FWIW, the "I HEART BOURBON" festival in Indy was a good time.
Low points included lots of 'flavored whiskey' products like Fireball and Dr Migilicuddies (which are actually mostly made from vodka) and you are limited to 1 sample from each vendor so if a vendor had 5 products you were limited to 1 sample of 1 product and nothing more. It was also sunny and 90-something degrees, we got their right when the doors opened and managed to snag a picnic table that was in the shade so we were some of the lucky people.
High points included the music and trying some bourbons that I wanted to sample but have never seen in stores in my area.
I found out that RABBIT HOLE, which is a newer brand and generally pricy is not worth the money. Found out that Indiana's Starlight has a new offering. Their Carl T is a great value and superb product but now they also have a small batch too. Old Forester didn't have the new Statesman product but did have several others that are excellent, especially the 1920 Prohibition Style!!! Col EH Taylor's Barrel Proof is astounding, glad I was able to try that one. Beer Barrel from New Holland has a new bottle but the product is just as good as the old stuff, love it. Daughter even commented that it was good. OYO out of Ohio had one of their bourbons there, great stuff.
I was there with my wife and my daughter so I had 3 tickets per vendor. My wife was designated driver, my daughter does not favor bourbon but tried a few. I got to try pretty much anything and everything I wanted. Actually skipped a few vendors like Rebel Yell because there was nothing at their tent worth sampling (they brought "flavored whisky" to a bourbon event!).
Overall really glad we went.
Low points included lots of 'flavored whiskey' products like Fireball and Dr Migilicuddies (which are actually mostly made from vodka) and you are limited to 1 sample from each vendor so if a vendor had 5 products you were limited to 1 sample of 1 product and nothing more. It was also sunny and 90-something degrees, we got their right when the doors opened and managed to snag a picnic table that was in the shade so we were some of the lucky people.
High points included the music and trying some bourbons that I wanted to sample but have never seen in stores in my area.
I found out that RABBIT HOLE, which is a newer brand and generally pricy is not worth the money. Found out that Indiana's Starlight has a new offering. Their Carl T is a great value and superb product but now they also have a small batch too. Old Forester didn't have the new Statesman product but did have several others that are excellent, especially the 1920 Prohibition Style!!! Col EH Taylor's Barrel Proof is astounding, glad I was able to try that one. Beer Barrel from New Holland has a new bottle but the product is just as good as the old stuff, love it. Daughter even commented that it was good. OYO out of Ohio had one of their bourbons there, great stuff.
I was there with my wife and my daughter so I had 3 tickets per vendor. My wife was designated driver, my daughter does not favor bourbon but tried a few. I got to try pretty much anything and everything I wanted. Actually skipped a few vendors like Rebel Yell because there was nothing at their tent worth sampling (they brought "flavored whisky" to a bourbon event!).
Overall really glad we went.
