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Kentucky Bourbon Benefit raises $1.4m for flood victims

The Kentucky Bourbon Benefit auction raised more than US$1.4 million for Eastern Kentucky residents who were affected by July’s flooding.

Sazerac-Barrels Kentucky Bourbon
The Kentucky Bourbon Benefit raised more than US$1.4m for flood victims

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association teamed up with the Bourbon Crusaders charitable organisation, Bourbon curator Fred Minnick, and Louisville-based Westport Whiskey and Wine to host the 10-day auction. The sale offered rare and signed bottles, alongside private barrel selections.

All proceeds will go straight to the state’s official Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund.

Overnight floods impacted Eastern Kentucky on 27 July. A number of companies have made donations towards the relief efforts, totalling more than US$275,000. Brown-Forman donated US$100,000, while Beam Suntory, Four Roses and Campari Group donated US$50,000 each.

Eric Gregory, Kentucky Distillers’ Association president, said: “Once again, we are humbled and honoured by the outpouring of support from the Bourbon community to help our fellow Kentuckians. As a signature industry, it’s our duty to go above and beyond and give back, especially in times of need.

“It was heart-warming to see our distilleries spring into action when this tragedy occurred. We pray that it never happens again, although we are proud and comforted to know that our industry’s centuries-long tradition of caring for Kentuckians continues to this day.”

Notable sales from the auction include a private barrel selection at Four Roses Distillery, aged 13 to 16 years old, which sold for US$157,250.

Winning lots from Angel’s Envy raised more than US$106,000. Among the items sold was a private barrel experience of its cask strength-finished Bourbon, which fetched US$89,402.

Furthermore, longtime Eastern Kentucky resident Barbara Lawwill donated her late husband’s collection of decanters and bottles, which raised US$5,529 in total.

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