Kentucky Bourbon Fantasy Camps In 2018

By Richard Thomas

The Kentucky Bourbon Classic came and went last week, opening another year of major festivals in the Commonwealth. Whiskey tourism is now, to some extent, a thing in all 50 states, but Kentucky remains in a league of its own when it comes to “fantasy camp” experiences.

While some craft distilleries around the country offer the kind of behind-the-scenes experiences that are usually only open to people in the liquor business, only in Kentucky do you have the luxury of choice, with a rich menu of options. Also, only in the heart of Bourbon Country is it possible to do any of these things at a major distillery. Until the Tennessee Whiskey Trail develops similar events, Kentucky is the only place to consider going for a whiskey fantasy camp. This year, this is what you have to look forward to:

April 22-27, Moonshine University Distiller Course
For any enthusiast who is serious about coming to grips with the technical side of making whiskey, this six-day course is a must-do, as it is designed for those looking to do a craft distillery start-up or already in the industry. A rotating cast of over 40 industry professionals, most of them working in Kentucky, are brought in for a hands-on education in what it takes to operate the equipment and make the juice. In addition to the April course, Moonshine University will hold courses in July and October.

June 5-10, Kentucky Bourbon Affair
When it comes to fantasy camps, this is the major festival in Kentucky, and it’s so popular that many of it’s key events have already sold out. At the time of posting, it was still possible to buy tickets for a Knob Creek Private Barrel Selection (June 5) and for a tour of the Bulleit Distillery, still not open to the public (June 6 & 7).

June 23, Woodford Reserve Bourbon Academy
This is a behind-the-scenes immersion in bourbon-making, conducted by either Master Distiller Chris Morris or his deputy, Elizabeth McCall.

September 10-16, Kentucky Bourbon Festival
This annual festival in Bardstown is a good place to look to for opportunities to hobnob with Master Distillers, special educational events and auctions of rare items. The event schedule for 2018 had not yet been published at the time of posting.

September 22-23, Bourbon And Beyond
This concert, food and bourbon festival will return to Louisville following its successful inaugural run last year. Although it attracts too large a crowd to be properly called a fantasy camp, the booths and sub-events are manned by numerous distillers, brand ambassadors, esteemed bartenders, authors and other luminaries. It’s a good place to go to meet the folks who make things happen in the bourbon industry.