Kentucky Bourbon Festival Announces Ticket On Sale Date
Bardstown, Ky. (Feb. 22, 2023) - - - 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 33 rd 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.”
Major corporate partners include The Koetter Group, Joseph & Joseph Architects, KPFF
Engineers, Team Kentucky Tourism, The B-Line, and Whiskey House Kentucky.
Ticket prices are $180 for Bourbon Taster weekend passes, $105 for Sunday Sampler,
$595 for Enthusiast VIP, $695 for Flask Force VIP, $895 for Flask Force Gold and
$1,295 for Decanter Club. Premium events will be priced individually and will go on sale
with admission packages.
KYBF Insiders — those who subscribe to the festival’s e-newsletter — will be able to
purchase tickets on April 16, with sales open to the public on April 17. VIP packages are
expected to sell out quickly.
