Travels and Adventures: 2004

Kentucky Bourbon Festival

Mardee, Gary, and DrinkBoy, Robert Hess, recently made their way to Bardstown Kentucky for the Annual Bourbon Festival. It’s something they should do every year. The warmness of those people in the bourbon industry is palpable--it’s something to be relished.

This year was very special for Gary since he was nominated by Bill Samuels, Jr., President of the Maker’s Mark Distillery, to be inducted into the Bourbon Hall of Fame. A rare honor, indeed. Thanks Uncle Billy! And thanks to all of our friends in Bourbon Country for making us feel so much at home every time we visit the Bluegrass State.

Here; then, is a pictorial essay of our trip. Perhaps you’ll be there next year . . .

Here’s a shot of all the Master Distillers at the Bourbon Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. From left to right: Jim Rutledge, Four Roses Distillery; “Baby Distiller” Greg Davis, Barton Distillery; Jimmy Russell, Wild Turkey Distillery; Dave Pickerell, Maker’s Mark Distillery; Craig Beam, Heaven Hill Distillery; Chris Morris, Woodford Reserve Distillery, and Jerry Dalton, Jim Beam Distillery.

Here’s Gary’s Bourbon Hall of Fame Trophy Still on its own, with Bill and Gary, and with Gary on his own. He wouldn’t put the damned thing down for a second!

Of course the still did seem to attract a pretty desirable following.

Uncle Billy took the guys on a road trip on Saturday morning. We popped in to see Nancy Samuels’ wonderful Uncle Earl at the Sherwood Inn in New Haven, KY--this wonderful place has been in the same family, the Boones, no less (yes those Boones), since 1875. Then we stopped off at the Maker’s Mark Distillery for a while where Robert got his first glimpse of these beautiful copper spirit safes.

The theme for the Maker’s Mark group this year was Mardi Gras, so Bill dressed us for the occasion.

Nancy Samuels (on right) and her friend Charlene, mutinied during the tasting tent segment of the evening and sat themselves down at the Heaven Hill booth. “This is our favorite spot--it’s the only one with chairs,” said Nancy.

Unbeknown to Mardee, Gary bid on a barrel head signed by all the Master Distillers of 2003. And he won it. Mardee was very gracious and didn’t knock the stuffing out of him until they got home. This item is emblazoned with the signatures of Lincoln Henderson of Woodford Reserve fame, and Maker’s Mark Distiller Steve Nally. Both of these wonderful characters are now retired making this particular item very rare indeed.

This picture sort of tells you how we felt after the festivities were over, though it was actually taken before them. Good old Uncle Billy makes a fine pillow.

Thanks again to everyone who made this adventure possible, especially Ginger Flowers, the Wonder Woman who put the trip together.