WILDERNESS ROAD DISTILLERY

News release

With TV celebrity barbecue pitmasters, and Four Roses and Wilderness Trail Distillery supplying the tastes, local artists supplying the talent and Paul Childers and the Black-Tie Affair supplying the tunes, this year’s gala to benefit Heart of Kentucky United Way will be Sept. 8 inside the distillery at Wilderness Trail. The event opens up the Kentucky State BBQ Festival, which continues on the rest of the weekend. 

In addition to the celebrity pitmasters serving their tasty specialties, this portion of the event includes a Four Roses Bourbon sampling and Bourbon Tasting 101 hosted by Dave Scheurich. Scheurich is a Master Distiller, and he is also the recipient of Whiskey Advocate magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 2012. Scheurich has 45-plus years experience in the industry and knows bourbon. Participants will learn about the history of whiskey, how to judge a good bourbon and how bourbon gets its diverse flavors and aromas.

Guests will receive two complimentary drink tickets, then cash bar for cocktails featuring Wilderness Trail Distillery’s Blue Heron Vodka, Bourbon barrel-aged Harvest Rum, Four Roses Bourbon, beer and wine.

As in past years, art will be sold to benefit the United Way. Kristan Paynter is one of the artists who is donating her talents to the event. United Way receives 30 percent of the artists’ sales from the event. Potter Paul Muth, Caitlyn Bunch and Delaney Simpson are the other artists who are willing to customize orders.

Anyone who has attended a concert by Paul Childers and the Black Tie Affair Band knows that this 22-year-old can rock the house. Childers and his band excel whether playing standards, blues or launching into Motown classics, Stevie Ray Vaughan or Jimi Hendrix.

IF YOU GO 

Kentucky State BBQ Festival’s Tastes, Talents and Tunes hits Wilderness Trail Distillery 5:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8. Tickets are $50 and include two drinks, food and music all evening. For tickets, call United Way by Sept. 5 at (859) 238-6986. VIP parking is available.

SO YOU KNOW

The Kentucky State BBQ Festival kicks off 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8 in Danville.