Bourbon and Beyond becomes a One Day Event

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Rain Rain Go Away: Can we enjoy Bourbon and Beyond

Champion Park, Louisville, TN, USA, September 22, 2018

Story by Dan Locke

What a crazy weekend the Bourbon and Beyond was. After five and a half hours drive from West Virginia to the bourbon Fest, the first thing that happens was we met up with a concert tour driver back from the 70s in the parking. And he offered us our first drink for the weekend, homemade moonshine in a mason jar with peaches in it. It was good but strong. Once we got onto the festival grounds, we headed to the main stage and on the way detoured toa side stage to shot a couple of bands. Then headed to the main stage and once getting there it started raining. In fact, it rains all day long.

There was a VIP tent set up by The Bardstown Bourbon Company for the Beyond VIP crowd and media. It was called the Bottle & Bond Kitchen & Bar tent, which

Bottle & Bond Kitchen & Bar tent (credit: Dan Locke)

was located between the Mash Stage and the Bourbon+ Workshops. Bottle & Bond Kitchen and Bar was open at the Bardstown Bourbon Company (The Bardstown Bourbon Company is the first distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail to feature a full-service restaurant, bar, and vintage whiskey library). It was set up with food samples of different types of sandwich meats and cheeses. While at the tent you got to sit down and have some good conversation with the owner of the bar and his staff. They were very friendly and knowledgeable.

The one thing they were pushing was their our brands. Collabor&tion is the culmination of nearly two years of work between the Bardstown Bourbon Co. & Copper & Kings American Brandy Co.

Two deluxe expressions of very fine 10-year-old straight Bourbon whiskey finished for 18 months: one in C&K American Brandy barrels and the other in Muscat Mistelle barrels. And you would think a restaurant like this would be pricey, but I but what I was told by one of the staffers that the price for a hamburger is $12. But it was a bit pricey to me. Here is a sample of the menu.

Bottle & Bond Kitchen & Bar tent (credit: Dan Locke)

Glazed Brussels Sprouts – Pan Seared / Bourbon Bacon / Kentucky Blue Cheese 11
Chicken Fried Oysters – Southern Remoulade / Kettle Chips 16
Fish Tacos – Tuna Tartare / Siracha Mayo / Guacamole 15
Grilled Cheese Sticks – Classic American / Tomato Soup 8
Mac & Cheese – Four Cheese / Herb Crust 7
Shrimp & Grits – Red Gulf Shrimp / Cheddar Grits 14

Gnocchi – Sweet Potato / Broccolini / Bourbon Mushroom Sauce 13
Brisket Caramelized Vidalia Onions / Grilled French Loaf / Hand-Cut French Fries 14
Poached Chicken Salad – Red Grapes / Apples / Toasted Walnuts / House Mayonnaise / Brioche Bun / Kettle Chips 12
Burger – Farm Beef / Tomato / Bibb Lettuce / Brioche Bun / Hand-Cut French Fries 14
Grilled Chicken – Nashville Dry Rub / Pickle and Cabbage / Deviled Egg Spread / Grilled French Loaf / Hand-Cut French Fries 13
Baby Back Ribs – Bourbon Rubbed / Skillet Cornbread / Honey Butter 18
Porterhouse (for 2 People) – Dry-Aged / Bourbon Steak Sauce / Arugula / Lemon Vinaigrette 70
Cast-Iron Fried Chicken – Double-Dipped Buttermilk / Hand-Cut French Fries 17
Filet – Filet 8 oz Prime / Mashed Potatoes 37
Salmon – Simply Grilled / Bourbon Glazed / Broccolini 20
NY Strip 14 oz Prime / Classic Wedge – Dry-Aged / Bourbon Steak Sauce / Arugula / Lemon ES 70 45

Right before we were leaving the VIP tent, it started to pouring. and wouldn’t stop, so finally we exited the tent and headed back to the media area. On the way back, I tsaw how people were handling the rain. Lots of the crowd was standing in the rain, while others were watching the Stray Cat’s, Brian Setzer playing some rocking rockabilly. And I got to see how some people got to watch a show in style.

KFC (credit: Daniel Locke)

One nice thing that happens was KFC came to the media tent with Fry chicken for all the media. This gave everyone a smile And I think the sun came out for a few minutes. But as people headed to shoot Sheryl Crow, everyone got soaked again.

At the end of the night as we left there throught nothing but mud everywhere and nowhere did you see any dry spot. Everything was soaked. With the mud being thick and deep, which made walking almost impossible. As you walked, it was like walking through a 7-11 slushy drink. All you could do is walk and hope you would not fall. It rains so hard even the road was flooded out.

About 2 am the second day was canceled. As the pr person put it.

“THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF SATURDAY’S BAD WEATHER HAS LED THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE TO DECLARE CHAMPIONS PARK UNSAFE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SECOND DAY OF BOURBON & BEYOND HAS BEEN CANCELLED. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE WHO WORKED SO HARD TO KEEP THE FESTIVAL GOING AND TO THE FANS THAT STUCK OUT THE RAIN. AS A RESULT, WE ARE OFFERING ALL BUYERS THE FOLLOWING REFUND:

• SUNDAY SINGLE DAY TICKET — 100% REFUND OF YOUR TICKET PRICE
• TWO-DAY WEEKEND TICKET — 50% REFUND OF YOUR TICKET PRICE
• HOTEL + TICKET PACKAGES — 50% REFUND OF YOUR TICKET PRICE
• CAMPING PASSES — 50% REFUND OF YOUR TICKET PRICE

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO PURCHASED VIA FRONT GATE TICKETS VIA INTERNET OR PHONE, YOUR ORDER WILL BE PROCESSED AUTOMATICALLY. PLEASE ALLOW UP TO 3 WEEKS FOR CHARGES TO BE PROCESSED.