Buffalo Trace’s New Cafe Is More Than Lunch

Cary Ann's avatar May 15, 2026

Buffalo Trace just delivered something fans have been waiting on for ages: it opened a permanent cafe that asks visitors to stay a little longer and actually enjoy the campus. More than lunch, the John G. Carlisle Cafe is an invitation to linger, and yes, it might be the best hospitality move this distillery has made in years.

I arrived Monday morning for the media hour prior to the ribbon cutting, which was timed perfectly with blue skies and the kind of spring sunshine this campus was made for. The gardens were manicured, blooming, and inviting. Samples of several menu items were passed during the media tasting, and then we moved outside for the welcome remarks before the cafe opened to the public. The first 100 distillery guests received complimentary lunch vouchers that morning, and there was a steady line for hours once the doors opened. (The media were thankfully ahead of that rush!)

A living chapter of history
The Carlisle Cafe is not a new building pretending to be old. The space has been part of the campus since 1935, but it was not a room most visitors could see. Now the dining room reads like a living chapter of Buffalo Trace’s story, highlighting John G. Carlisle and showcasing artifacts from the Carlisle Distillery along with archival photos and other pieces pulled from the distillery collection. The design invites people to sit with strangers and leave with new friends, which is exactly the sort of hospitality this place should be known for.

Ribbon-cutting highlights
Tyler Adams, General Manager, Buffalo Trace Distillery, opened the ceremony by framing the cafe as a renewed commitment to hospitality. “Hospitality is in our spirit here,” he said, adding that the cafe was created “to provide a space for folks to connect with each other.” He referenced last year’s flood in a direct, human way, reminding the crowd that the clubhouse had been under water and making the opening feel like a small victory.

Harlan Wheatley, Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller, spoke next and thanked everyone for showing up for this next chapter. He traced the clubhouse’s uses since 1935, from an employee cafeteria to a company party space, and explained why the name matters. “We’re going to dedicate this to John G. Carlisle for all the work he did for us and the industry. He was a true bourbon democrat,” Wheatley said. He emphasized that the food “is meant to be more than lunch; it’s meant to be part of the experience,” and that each dish is designed to honor the flavors, stories, and traditions that shaped the distillery. His point was clear: this space opens the campus to the public in a new way, “where good food and good company come together in the spirit of Buffalo Trace.”

What I ate
The menu reads like Kentucky comfort with manners: sandwiches, salads, desserts, and a Hot Brown that belongs in this state. I ordered the Brie BLT, the tomato and cucumber salad, and the seasonal cocktail called Weller in Bloom. Everything landed where it should. Janet Patton shared a bite of cheesecake with bourbon caramel that was exactly the kind of small, perfect surrender you want after a tasting. The Kentucky Hot Brown and the Veggie Wrap are already on my short list for next time.

Programming that matters
Buffalo Trace did not open a cafe and stop there. The distillery paired the opening with a three-week lineup of daily programming in May designed to make the cafe a repeat-visit anchor. Highlights include Free Meal Mondays, complimentary for the first 100 guests; From the Archives open houses on Tuesdays with lead archivist Nick Laracuente; Whiskey Wednesdays with complimentary samples of a featured bottle and limited bottle sales in the gift shop; Thursday Meet the Masters meet-and-greets with the distillery’s masters; Freddie Fridays with Freddie Johnson and Freddie’s Old-Fashioned Soda samples; Sippin’ Saturdays with seasonal cocktails and Rebecca Ruth chocolate pairings; and Grain & Glass Sunday breakfasts featuring tastings of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain. The programming turns the cafe into more than a place to eat; it turns it into a reason to plan a visit.

So is this a hospitality upgrade?
Yes. The cafe gives people a real reason to spend more time on property and be present for something beyond a tour and a tasting room photo. Distillery tourism is now as much about the full-day experience as it is about bottles, and the John G. Carlisle Cafe is Buffalo Trace’s way of saying it wants to be judged by how long people stay and what they remember, not just which scarce bottle they go home with.


Buffalo Trace did not magically allocate more BTAC, but it did the next best thing: it gave people chairs, food that fits the place, and a program that will make visitors come back. For once, the distillery experience includes something more than a bottle to chase; it includes a seat at the table.

WORLDWIDE ALLIANCE OF WHISKY FESTIVALS APPOINTS STRAIGHT UP 615 FOUNDER TO FIX LINEUPS AFTER DECADES OF “BEST AND BRIGHTEST” ALL LOOKING ALIKE

Cary Ann's avatar April 1, 2026

Women in whiskey take center stage. Straight Up 615 founder Cary Ann Fuller appointed Global Head of Panel Balancing Act after her viral 31 Days of Women’s History Month series exposed decades of identical “best and brightest” whiskey festival panels—all men named Chad, Steve, or Nate.

Read More "WORLDWIDE ALLIANCE OF WHISKY FESTIVALS APPOINTS STRAIGHT UP 615 FOUNDER TO FIX LINEUPS AFTER DECADES OF “BEST AND BRIGHTEST” ALL LOOKING ALIKE"

Discovering Harrodsburg: A Hidden Gem in Kentucky

Unknown's avatar October 1, 2025

Just up the street from Danville and about an hour from Bardstown, Frankfort, Lexington, and Louisville, Harrodsburg offers respite from the Bourbon Trail and quite a few surprises

Sometimes the best adventures don’t come from grand plans but from unchecked impulses. For me, it was a fiddle leaf fig on Facebook Marketplace that sparked an impromptu road trip. That’s how I found myself loading up the dogs and heading out on what I told myself was just a “quick errand” to Harrodsburg.

Heading east out of Bardstown on the Lincoln Heritage Scenic Highway, it was pleasant enough rolling toward Springfield. But just past the new roundabout (where Hwy 555 meets Hwy 150) came the hard left onto Kentucky Route 152, pointing me toward Harrodsburg.

Map from Bardstown to Harrodsburg
Bardstown to Harrodsburg

That’s when the scenery really began. The land started to rise and fall in green waves, farmland turned hilly, and the pavement curled like ribbon around a World War II pinup model. This was the kind of road that reminds me why I’ve only ever driven a Mazda. The brand’s engineers designed the chassis for agility—what they call Jinba Ittai, “horse and rider as one.” She handled those curves with the warm assurance of a grandma’s hug. But I digress…

I wasn’t the only one reveling in the ride. Olivia and Cooper were in full doggy bliss, ears flapping, tongues lolling, their heads stuck out the windows as if they’d been waiting their whole lives (or all morning) for this stretch of road.

I may have set out chasing a houseplant, but I stumbled into history.

Meeting Mike and a Fig Tree

My first stop was to meet Mike, the fiddle leaf fig seller and a kindred spirit in the green-thumbed way. He handed over my new plant baby with a smile and a dose of local wisdom:
 “You know, Harrodsburg is the oldest city in Kentucky. You ought to check out Main Street and the old Fort.”

With that, whimsy gave way to history.

A City Older Than Kentucky

Harrodsburg, as it turns out, is no ordinary Kentucky town. Founded in 1774, it was the Commonwealth’s very first permanent settlement. Before Lexington’s horse farms or Louisville’s bourbon warehouses, there was Harrodsburg—founded by James Harrod and 31 men who built Fort Harrod on the edge of the frontier.

The dogs and I stretched our legs in the historic district on our way to Old Fort Harrod State Park. Along the way I passed several shops where I could have happily emptied the rest of my wallet, but the dogs saved me from anything more than window shopping.

Old Fort Harrod

Just three blocks from Main Street, we reached the Fort. Schoolchildren on a field trip were picnicking under the shade of the “unofficial” largest Osage orange tree in the United States, ‘Big Ole Tree’. (Harrodsburg is full of surprises!) I wandered past the Pioneer Cemetery—the oldest cemetery in Kentucky and the oldest west of the Alleghenies—into the replica fort.

Inside, the Fort tells its story not just through buildings but through people. Craftspeople in pioneer dress demonstrate the skills that once defined survival: blacksmiths hammering hot iron into tools, women quilting patterns that held both warmth and family memory, and artisans carefully stitching dolls by hand. These living demonstrations bridge centuries, showing how the frontier wasn’t just endured—it was built, piece by piece, with craft and care.

Old Fort Harrod

I couldn’t help but wonder why the park doesn’t demonstrate a farm still in action. After all, those early settlers were farmers first, and many carried crude little stills to turn surplus grain into liquid that could outlast the winter. The resulting spirits weren’t for cocktail hours, of course—they were barter, medicine, and survival in a jug. (But there I go digressing again…)

The park also holds the Lincoln Marriage Temple, which shelters the log cabin where Abraham Lincoln’s parents were married on June 12, 1806. One nearby tourist speculated aloud that perhaps the 16th President himself was conceived there. I can’t find any evidence to confirm this, but it certainly adds a wink of folklore to the story.

Exploring Main Street & Beyond

On the walk back toward Main Street, I discovered St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. Built in 1860, this Gothic Revival gem of brick and limestone has weathered war, peace, and generations of parishioners. For a moment, I imagined the footsteps of pioneers, parishioners, and wanderers like me traveling that same path from the Fort.

By then, my stomach was lobbying for attention. A friendly stranger directed me to the Blackbird Bakery & Café. “Go ‘round back,” they said with a smile. Sure enough, behind the building I found a deck perfect for the dogs to lounge while I ordered inside.

The café has its own story: Constructed in 1865, this building was originally Dedman’s Drugstore, an apothecary that once beckoned patrons with the dual promise of remedies and a soda fountain’s sweet treats. The store served as a functioning pharmacy from 1868 until 1983. Many of the historic features were preserved, including original cherry cabinets and glass display cases. Today it’s a cheerful café with good food and hometown vibes—exactly what I needed before more exploring.

Beaumont and Broadway

Main Street itself sits on a slope, lined with 19th-century storefronts glowing in the autumn sunshine. From there I wandered up to Beaumont Avenue, where grand old mansions stand with porches and columns like guardians of memory. The highlight was the Beaumont Inn.


Built in 1851, it originally housed Daughters College—one of the few female colleges in Kentucky to offer women a curriculum on par with men’s institutions. Since 1919, the property has operated as an inn and restaurant, now run by the sixth generation of the family that first transformed it from a college.

Finally, I pointed the Mazda down West Broadway Street—Kentucky’s oldest street—heading out of town. By then, the fiddle leaf fig was belted in like precious cargo, and the dogs had collapsed into satisfied naps. Harrodsburg had worked its quiet magic.

Whimsy, History, and What’s Next

I had set out for a houseplant, but I found a city that predates Kentucky itself—a place that balances deep history with small-town charm. Harrodsburg may be the state’s oldest city, but to me, it felt brand new: discovered on a whim, remembered as a gift from a stranger named Mike.

This is just the first of what I hope will be many spontaneous day trips across the Bluegrass. Some will no doubt lead me to distilleries (an occupational hazard), but sometimes it’s the side roads, scenic highways, and unexpected cafés that make the best stories.

So, where should I go next?

Comment below or visit me on Instagram and Facebook!

Unity in a Glass: Inside the New Heaven Hill Springs

Unknown's avatar September 19, 2025

Bardstown, Kentucky is no stranger to ribbon-cuttings, but the grand opening of the new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery wasn’t just another “Welcome to the neighborhood” moment. It was the return of a legacy—homecoming and rebirth wrapped up in one, with a toast that carried the weight of 90 years of history. As Kate Latts proclaimed, “We’re returning distilling to Bardstown, where it began for our family and where our roots have remained ever since.”

This event also served as the unofficial start to Kentucky Bourbon Festival, so naturally, the heavens opened with a little rain to christen the occasion. The ribbon cutting was quickly moved inside to keep us from being soaked—and to keep our whiskey toasts from being diluted. Kate welcomed us to a “not so sunny, but nonetheless amazing day for Heaven Hill.”

The celebration also marked the debut of Heaven Hill Master Distillers Unity, a once-in-a-generation bourbon that quite literally embodies the past, present, and future of Heaven Hill. Born from just 27 barrels, Unity contains the last remaining barrel distilled at the original Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery back in 1991 by Parker Beam. That irreplaceable whiskey, aged 34 years, was mingled with 14-, 8-, and 6-year-old bourbons crafted at Bernheim by Parker, Denny Potter, and current Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll. The symbolism of those generations blending together is almost as rich as the whiskey itself.

A Morning of Tribute

The day began with a welcome and dedication of the new distillery grounds. Jeff Crowe, Director of Kentucky Experiences, emceed the event with his special strain of energy and charm (and he also made sure everyone could see over the podium to the crowd below). Bardstown Mayor Dick Heaton presented Max Shapira with a key to the city—to the Bourbon Capital of the World. Co-President Kate Latts spoke, followed by Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll, and finally Max Shapira himself, who Jeff introduced as the “iconic Executive Chairman.”

“It’s kind of hard giving somebody who owns a distillery something significant during Kentucky Bourbon Festival Week, but I’m going to make an effort here.”

Mayor Dick Heaton, on presenting Max Shapira with a key to the city.

The program also included a well-deserved shout out to a retired employee. Kate pointed into the crowd saying, “Charlie Downs, Master Distiller Emeritus, who helped fill the very first barrel this spring, continues to be a living bridge between all four Heaven Hill distilleries in our legacy.” Charlie holds the singular honor of being the only Heaven Hill employee to have worked at all of the company’s distilleries—from the original Old Heaven Hill Springs to Bernheim in Louisville, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, and now the brand-new Springs facility in Bardstown. Back in April, Charlie ceremoniously participated in the filling of the very first barrel at the new distillery.

The Toast

Max continued the thank yous, directing our attention to members of the crowd wearing black company shirts. “They were specifically brought on our team to be a part of the building of this facility and, most importantly, the running of this distillery.” He wrapped up the formal portion of the event with a toast, but first pointing out that we’d all been holding our glasses for half an hour and that everybody seemed “to be behaving” by not tasting in advance. Then he asked that we raise our glasses.

“To our team, our partners, our distillers— past and present— and to everyone who helped along the vision to bring us where we are today: thank you, thank you, thank you for the future of American Whiskey. Cheers everyone!”

Max shapira

As the glasses were lowered, I found myself reflecting… this was also a milestone for me: my very first “public” appearance in Bardstown since moving here, and what a way to kick off Kentucky Bourbon Festival weekend! It was lovely to be reunited with Chuck, and with so many other bourbon journalists and industry friends I’ve been lucky enough to share a glass (or three) with over the last decade.

A Peek Behind the Scenes

Chuck and I took an intimate, in-depth tour of the new facility with General Manager Josh Hollifield. It was one of those tours where you catch yourself thinking: This is where the next chapter of bourbon history begins.

The $200 million distillery officially began production in April 2025 and now joins Heaven Hill’s Bernheim facility in Louisville—cementing the company’s position as the largest independent bourbon producer in the world. What’s more, the new Heaven Hill Springs isn’t just about scale; it’s about setting the bar for innovation and sustainability.

The facility opened with a capacity of 150,000 barrels per year, scalable up to 450,000, powered by a 60-foot Vendome copper still capable of producing over 33,000 proof gallons a day. Behind the scenes, Heaven Hill propagates its own proprietary yeast strain, reduces daily water consumption by more than 24,000 gallons through a clever beer system, and even generates renewable energy via onsite wastewater pre-treatment. Energy efficiency is baked into the design—LED lighting, smart power systems, and heavy insulation around hot equipment all working in concert.

“This is the first time since 1996 that we are propagating our proprietary yeast strain… descended from a sample literally saved from the fire, carried forward at Bernheim, and now returned home to Bardstown.”

Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll during his opening remarks.

And because bourbon is as much about the land as it is about the liquid, the grounds also include a restored white oak woodland, native prairie habitat, and storm water detention basins to minimize runoff. The entire site serves as a flagship of Heaven Hill’s 2030 Environmental Sustainability Strategy—proof that progress and preservation can flow from the same still.

Luncheon with Legends

At the luncheon, the storytelling continued through the whiskey itself. Guided by the master distillers represented in the Unity blend, we tasted through the three younger components. Parker’s contribution, being a fire-surviving 34 year old single barrel and something almost sacred, wasn’t available—but his presence was felt in every sip and every story told about him.

I’ll confess, Chuck and I may have claimed this luncheon as our unofficial engagement party. With a lineup of bourbon like that, speeches flowing, fabulous food, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you believe in second chances, it felt like the perfect occasion.

Tasting the Future

Unity pours a deep copper, and the nose is a symphony of sweetness, oak, and warm spice. The palate delivers layers of butterscotch, chocolate, caramel, roasted nuts, and a thread of aged oak that ties it all together. The finish lingers long—like history itself refusing to be rushed.

And if you’re a numbers person: it’s 107 proof, honoring the original barrel entry proof. Only 4,000 bottles. Mashbill: 78% corn, 12% malted barley, 10% rye. On paper, it looks historic. In the glass, it smells like destiny.

Now, I don’t usually buy bottles at events like this. But Unity wasn’t just any bottle. It was released to mark a union, and for me, it felt like it was released for our union—Chuck and me. So yes, I very uncharacteristically purchased one, and even had it signed by Max, Charlie, Denny, and Conor. A keepsake to mark a day that blended heritage, future, and a bit of personal history too.

The Heritage Rising Tour

Heaven Hill also unveiled its newest visitor experience: the Heritage Rising Tour, now open to the public for groups of up to 12. The tour begins at the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, with transportation provided to the Springs Distillery for behind-the-scenes access and a guided tasting at the facility’s signature bar. Tickets are $55 and can be reserved online here

As I walked away from the celebration, I kept circling back to that word: unity. Not just in the blending of barrels, or in the collaboration of distillers across generations, but in the way bourbon continues to unify us—drinkers, makers, dreamers—in moments that matter.

And on this particular day in Bardstown, that unity tasted pretty damn good.

Bourbon Isn’t Bitter- Sweetening My Life in Bardstown

Unknown's avatar September 16, 2025

It’s taken me a while to say this out loud, to step fully out of the quiet and into the light: I’ve moved. After more than twenty years in Nashville — a city that gave me friendships, purpose, and a title I never asked for but deeply respected, “The First Lady of Tennessee Whiskey” — I packed up my glassware, my books, my dogs, and headed to Bardstown, Kentucky.

This special little town already feels like home. Olivia and Cooper have claimed their favorite stoops on our daily walks through the historic district, trotting happily down brick sidewalks with tails high, while I take in the scent of bourbon mash wafting through the morning air. Some days it smells like fresh bread, others like sweet corn and yeast. Most mornings I can’t decide if I want toast or bourbon for breakfast. (Coffee usually wins, but only barely.)
Leaving Tennessee wasn’t a rejection — it was a step toward something. But arriving here, the dream I thought I was chasing unraveled almost immediately.

Into the Fire

What was supposed to be the start of a brand with my good friend and mentor Jim Rutledge — a man whose name is etched into the very grain of bourbon history — was stolen before it could truly begin. Small, sexist minds and fragile egos saw to that. These men, impossibly unaware of themselves, punished me for standing up for myself, for attempting to protect my intellectual property. After giving eighteen months to work I was never paid for, I was dismissed with the casual cruelty reserved for women who don’t “know their place.”

Their ignorance and oblivious misogyny cut short my involvement in the project. But what it cannot cut is the bond between Jim and me. My respect for him — and his friendship with me — remain untouched. Some things are too strong to be undone by bitterness.

Bourbon isn’t bitter, and neither am I. I’ve taken the lumps, stirred them into my coffee, and sipped them down joyfully, knowing that they’ve provided me the much-needed energy to go forward.

Thank You; Next!

While one dream crumbled, another one was waiting — stronger, freer, and far more dangerous to the status quo.
For some time now, Marianne Eaves and I have been in deep conversation about the shape of a shared venture. We’ve both been in this business long enough to know its beauty, but also its ugliness. We’ve been taken advantage of. We’ve been dismissed, underestimated, paid disproportionately, and treated unequally. And all of that led us here. To this place. To this work.

Here is a very good place to be.

February 26, 2016- the day we first met

Together, we are building something life-giving and affirming. Something that doesn’t ask permission. We will claim the titles rightfully ours without fear, without apology, and without bending to the “Good Old Boy” system that has had its long, final run. Those days are done. The foundation for a new legacy is being laid — one where women aren’t just in the room, but at the head of the table, raising a glass and raising each other.

Call it a coven if you want. (We do.) But it’s also a choir, and our invitation is open. Everyone can sing, and the harmony will be richer now that the voices long kept in the shadows are stepping into the light.

Open Door Policy

So here I am, in Bardstown. It’s fitting that this relocation truth surfaces during Bourbon Heritage Month. And fitting, too, that the cat got out of the bag at Bourbon Fest — yes, I’m a local now (and I’m available for freelance work in Kentucky while Marianne and I build what’s next).

In Bardstown, I find myself open-armed, unbroken, and more rooted than ever. And here’s my invitation: if you find yourself in Bardstown, reach out. Come visit. Stay the night. Have a drink. Let’s catch up. Join our revolution if you dare.

Because Bardstown may be steeped in heritage, but new traditions are rising — and this time, they won’t be built on silence.

And because while some doors have closed, others are wide open — and the air here tastes like possibility!

If you’d like to keep up with our new project, sign up here!

BREAKING: Cowdery’s Astonishing Return to Kentucky Bourbon Festival Has Whiskey Fans Sanguine— Forgotten Fiancée Fuller to Finally Fulfill Fate?

Unknown's avatar September 2, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Will 2025 At Last Hold the Fuller-Cowdery Union?

BARDSTOWN, KY — September 2, 2025 — After an eight-year absence, renowned whiskey writer Chuck Cowdery is set to return to the Kentucky Bourbon Festival this week. His arrival coincides with the relocation of his longtime social media sweetheart, Whiskey Wanderer Cary Ann Fuller, to Bardstown—igniting fresh speculation about whether their legendary Facebook engagement will finally culminate in vows, rings, or at least another witty comment thread.

A Romance, Aged in Oak, the Internet, and the Windy City

Cowdery and Fuller first met via email in the early days of 2015, a correspondence that quickly grew into spirited exchanges about whiskey, industry gossip and current events. They met in person that August, setting the stage for what would later be described by historians as “The Meet Cute That Shook the Industry.”

But it was their intoxicating reunion during the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown on September 13, 2017 at the Moses Black Tavern that truly altered the course of whiskey history. The sparks from that evening—part bourbon, part chemistry—ignited a Facebook engagement that has now entered its eighth legendary year.

“That first moment I saw Chuck across the bar was electric,” said CA. “He was holding a Glencairn. I was holding court. There was something in the air—maybe yeast. Definitely love flutters.”

Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2017

Subsequent visits by Fuller to Chicago in October and November of 2017 deepened their commitment. There, the couple periodically trysted—whispering sweet nothings over cinnamon rolls, sharing sly smiles at Fountainhead, lingering longingly at Longman & Eagle, and gazing lovingly across bar stools at The Gage.

The pair even shared an unforgettable evening under the stars on a summer evening in 2022 in Chicago’s Grant Park, as Beethoven’s Eroica symphony swelled—a crescendo worthy of a bond that has outlasted countless bourbon releases, limited editions, and label redesigns.

Rendezvous aside, their “engagement” has lived almost exclusively online, baffling and delighting mutual friends of the couple like Dave Schmier, JT Webb, and Paul Hletko. Jealousy, threats of violence, and heartbreak expressed by the likes of LeNell Camacho Santa Ana and Jonathan Piercy were quelled quietly. Their friends have spent years speculating on possible dates, locations, and bourbon-themed unity rituals. Steve Bashore, present at the Moses Black reconnection, since offered his Best Man services to Cowdery.

On the possible celebration Scott Ivancic mused, “the wedding reception of the century for whiskey geeks!” Dave Nicholls of third-tier fame in Nashville exclaimed, “A marriage of whiskey knowledge for sure!”

Festival Speculation Reignites

Kentucky Bourbon Festival organizers are now preparing for every eventuality—including a surprise wedding, an elopement at the new Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery Grand Opening, or perhaps a simple renewal of engagement vows. A limited-edition bottling of Heaven Hill Master Distillers Unity is rumored to have been created to commemorate the occasion and bless the predestined union.

Master Distillers Unity Courtesy of Heaven Hill Distillery

To support the couple’s ongoing Chicago–Bardstown commute, a wedding registry has been established for airline miles and gas cards. Those interested in sponsoring the union may inquire at SponsorOurBourbonUnion@fuller-cowdery.com.

Tony Bagnulo, spirits industry veteran, committed to the Platinum Bands sponsorship with enthusiasm. “I would like to sponsor the reception. Heavy branding. Lots of t-shirt cannons,” he quipped.

“Honestly, I thought they got married during COVID and just didn’t tell anyone,” admitted Paul Hletko, founder of FEW Spirits. “I hosted a small celebration in July of 2022.”

When asked for comment, Cowdery simply replied with a wink: “I’m just coming for the whiskey. And maybe the whiskey woman.”

The Kentucky Bourbon Festival runs Thursday through Sunday. Guests are encouraged to bring a tasting notebook, wear cocktail attire just in case, and mentally prepare for whatever unfolds under the tents on the lawn of Spalding Hall.

Media Contact:
Friends of the Longest Engagement Ever
Email: SponsorOurBourbonUnion@fuller-cowdery.com
Phone: Please don’t. Just DM us.