In person events may be hard to find these days but great causes and great bourbon are always in style. 2020 marks the 7th year for the Bourbon Mixer. This year’s theme is appropriately ‘Toast to a New Tomorrow’ because we all look forward to tomorrow and good cheer.
The Bourbon Mixer is an annual event that brings together the Bourbon Brotherhood and the Whisky Chicks. For the past six years its been a single evening that brings these men and women together to celebrate good friends, food, spirits and an opportunity to raise funds for an important cause. The bad news is that it won’t happen in person this year but the good news is that the virtual event will expand from a single evening to multiple events over an entire week. Lots more opportunities to virtually connect and to raise some money for those in need.
2020 Bourbon Mixer Virtual Event is Free to Attend
The week of events kicks off this Sunday, August 9. All events are free and will take place from 6:30-9:00 pm. Bourbon fans can join via Zoom and Bourbon Mixer Facebook Live here. Events include presentations by master distillers and other experts, plus silent auctions and raffles of premium whiskies and bourbons, experiences, and local foods. Participants must be at least 21 years of age.
This year’s event will include a nightly art demonstrations by Richard Sullivan, who will painting live and then auctioning his painting off at the end of the week. Sullivan is the artist that painted the 2020 Woodford Reserve Derby bottle.
Here’s the complete schedule for this year’s Bourbon Mixer.
- Sunday, August 9, 6:30-9pm: Master Distiller Chris Morris will share his passion for Woodford Reserve; cocktail demos by Brown Forman brand ambassadors Casey Gray and Fitz Bailey; hear the story of Uncle Nearest from ambassador Richie Michaels; and watch a cooking demo by Missy Hillock from Chateau Bourbon.
- Tuesday, August 11, 6:30-9pm: Join Stephen Fante from Limestone Branch Distillery for epic cocktails; see a behind-the-scenes tour of Kentucky Artisan Distillery; and discover how New Riff Distillery plans to be the greatest distillery in the world.
- Thursday August 13, from 6:30-9pm: Master Distiller Brent Elliot will explore Four Roses’ 10 unique recipes; take a virtual hardhat tour of Heaven Hill’s expansion; learn about the Huber family and the history of Huber’s Starlight Distillery; and Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. will share four seasons of old fashioned recipes.
- Saturday, August 15, from 6:30-9pm: Wait till you hear about the exciting dinner and cocktails, to be announced next week, in conjunction with Jim Beam Distillery and Basil Hayden, Knob Creek, and Booker’s and Baker’s!
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The silent auction will also be very exciting, including one of this year’s limited edition $1,000 Mint Julep Cups from Woodford Reserve, among several other experiences and rare items. In its first seven years, the Bourbon Mixer raised nearly $200,000 in total for various local charities. The event is the brainchild of Linda Ruffenach and Bruce Corwin, founders of the local social groups Whisky Chicks and the Bourbon Brotherhood.
The Coalition for the Homeless is a nonprofit organization with a mission to prevent and end homelessness in Louisville. The Coalition advocates for change, educates the public about the face of homelessness, and coordinates the work of their 30+ member agencies across the city.
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