The Forecastle Festival, Louisville’s three-day music, art and environmental activism festival, is bringing back its Kentucky Bourbon Trail outpost, The Bourbon Lodge, with a unique lineup of bourbon offerings, education, bourbon-inspired cuisine, and a new charitable partnership called Bourbon Cares. The festival will also give nod to Louisville native Hunter S. Thompson with a new, Gonzo-inspired bourbon bar.
Set to take place July 18-20, 2014, Forecastle will feature a diverse collection of Kentucky bourbon brands uniting to offer dozens of Bourbon selections, including those from Maker’s Mark, Heaven Hill, Woodford Reserve, Michter’s, Four Roses, Town Branch, Wild Turkey, Jim Beam and more.
New this year, the festival will introduce the Bourbon Cares program, presented by Liquor Barn, a unique partnership between several bourbon brands and Forecastle bands, featuring special single-barrel selections, available only in the Forecastle Bourbon Lodge. Members of Spoon will hand-select a barrel from Four Roses Bourbon, JJ Grey & Mofro from Heaven Hill and Spanish Gold from Woodford Reserve.
Patrick Hallahan from Spanish Gold and members of Spoon will also participate in special celebrity mixology sessions where fans can have a drink crafted from the artist-select bourbons, prepared by members of the bands. Proceeds from Bourbon Cares will benefit The Forecastle Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, focused on environmental conservation.
Featured in USA Today, Martha Stewart Living and Fox News, Adam Burress and Chase Mucerino have created local hot spots including award-winning barbecue at Hammerheads, wild game burgers at Game and their newest rotisserie-focused creation, Loop 22. They’ll bring their culinary expertise to an exclusive, pop-up restaurant in the Forecastle Bourbon Lodge.
The original menu will be available only inside the Bourbon Lodge and will feature bourbon-infused Southern classics, including bourbon barrel smoked meats.
The festival will also debut a new bar commemorating the legacy of Gonzo journalist and Kentucky bourbon aficionado, Hunter S. Thompson, whose posthumous 77th birthday would have fallen on the first day of Forecastle. The Gonzo Bar, a Hunter-themed bourbon bar presented by White Clay Consulting, will offer a variety of bourbons and specialty cocktails inspired by the iconic writer.
Bourbon education reimagined through Fireside Chats, presented by Liquor Barn
Bourbon Lodge activities will include Fireside Chats, presented by Liquor Barn, offering an intimate, living-room setting for bourbon education. Festival-goers will have the chance to chat with master distillers and bourbon experts on everything from the spirit’s unique Kentucky history and attributes, to the distillation process and more.
Experienced and novice bourbon drinkers will find a unique and varied selection of bourbons to be served neat or on the rocks, synthesizing a true distillery tasting experience. The Bourbon Lodge will also feature a mixology bar, presented by Liquor Barn, with cocktail creations ranging from Old Fashioned and Manhattan to Mint Julep and more.
With 95 percent of the world’s bourbon produced in the state of Kentucky, the festival continues to focus on what makes bourbon so special, and of course, so delicious. The goal is to offer it in a way that bourbon drinkers would enjoy, as well as guests who are new to the spirit, perhaps picking up a few new fans over the course of the weekend.
Wall Street Journal best-selling author Fred Minnick hailed Forecastle Festival as “bourbon’s most important festival for new consumers,” in 2013, creating “future connoisseurs.”
Full Bourbon Lodge details including pricing, membership and more, can be found atwww.forecastlefest.com.
The Bourbon Lodge began as a small feature in 2012 to bring the community’s love for bourbon and Kentucky’s rich bourbon history into the festival and share it with visitors in a way that was experiential, educational and fun. Now known as the festivals’ “fourth headliner,” the lodge includes more than 9,000 square feet of bourbon-focused activities in partnership with the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
About AC Entertainment:
AC Entertainment is recognized as one of the foremost independent promoters in the United States. Founded in 1991 by Ashley Capps, the company books, markets and presents over 750 events per year. In addition to the Forecastle Festival, AC Entertainment is the force behind internationally renowned events including Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival®, the Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit and Big Ears. For more information on AC Entertainment, visit acentertainment.com.
For more information on Forecastle, visit forecastlefest.com.
