Bardstown, Kentucky Celebrates Inaugural National Bourbon Week

BARDSTOWN, KY (June 14, 2024) – Bardstown, KY, known as the Bourbon Capital of the World, is in the midst of its inaugural National Bourbon Week Celebration, held from June 11-16. Encompassing National Bourbon Day today, the week-long festivities kicked off with the release of the much-anticipated 2024 Bardstown Collection. Throughout National Bourbon Week, attendees enjoyed a variety of ticketed and free distillery events, downtown bourbon tastings, retail sales, and concludes with the 21st annual Bourbon City Street Concert.

National Bourbon Week centers around the 2024 Bardstown Collection release, a collaboration amongst seven local distilleries – Preservation Distillery and Farm, Heaven Hill, Limestone Branch, Log Still Distillery, Lux Row Distillers, Bardstown Bourbon Company, and James B. Beam Distilling Co., aimed at elevating Bardstown’s status as the Bourbon Capital of the World. An opening celebration was held at My Old Kentucky Home State Park, where consumers were able to try all seven of this year’s expressions. In the three subsequent days, the participating distilleries sold their bottles to consumers on their distillery grounds.

“National Bourbon Week has truly put Bardstown on the map as a premier destination for bourbon enthusiasts,” said Stacey Phelps, President of Visit Bardstown. “The Bardstown Collection showcases the exceptional craftsmanship of our local distilleries and highlights the unique heritage of our region. The collaboration behind the Bardstown Collection represents the unity and innovation within our bourbon community. This collection not only celebrates our rich history but also sets the stage for the future of bourbon in Kentucky.”

National Bourbon week was a joint effort between Visit Bardstown, The Bourbon Capital Alliance, Bardstown Main Street, and numerous partners throughout the community who had the joint vision to elevate the destination that is already synonymous with bourbon.

“The Bourbon Capital Alliance, our nine amazing distillery members, and additional partners were proud to lead the charge to establish the first-ever National Bourbon Week,” said Sam Lacy, Executive Director of the Bourbon Capital Alliance. “We owe a ton of gratitude to our title sponsor this year and for past National Bourbon Day celebrations, Buzick Construction Co. Their ongoing support of this event has allowed us to scale up year after year, providing more value to Bardstown and our signature bourbon industry.

“National Bourbon Week started as a celebration of bourbon and evolved into a celebration of our vibrant community. We could not be happier with our first year’s celebration and are already looking forward to building upon this year’s successes for our second annual National Bourbon Week in June 2025.”

The 21st Annual Bourbon City Street Concert will be concluding the week of festivities. Held on Court Square in downtown Bardstown, this free annual concert, spearheaded by Bardstown Main Street, draws thousands each year. This year’s concert features a stellar lineup of local and regional musicians, providing entertainment for residents and visitors alike.

Randi Mouser, Director of Bardstown Main Street, shared, “Although it’s not over yet, the past week of events was a huge success, showcasing the best of our downtown businesses and bringing the community together in celebration of music, local commerce, and bourbon culture. Our Bourbon City Street Concert not only strengthens our community bonds but now contributes significantly to the National Bourbon Week festivities, making Bardstown a place people want to visit year after year.”

For more information, please visit Visit Bardstown’s National Bourbon Week website.