Kentucky Bourbon Festival announced tickets for the 2024 festival will go on sale April 17 with early-access for “Bourbon Insiders” on April 16. The festival will offer four levels of VIP packages this year, along with weekend general admission tickets and Sunday-only access. The 2024 Kentucky Bourbon Festival is Sept. 13-15 in Bardstown, Ky., the Bourbon Capital of the World. The festival brings bourbon enthusiasts from all over the globe to Bardstown, Kentucky, to celebrate the spirited history and craft of bourbon during National Bourbon Heritage Month. For more information, visit www.kybourbonfestival.com.
“The Kentucky Bourbon Festival has sold out every year since we shifted to the truly bourbon-focused format in 2021,” said Randy Prasse, president and COO. “It has quickly transformed into a must-attend bourbon experience for enthusiasts from across the U.S. and around the world. In fact, in 2023, 85 percent of our ticketed guests were from outside of Kentucky and many extend their trips to beyond the festival weekend to visit distilleries and other attractions while they’re in the Bluegrass. We hope moving our on-sale date earlier allows both our visiting and local guests more time to plan their bourbon bucket list trips.”
Prasse said the ever-improving festival’s 33rd year will feature an enlarged footprint that expands on The Great Lawn — historic Spalding Hall’s front lawn — where Kentucky’s top distillery brands are located for the festival weekend. This allows for additional distillery tents; a new bottle shop where bourbon enthusiasts attending can sample and buy bottles operated by Evergreen Liquors; a KYBF-first two-story tent structure, featuring the KYBF Festival Store on the first floor, and a cigar lounge upstairs — with three cigar suites that guests can rent for an hour and enjoy the best people watching at the festival.
The KYBF will offer a total of six ticket options this year, as well as a new opportunity to book lodging at the same time if desired. “Bourbon Taster” general admission weekend passes and Sunday Sampler passes offer unlimited re-entry to the festival, sampling from more than 50 Kentucky distilleries, access to exclusive barrel picks, engaging programs with industry experts, plenty of dining options for every appetite, and the Bourbon Marketplace with more than 40 vendors. Ticketed guest will once again have the unique opportunity to purchase bottles directly from distilleries on-site, with lockers conveniently located for safe storage during the day.
Recognizing the increasing volume of out-of-town guests, KYBF is also introducing an option to book rooms while purchasing tickets as well as expanded hotel recommendations linked on the KYBF website.
Last year, VIP packages proved very popular — selling out in under 5 minutes — and an additional tier is being added for 2024. All VIP packages include daily early entry to the festival, premium branded Glencairn glassware, and access to the enlarged VIP Penthouse, with catering and bar service throughout the festival. Also in 2024, VIPs will enjoy a larger climate-controlled venue, and a new Whiskey House Kentucky VIP Porch offering views of Craft Distillers’ Row and the Main Stage. Flask Force VIP ticket holders will once again receive a Jacob Bromwell flask, customized for the KYBF; and the newly added Flask Force Gold guests will receive an exclusive 24-karat gold plated Jacob Bromwell flask, among other items. Decanter Club members receive a branded Glencairn crystal decanter along with access to all five premium distillery showcase events in The Great Tent, and many of the premiums included with other VIP packages. The three top-tier VIP packages will also receive the 2024 KYBF Distillers’ Row single barrel selection being coordinated currently with Heaven Hill Distillery — the KYBF’s Featured Distillery of 2024.
“We are looking forward to a thrilling year of growth at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, the world’s premiere bourbon festival that embraces enthusiasts to not only enjoy incredible whiskeys, but also meet the people who craft them,” said Cordell Lawrence, board chair and chief executive officer of Eastern Light Distilling. “From engaging directly with the distillers who make your favorite pour to discovering a new brand to add to your bar, there’s no place quite like KYBF.”
