Eat, drink, be merry and give back at Bourbon & Benevolence Saturday

A scene from a former Bourbon & Benevolence
Bourbon & Benevolence from a few years back — it’s always a great time! | Photo by Drew Mackell (Mackell Photography)

December is the prime month to eat, drink, be merry and give back, and there’s no better way to do it than with an awesome bourbon event that gives back to the service industry.

Bourbon & Benevolence, which will be held Saturday, Dec. 11, from 6:30-9:30 p.m., is an annual event hosted by KOBBE (Kentucky’s Original Black Bourbon Enthusiasts), and each year they pick a different charity to raise funds for. This year it’s APRON, Inc., a local nonprofit that provides financial relief to professional food and beverage workers in the area who are experiencing financial distress due to illness, accident or emergency.

Basically, for three hours on Saturday, you get to sample bourbons from 11 different brands, enjoy food from several food trucks, bid on highly coveted bottles in a silent auction, smoke cigars in a fancy outdoor lounge, and also sip on wine, champagne or beer (if bourbon isn’t your thing — gasp!).

I’ve been to this event several times the last few years and it’s quickly become one of my favorite bourbon-centered events. Everyone is looking for a good time, whether you’re new the to spirit or an old coot like me, and appreciation for charity, bourbon, community and fellowship is felt throughout the room.

So which brands will be there, you ask? Check ’em out:

  • Michter’s
  • Russell’s Reserve
  • Maker’s Mark
  • Smooth Ambler from West Virginia
  • Bulleit Frontier Whiskey
  • Buzzard’s Roost
  • Ragged Branch
  • Rolling Fork Rum
  • Limestone Branch
  • Barrell Craft Spirits
  • Kentucky Peerless
Bourbon & Benevolence flyer
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“This year our focus is fully on fundraising,” says Jamar Mack, founder of KOBBE. “We’ve always prided ourselves on bringing people together, so we’re glad to get back to that.”

And speaking of raising funds, the silent auction is going to be insane, with a list that includes many “unicorn” bottles you only dream about owning.

These include big hitters like Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, a 19-year-old Willet Family Estate Single Barrel, Pappy, Weller, Stagg, Blanton’s, and even some vintage bottles.

Tickets to the event are $110, which includes the full tasting experience, access to the silent auction and everything mentioned above, as well as two tickets for the food trucks. A proof of COVID vaccination or negative 72-hour test is required. Bourbon & Benevolence will be held Dec. 11 at Mint on Mellwood, 1631 Mellwood Ave.

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