Close Menu
News

New Orleans to host inaugural Bourbon festival

The first New Orleans Bourbon Festival will be held in March, set to attract consumer and trade delegates with a programme of seminars, awards and tastings.

The US city of New Orleans is to host its first-ever Bourbon festival

Due to take place from 24-26 March at the city’s Sugar Mill events space and Marriot Convention Center, the New Orleans Bourbon Festival also includes Bourbon awards.

The event kicks off with a judging session on the Friday afternoon, followed by a Grand Tasting.

Saturday seminars include ‘Why Does Bourbon Taste So Awesome? A Close Look into Yeast and other Determinants of Flavor Development’; a virtual tour of Kentucky with tastings; a Q&A session with Fred Booker Noe III and Jimmy Russell; a Women in Bourbon panel discussion; and a Bourbon and cigar pairing.

Speakers include Dr. Pat Heist, co-founder and co-owner and the Wilderness Trail Distillery; Michael Veach, a Bourbon historian and author; Carla Carlton from TheBourbonBabe.com; and Peggy Noe Stevens, a master taster and author.

On Sunday, award winners will be announced at the Bourbon Awards Brunch, featuring craft cocktails and live music.

For those looking to extend their Bourbon experience, a series of “pre-game” four-course pairing dinners will be hosted by various master distillers on the Thursday evening. Guests can choose from one of five events: Fred Booker Noe III of Jim Beam at The Foundation Room at The House of Blues; Jimmy Russell of Wild Turkey & Russell’s Reserve at The Bourbon House; Trey Zoeller of Jefferson’s Bourbon at Salon by Sucre; Diageo Brands at Morton’s Steakhouse; and Heaven Hill at Kenton’s. Tickets for the dinners are priced at US$130 per person.

Weekend tickets range in price from US$59-490. A portion of festival proceeds will be donated to St. Michael Special School for children from six years of age with special educational needs.

Planning your whisk(e)y calendar for the year? Don’t miss SB‘s round-up the finest dram-tastic events across the globe in 2017.

It looks like you're in Asia, would you like to be redirected to the Drinks Business Asia edition?

Yes, take me to the Asia edition No