THE STATE OF U. S. WHISKEY AT KENTUCKY BOURBON FEST 2025
by KYLE SWARTZ
The 2025 Kentucky Bourbon Fest, held earlier this September in Bardstown, painted a picture of an industry humming with consumer energy, despite numerous reports of slowdown.
Perhaps most noticeable was the scope of the event. Since I last attended several years ago, the festival has nearly doubled in size. An event that previously capped out at 4,000 attendees saw its 7,000 tickets sell out quickly in 2025. All 50 states were represented, with 85 % of ticket sales coming from outside of Kentucky.
The festival grounds have expanded. Now they sprawl
Lines for rare whiskeys at the 2025 Kentucky Bourbon Fest demonstrate the consumer energy that remains in the industry.
across the massive parking lot of the church next door. Consequently, the number of distilleries pouring was enormous, requiring several days to taste them all. In total, 65 distilleries participated, sampling newer products, industry staples and unicorn bottles.
My colleague and I cruised through the booths. Listing all the brands we tried would require too much space. Rather, I’ ll mention two standouts from the Craft Distillers section.
Old Louisville Whiskey Company poured two of my favorite whiskeys in the entire show. A 10−year MGP and an 8−year Bardstown both stood out, perfectly balanced and easy drinking. Keep an eye on this brand as they expand into additional markets. www. beveragedynamics. com Winter 2025 • Beverage Dynamics 21