Love bourbon? Travel? Here’s a unique way to combine both passions:  

Join us for our “Ultimate Bourbon Experience,” April 26-29, 2012, in Kentucky, the bourbon capital of the world. This is not your average Bourbon Trail tour, but consists of exclusive experiences thatcan’t be found anywhere else. The trip includes private opportunities to sample, create, and buy rare spirits; learn from small craft distillers and industry icons; and generally indulge in a favorite hobby in a relaxing and truly memorable way.  

Highlights include: 

• Private Distillery Access: We’ll enjoy the rare opportunity to privately tour the Willett distillery, which is not open to the public, but is renowned for its small batch bourbons like its Pot Still Reserve and Old Bardstown Collection. We’ll sample and can purchase bourbons not available anywhere else in the world. We’ll also enjoy an extended, behind-the scenes tour of the Buffalo Trace distillery, home of Pappy Van Winkle, among other legendary and new experimental bourbons. Both tours will be private and led by expert distillers and owners; at Buffalo Trace, we’ll be instructed as we share in the rare opportunity to sample and then select a barrel to be bottled exclusively for our group. 
•  In-Depth Interaction with Industry Insiders and Icons: We’ll spend one evening pairing fine bourbons and a special dinner with Mike Veach of the Filson Historical Society in Louisville. Mike has been inducted to the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, and is known as “the only professional bourbon historian in the country.” Another night, we’ll discuss all things bourbon with Lincoln and Wes Henderson, who many bourbon aficionados know from Woodford Reserve and Old Forester, and recently for their Angel’s Envy brand, a unique bourbon aged in port wine casks that Bourbon Buzz called “a Spiritual Awakening.” 
• BourbonFest Sampler in Bardstown: We’ll attend this more intimate version of the iconic Kentucky Bourbon Festival. We’ll meet Master Distillers, brand ambassadors, and industry experts, tasting many offerings, and as desired bid in a silent auction of unique bourbon items.
• Relaxed VIP Treatment, Small Group: This will be an indulgent trip in terms of accommodations, transportation, cuisine and bourbon, but will be enjoyed in the company of a small, relaxed group. A quick getaway to Louisville, but years of memories: truly a Trip for the Bucket (Barrel) List!  

Further information can be found on our websites: http://www.t100g.com/bourbon, or www.bourbonimmersion.com. 

You can also reach me directly at travelbluesfood@me.com

Art thieves steal one of the 8,000,000 porcelain sunflower seeds

Police are on the lookout for art thieves who broke into Tate Modern in the early hours of yesterday morning and made off with a single porcelain sunflower seed, one of the eight million that form part of an installation recently acquired from the contemporary…please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article….

THE LINK

Whisky Intelligence didn’t have a suitable April Fools Spoof but this will do nicely!

KBF Scholarships Applications Now Available

(Bardstown, KY) — High school seniors whose parents are employed by a distillery that participates in the Kentucky Bourbon Festival can apply for one of two Kentucky Bourbon Festival Scholarships. The scholarships are sponsored by Smith Brothers Trucking, Chuck Smith; Bluegrass Ice, Ronnie Rogers; Toddy’s Liquors, Guthrie McKay; and Woodford Reserve Distillery.

Parents can pick up a 2012 application form at the distillery where they work or from the festival office in Bardstown. The parent must have been employed by the distillery for at least five years.

One $1,500 scholarship and one $1,000 scholarship will be awarded. The scholarships are one-year awards. The winners will be announced at the Bardstown Sampler on April 28. Applications must be postmarked by March 31. Please mail applications to: The Kentucky Bourbon Festival Scholarship, One Court Square, Bardstown, KY 40004.

For more information, call the festival office at 502-348-3623 or 800-638-4877 and select option 4.

The Kentucky Bourbon Festival Inc. is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. The bill designating the Bardstown festival as the state’s official bourbon festival established the scholarship.

All Kentucky Bourbon Festival press releases can be downloaded from the press room on our web site, www.kybourbonfestival.com.