Bourbon Community Comes Together For Kentucky Ahead Of Bourbon Heritage Month

September is Bourbon Heritage Month and the bourbon community proves it’s stronger than ever when it comes to giving back to its community. The Kentucky Bourbon Benefit, which is organized by Fred Minnick, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, Bourbon Crusaders and Westport Whiskey & Wine, recently raised more than $1.4 million for those affected by the floods in Eastern Kentucky — the latest of a number of charity efforts from the bourbon community.

The 11-day auction, which took place Aug. 11 - Aug. 22, featured donations from across the bourbon community. Rare and signed bottles including a rare Willett 10-year private barrel of bourbon and rye, a 1905 Overholt, an extremely rare Smoke Wagon, a 16-year Four Roses private barrel and much more were auctioned off and the money went to the Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund. 

The Kentucky Bourbon Benefit initially launched in December of 2021, where the bourbon community raised $3.4 million to support tornado relief efforts in Western Kentucky.

“I am so proud of our community, but wish we didn’t have to do this,” says Minnick. “The Kentucky Bourbon Benefit raised $1.4 million for Eastern Kentucky flood victims. Thank you to all the collectors, enthusiasts and distillers for donating and bidding, especially to the co-organizers Kentucky Distillers’ Association, Bourbon Crusaders and Westport Whiskey & Wine.”

Alongside The Kentucky Bourbon Benefit, Bourbon Crusaders has given back to the community through multiple other efforts, raising $27 thousand for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, $54 thousand for the ALS Association, $300 thousand for American Cancer Society and $370 thousand for Dare to Care and God’s Pantry Food Banks.

To learn more about the Kentucky Bourbon Benefit, visit kentuckybourbonbenefit.com.

ABOUT FRED MINNICK:

World-renowned spirits critic, entrepreneur and best-selling author Fred Minnick continuously revives the age-old traditions and cultures of Bourbon and spirits through his media empire which includes the Bourbon Pursuit Podcast, DASH Radio's "Minnick Minute” show and his Hermes Creative Awards Platinum-winning Podcast The Fred Minnick Show (PodcastOne), which features interviews with musicians, athletes and other celebrities including Peyton Manning, Ludacris, Lindsay Ell, Terry Bradshaw, Ashley McBryde and more. Minnick, a Louisville, KY-based father of two, is also an avid music fan. He is a longtime judge on the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and founder of the American Spirits Council of Tasters. He has authored several best-selling books, including Bourbon Curious; Bourbon; Rum Curious; and Whiskey Women.

For more information, contact:

Rebecca Shapiro | Shore Fire Media | rshapiro@shorefire.com

Jaclyn D. Carter | Shore Fire Media | jcarter@shorefire.com

Olivia Del Valle | Shore Fire Media | odelvalle@shorefire.com

Nick Jurich | Shore Fire Media | njurich@shorefire.com