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The Kentucky Bourbon Festival has transformed from a small event with 9 distilleries to a premier bourbon celebration featuring 62 distilleries, with exclusive releases and direct access to master distillers. KBF President Randy Prasse shares how the festival has evolved to focus on authentic experiences connecting bourbon enthusiasts with the people who make their favorite spirits.

• Festival started in 1991 and has grown to become the #1 bourbon festival Globally.
• Distilleries now view the festival as the perfect venue to reveal new products and limited releases
• For 2025, the festival will feature improved layout and direct-to-consumer bottle shipping for most states
• The three-day general admission ticket $195 ( discounted for insiders) provides exceptional value compared to typical bourbon bar tabs
• Angels Envy is the featured distillery for 2025, known for bringing their "A-game" to festival experiences
• New President's Club offering provides ultra-premium experience for dedicated enthusiasts
• Tickets go on sale May 16th at noon Eastern, with newsletter subscribers getting first access and discounts

Visit KYBourbonFestival.com to sign up for the insider newsletter and secure your tickets for the September 4-6 event in Bardstown, Kentucky.

Step into the heart of bourbon country at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, where the world's finest distillers converge to celebrate America's native spirit. What began as a modest gathering has blossomed into bourbon's premier event, bringing 62 distilleries—from iconic heritage brands to innovative craft producers—directly to enthusiasts in the Bourbon Capital of the World.

Unlike typical spirits festivals, this September 4-6 celebration in Bardstown offers unprecedented access to the people behind your favorite bourbons. Master distillers, blenders, and brand founders don't just make appearances—they're actively pouring, sharing stories, and engaging with guests throughout the three-day event. This authentic connection between makers and enthusiasts creates an atmosphere that can't be replicated anywhere else.

The festival has become the industry's preferred platform for unveiling new products and limited releases. Distilleries reserve their most special bottlings for this weekend, giving attendees first access to expressions that may never reach retail shelves. For 2025, the festival is introducing direct-to-consumer shipping, allowing guests from most states to purchase exclusive bottles without worrying about luggage space. Beyond tastings, the expanded programming includes 20 educational events, live entertainment, culinary experiences, and a thoughtfully designed marketplace.

What truly distinguishes this festival is its unwavering focus on "whiskey and the people who make it." Despite its growth, the event maintains the warm, welcoming spirit of Kentucky hospitality. At $195 for a three-day general admission pass (with insider discounts available), it represents remarkable value considering the caliber of spirits and experiences offered. Whether you're beginning your bourbon journey or maintaining an extensive collection, these three days in September promise memorable encounters with exceptional whiskeys and the passionate people creating them.

Sign up at KYBourbonFestival.com to become an insider and secure your tickets when they go on sale May 16th. Join us in Bardstown this September and become part of bourbon's most authentic celebration!

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The rich and storied tradition of challenge coins has made its way from military culture into bourbon communities, creating meaningful connections among enthusiasts and marking achievements in the whiskey world.

• Challenge coins originated with WWI pilots but became popular during Vietnam War
• Different types of bourbon challenge coins include Stave & Thief Bourbon Steward certification, Kentucky Bourbon Festival commemorative coins, and community recognition coins
• Coins must be carried at all times - you get only four steps to retrieve it during a challenge
• If challenged and you can't produce your coin, you buy drinks; if everyone has their coin, the challenger buys
• Bourbon Real Talk uses different colored coins to recognize various levels of community contribution
• Kentucky Bourbon Festival coins evolve each year, from bronze 30th anniversary to gold 2024 edition
• Challenge coins typically cannot be purchased - they must be earned through contribution or certification
• Carrying a challenge coin signifies membership and honors the tradition of bourbon camaraderie

Join us Thursday night with Kentucky Bourbon Festival President Randy Prass to learn everything about this year's festival. Tickets go on sale April 16th for pre-sale and April 17th to the general public

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The humble challenge coin carries a weighty legacy that stretches from World War I battlefields to today's bourbon tasting rooms. This episode dives deep into these tokens of honor and belonging that have become an integral part of bourbon culture.

Challenge coins began with a wealthy lieutenant who gave medallions to his unit members. Legend tells how one such coin saved a pilot's life when he was captured behind enemy lines, unable to prove his identity except through this small token. The tradition evolved through the Vietnam War and eventually found a spiritual home among whiskey enthusiasts who recognized the perfect symmetry between military camaraderie and the fellowship of shared bourbon experiences.

For bourbon lovers, these coins serve multiple purposes. Some mark achievements, like the coveted Stave & Thief Society's Executive Bourbon Steward certification coin. Others commemorate events, like the annually changing Kentucky Bourbon Festival coins that evolve in design and finish. Communities like Bourbon Real Talk have created elaborate hierarchies of colored coins to recognize different levels of contribution, from first-time helpers to consistent top contributors.

What makes these coins special isn't just their appearance but the traditions surrounding them. The twelve rules of challenge coin etiquette transform them from mere collectibles into social catalysts. You must keep your coin within four steps at all times. When challenged, failure to produce your coin means buying drinks. If everyone shows their coin, the challenger pays up. These exchanges create spontaneous moments of connection among bourbon enthusiasts in an increasingly digital world.

Whether displayed proudly on a shelf or carried faithfully in a special wallet pouch, bourbon challenge coins represent something deeper than their metal composition suggests—they're physical reminders of shared experiences, hard-earned knowledge, and community belonging. Have you earned your place in bourbon culture with a challenge coin yet? The tradition awaits.

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Tiny shares his experience with Gervasi Vineyard and Distillery, his local Canton, Ohio establishment that has evolved from a winery to include an award-winning distillery producing exceptional bourbons and spirits.

• Founded in 2008, Gervasi began as a winery and restaurant before expanding to include villas, event venues, and recently a distillery
• The Gervasi Stillhouse features both a working distillery and a coffee shop/cocktail lounge in a building resembling an Italian church
• Shae Pridemore, Gervasi's master distiller, has released their first Single Barrel Bourbon at 116.9 proof to critical acclaim
• Their bourbon recently won runner-up at the US Open Whiskey Championship, taking home five medals in total
• The newly launched Distiller Circle club offers members exclusive bottles, barrel picks, quarterly tastings, and special events for $199/year
• Gervasi's bourbon has distinctive notes of white raisins, currants, tart cherry and sweet leather with a pot-distilled character
• On the Old Louisville Whiskey Company barrel bottle breakdown rating scale, Tiny scores it 14 out of 18 points

The Scotchy Bourbon Boys 5th Annual Bus Tour is now booking for September 3rd, with limited seats available. Contact Tiny to reserve your spot for this special event before Kentucky Bourbon Festival.

Hidden in Canton, Ohio, just five minutes from Tiny's home, sits a world-class destination that's revolutionizing the Ohio spirits landscape. Gervasi Vineyard started as a picturesque winery with Italian-inspired buildings, but has evolved into something much more ambitious—a complete hospitality experience featuring restaurants, villas, a spa, coffee house, and now an award-winning distillery housed in a striking building resembling an Italian church.

The Scotchy Bourbon Boys podcast takes us inside this local treasure, focusing on Gervasi's spirits program that recently earned runner-up status at the US Open Whiskey Championship. Master Distiller Shae Pridemore (a previous podcast guest) has carefully curated their first Single Barrel Bourbon release—a pot-distilled expression bottled at 116.9 proof that earned an impressive 14/18 on Tiny's Old Louisville Whiskey Company barrel bottle breakdown scale.

What makes this Ohio bourbon special isn't an attempt to copy Kentucky styles, but rather its unique character featuring notes of white raisins, currants, tart cherry, and what Tiny describes as "sweet leather." This distinctiveness perfectly illustrates why emerging distilleries should embrace regional character rather than mimicking established producers. The enthusiasm Tiny shares for this local gem is infectious—he's not just a fan but a founding member of their new Distiller Circle, which offers exclusive access to releases, barrel picks, and quarterly events for $199 annually.

Beyond the bourbon itself, the episode highlights how Gervasi has created a complete destination experience where visitors can stay, dine, and immerse themselves in craft spirits. It's a fascinating glimpse into how non-traditional whiskey regions are challenging expectations and creating world-class products worth seeking out. Whether you're planning the Scotchy Bourbon Boys' upcoming bus tour or your own spirits adventure, this Ohio distillery deserves a prominent place on your must-visit list.

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