BourbonBlog.com invites you to join us at Bourbon Classic 2013, buy your tickets on this link  as this second annual Bourbon-culinary experience is coming up quick January 31 and February 1, 2014.

Over 60 American whiskeys will be attending this year as it will happen again at Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts!  Bourbon enthusiasts and culinary adventurists will come from across the country to enjoy all aspects of Bourbon, from distilling to food pairings.

Taste Bourbon alongside Bourbon distilling legends, writers, chefs, bartenders, expert connoisseurs, and casual enthusiasts.

Friday, January 31, will focus on entertainment:

The Bourbon Classic “Cocktail Challenge” featuring contemporary and classic cocktails and small plates prepared by teams of chefs and master bartenders representing distilleries. MC Jared Schubert, winner of the 2013 Bourbon Classic Cocktail Challenge, will guide attendees through the event. Cocktail and small plate pairings will be judged by an expert panel including Jennifer Cole, Southern Living, Joy Perrine, Jack’s Lounge, and Chef Albert Schmid. Participating teams are as follows:

Angel’s Envy

Bradley Hammond, Decca
Chef Terry French, winner of Food Network’s Extreme Chef 2012, Philadelphia

Blanton’s

Chris Wilkins, Proof on Main
Chef Levon Wallace, Proof on Main

Buffalo Trace

Colin Shearn, El Camino
Chef Jonathan Lundy, Jonathan’s at Gratz Park, Lexington

Jim Beam

Isaac Fox, Volare
Chef Josh Moore, Volare

Michter’s

JR Schiavi, Jack Fry’s
Chef Shawn Ward, Jack Fry’s

Wild Turkey

Susie Hoyt, Silver Dollar
Chef Tyler Powell, Silver Dollar

Woodford Reserve

Jacquelyn Zykan, La Coop
Chef Bobby Benjamin, La Coop

Saturday, February 1, will focus on education and entertainment:

Welcoming Session with Master Distillers and brand legends including:

Wes Henderson, Angel’s Envy
Fred Noe, Jim Beam
Harlen Wheatley, Buffalo Trace
Tom Bulleit, Bulleit Bourbon
Daniel Preston, Cacao Prieto Artisan Distillery
Colin Spoelman, King’s County Distillery
Willie Pratt, Michter’s
Dave Schmier, Redemption Bourbon
Drew Kulsveen, Willett

Author Fred Minnick will MC this session sponsored by the Urban Bourbon Trail.

The “Bourbon Classic University,” exploring focused learning sessions like

- The Bottle and the Board: How Bourbon Pairs with Cheese
- Bourbon Recollections…A Trip Through Time
- Entertaining with Bourbon Tastings
- Exploring the World of Bourbon & Bitters,
- Bourbon Flavor Profiles
- The Essential Ingredient: Exploring the Creative, Culinary Side of Bourbon
- Bourbon & the Bean: What do Chocolate & American Whiskey Have in Common, Five Essential Ingredients for Your Home’s Bourbon Bar, and Bourbon and Beer – A Beautiful Marriage

Sets of four sessions will be offered and attendees will have the opportunity to choose which sessions to join.

The Bourbon Marketplace offering exhibits and displays featuring Bourbon tastings, book signings, food tastings, and culinary and Bourbon-related products.

Bourbon Culinary Tastings prepared by Coby Lee Ming, Harvest, Brian Enyart, El Camino, Levon Wallace, Proof on Main, and Ouita Michel, Holly Hill Inn.

The bourbon industry’s most well-known brands are sponsoring the event:

The Urban Bourbon Trail is the welcoming sponsor of this event joining Buffalo Trace Distillery, Michter’s Distillery, Blanton’s, Jim Beam, Wild Turkey Bourbon, Woodford Reserve, Angel’s Envy, Belle Meade, Bingham Greenbaum Doll, LLP, Bulleit Bourbon, Cacao Prieto Artisan Distillery, Jefferson’s, Kings County Distillery, Old Forester, Redemption Bourbon, Spirits on Ice, LLC, Western Spirits, Wildcat Water, and Art Eatables.

The Bourbon Classic was co-founded by Tony Butler of FSA Management Group, an established event planning company based in Louisville, and Justin Thompson, Seth Thompson, and Bob Eidson of The Bourbon Review.

“The second year of this truly comprehensive event offers an expanded focus on culinary exploration and enjoyment,” says Tony Butler, co-founder of the Bourbon Classic. “The expanded program of this annual event is more diverse than ever.”

“This event is a natural progression in what we do to promote the bourbon lifestyle: the craftsmanship, the authenticity, the traditions and marry that with the eclectic epicurean culture of Central Kentucky,” says Seth Thompson, co-founder of the Bourbon Classic.