Raise a Glass: The Top Bourbon Festivals in Covington, Frankfort, and Bardstown
May 8, 2025
Not only does Kentucky make 95 percent of the world’s bourbon, but the Bluegrass state wholeheartedly celebrates it too, with world-class festivals and events one can find only in a Gateway to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, Kentucky’s Bourbon Heart, and the Bourbon Capital of the World.
BOURBON WEEK
Kentucky’s annual salute to all things bourbon gets underway with bourbon-related experiences, events, products, and opportunities for some one-on-one time with bourbon’s Master Distillers—all in celebration of the state’s bourbon heritage.
Here’s how the Come Find Bourbon destinations are kicking off festivities in 2025:
- Covington celebrates with a bourbon and baseball mashup: Kicking off on June 12, The B-Line® teams up with the Florence Y’all’s for a “Bourbon, Baseball, and Big Rewards” promo in honor of National Bourbon Day in Northern Kentucky that lasts through June 30. Join the fun starting with a B-Line promo at the Y’all’s game on June 12, featuring a special B-Line bourbon cocktail at the Thomas More Stadium’s bar, as well as a limited custom-branded bourbon baseball giveaway. Celebrations continue along the B-Line, adding more opportunities to win a Family Four-Pack of Y’alls tickets and a Luxury Table Experience at a future Y’alls home game.
- Downtown Frankfort Bourbon Week - A Bluegrass Experience, June 13-20: This bourbon-themed week kicks off on Friday, June 13, with music by New Orleans blues band Jackson and the Janks. Sponsored by Bourbon on the Banks and House of Commons: Bourbon Library, events include bourbon tours and activities showcasing the craftsmanship, history, and culture behind America's native spirit; bourbon-inspired goods from local artisans—from handcrafted souvenirs to gourmet treats; a Signature Cocktail Celebration, featuring “The Frankfort,” a custom-crafted drink similar in spirit to the iconic Manhattan, and a cocktail stroll.
- Bardstown – National Bourbon Week™, June 9-15: Presented by Buzick Construction, this community-wide celebration of the city and its ties to bourbon’s history, growth, and evolution brings together world-class distilleries, exclusive tastings, unique educational experiences, and Bardstown’s vibrant, historic downtown. Activities include culinary offerings, cocktails, classes, tastings, and special events planned by a number of Bardstown-area distilleries. New this year: The Mash Up, a special evening pairing Bourbon Capital Alliance’s nine partner distilleries with a local culinary partner. “As we kick off the second annual National Bourbon Week™, we’re proud to celebrate not only Nelson County’s deep-rooted bourbon heritage but also the growing economic impact this event brings to our community,” said Stacey Phelps, president of Visit Bardstown. “This weeklong celebration is a true toast to the spirit, craftsmanship, and community that make us so special.”
BOURBON BLOWOUTS
Other bourbon-centric festivals taking place include these:
- Bourbon, Bacon & Brew (July 18-20, Newport): A trifecta of taste sensations, this free-admission, family-friendly festival is a tribute to rich regional flavors, with an array of Kentucky bourbons, craft brews, and bacon-inspired dishes, plus a stage full of live music. All together: It’s the perfect summer celebration.
- Kentucky Bourbon Festival (September 5-7, Bardstown): The premier weekend for bourbon lovers is held on the historic grounds of Spalding Hall. By the numbers: 200 bourbon brands and expressions; 60+ distilleries; more than 50 experts and master distillers; dozens of premium ticketed events and panels like, “What's New at Angel’s Envy? Let Us Pour You Some Tastes,” “A Taste of Western Kentucky: Whiskey, Barbecue and Dessert,” and “A Taste of Western Kentucky: Whiskey, Barbecue and Dessert.”
- Bourbon on the Bank Festival™ (October 2-4, Frankfort): The Capital City’s premier bourbon festival features bourbon tastings plus taste offerings from food booths, live music, bourbon-themed artisans showing their works, ticketed events like “Mixology on the River,” and a free-admission family-friendly celebration with street performers (aerialists, fire eaters, human statues, live musicians). The fun takes place at River View Park along the Kentucky River. “That’s what makes it special,” said Diane Strong, event manager. “The river is where bourbon history starts. This festival is smaller and more intimate, with more one-on-one time with bourbon’s distillers, makers, and ambassadors.”
RECOGNIZING BOURBON-AGED BREWS
Craft breweries get in on the bourbon celebrations, too, with events marking bourbon barrel-aged beer releases, including Covington’s Braxton Brewing Co.
- Dark Charge at Braxton Brewing Co.: This annual winter block party takes place the first Saturday of December (Dec. 5 and 6 in 2025) and marks the release of Braxton’s hearty bourbon barrel-aged brews. (Past Dark Charge variants have included Dark Charge Vino, Maple Pecan, Bourbon Cream, and Boston Cream.) Come celebrate with music, local eats, and limited-edition sips.
Kentucky’s bourbon festivals serve up the perfect blend of flavor, fun, and tradition.
Come find bourbon—and experience the spirit of Kentucky.
Come Find Bourbon
In 1818, Catherine Spears Carpenter Frye made bourbon history as the first person to write down the recipe for sour mash. A century later, Margie Samuels made her own historic contribution when, in the 1950s, she created the most iconic whiskey packaging in the industry with Maker’s Mark’s hand-dipped red wax seal. In 2016, Joyce and Autumn Netherly made headlines as Kentucky’s only mother/daughter bourbon distillery owners. As far back as the early 1800s, Kentucky women have been leaving their mark on the bourbon landscape. “The bourbon industry isn’t just for the boys,” said Stacy Prichard, vice president of distillery relations at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival , held every September on the grounds of Spalding Hall in Bardstown. “There are a lot of women in bourbon—many with chemical and engineering degrees. There are lots of women in leadership roles. Pretty much anything women want to do, they’re doing it.”
Bourbon and chocolate. Bourbon and bacon. Bourbon and the Great Outdoors. Bourbon is the ultimate pairing partner. And in Northern Kentucky , bourbon sipping and strolling, tasting and touring go hand in hand—especially when the neighborhoods explored are architectural beauties with lots of character and independently owned shops and restaurants, like in Covington and Newport, or countryside charmers surrounded by gorgeous scenery, like Florence. Whether walking, shuttling, or ridesharing, these communities seamlessly blend bourbon adventuring and outdoor fun while also supporting safe and responsible exploration. COVINGTON: A WALKABLE BOURBON HUB Bourbon Experience: Stroll MainStrasse Village, a German-inspired, pedestrian-friendly, National Register of Historic Places neighborhood. Pop into Stoney’s Etc. toy shop, Hail Records & Oddities, and other unique shops, or take a snap of the Goose Girl Fountain, and relax at Goebel Park with its historic glockenspiel clock tower. Pop into B-Line ® stop, the Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar , and let the staff guide you to your perfect cocktail, mixed with one of a selection of more than 800 bourbons. Sip inside or enjoy on the patio. Alternatively, ride-share to Ludlow to experience one of NKY’s most original distilleries, Second Sight Spirits , with its Las Vegas show-inspired Swami still, crystal balls, and tours that include a tasting of the distillery’s Oak Eye Kentucky Bourbon, fine rums, moonshine, and fan-favorite hazelnut liqueur. Outdoor Adventure: Walk the Roebling Suspension Bridge for sweeping views of the Ohio River unwinding between Cincinnati’s stunning skyline and Northern Kentucky’s church-steepled landscape. At night, when illuminated, the experience is magical. Play a round of disc golf at Devou Park, a 700-acre playground with one of the most photogenic views in the region at its iconic city overlook. Follow the outdoor art on foot with walking tours in Covington’s Central Business District with its mid-1800s architecture to see murals, mosaics, statues, and sculptures, including Clive the Alien, a 50-foot green space invader hanging out—or over—the Midtown Parking Garage and keeping a watchful eye on the earthlings below.
