return. This really validates the efforts of everyone at Buffalo Trace in welcoming our guests and giving them a memorable experience.” In recent months Buffalo Trace has added a new cooperage display and the Warehouse D Annex to the tour route. Later this spring new trails along the river will be opened as well as the Firehouse Cafe, giving visitors even more opportunities to explore the historic distillery.

Whisky Magazine has been presenting the “Icons” awards for a decade. The judging process starts with regional competitions in the U.S. and Scotland. Then it is opened to the rest of the world, including Japan, Canada and Ireland. Those honored by making the shortlist then competed for the worldwide title.

To learn more about Whisky Magazine’s “Icons of the Industry” awards visit www.whiskymag.com. For more information on visiting Buffalo Trace Distillery please visit www.buffalotrace.com.

About Buffalo Trace Buffalo Trace Distillery is a family-owned company based in Franklin County, Kentucky. The distillery’s rich distilling tradition dates back to 1787 and has included such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace is a fully operational distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Buffalo Trace has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Malt Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Buffalo Trace has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies.

SOURCE Buffalo Trace Distillery www.prnewswire.com Copyright (C) 2010 PR Newswire. All rights reserved -0-

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Maker’s Mark Keeneland Bottles to Feature Calipari

Mar 1

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Building on the past success of the Maker’s Mark/Keeneland charitable bottle series that supports projects at the University of Kentucky, Maker’s Mark and Keeneland are continuing the program with the celebration of UK basketball coach John Calipari, whose likeness will be featured on the bottle this spring.

The popular coach will team up with University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Maker’s Mark and Keeneland to raise money for a unique extension program highlighting the performing arts for elementary school children throughout the Commonwealth.

“It’s an honor to team with Maker’s Mark and the university in this unique fund raising opportunity to help benefit the UK Symphony Orchestra Outreach Program,” said Coach Calipari. “I’m not sure the world is ready for my face on a bottle, but if it helps the university, I’m all for it. I hope all our great fans will support this worthy effort.”

Maker’s Mark will donate proceeds from the sales – estimated to be about $300,000 from 24,000 bottles – to an extension program that is bringing the UK Symphony Orchestra and students from the UK School of Music into public schools and communities throughout Kentucky. UK is in the process of securing matching grants.

Bottles will hit the shelves in Kentucky only, on April 2nd, 2010. Suggested retail price of $49 if retailers take their normal mark-up.

A bottle signing, scheduled the day of the Grade-1 Maker’s Mark Mile, will be held Friday, April 9, trackside at Keeneland, with Calipari, Samuels and Nicholson. In an effort to better accommodate the growing legion of fans who attend the Maker’s Mark bottle signing at Keeneland, a few guidelines and a new ticketing procedure is being established. Details on the ticket procedure for the bottle signing will follow later this month from Keeneland.

Maker’s Mark President Bill Samuels Jr. said, “John Calipari brings so much excitement to Kentucky and he deserves to be honored for the phenomenal results he achieved with the men’s basketball program in such a short period of time. More important is his dedication to the betterment of the University of Kentucky as an educational institution and achieving Dr. Todd’s goals for UK. Cal’s enthusiasm is contagious and is a wonderful way to show how the success of his basketball program can support the greater good of the university and education throughout the Commonwealth.”

Check out the Calipari Foundation website for more information about obtaining a guaranteed ticket for the bottle signing this spring. Ebay auctions are currently under way for some of these guaranteed tickets.

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