Kentucky Bourbon Festival goes big in 2025
Bardstown, Kentucky, is known as the “Bourbon Capital of the World,” and during three days in September each year, it truly becomes the epicenter of the bourbon industry.
The Kentucky Bourbon Festival, now in its 34th year, welcomed more than 7,000 avid whiskey fans from across the globe Sept. 5-7, 2025 — and for the first time since its inception, the event sold out within three days. That is obvious proof that the fervor for bourbon remains high and is here to stay.
The KBF was nothing short of inspiring — a true celebration of tradition, craftsmanship and community. The event brought together distillers, passionate bourbon lovers and curious newcomers, all united by a shared appreciation for America’s native spirit. From the moment you arrived, the air carried the unmistakable aroma of charred oak and sweet mash, reminding you of the centuries of heritage distilled into every bottle.
According to the KBF team, this is the fourth consecutive sellout of the festival, and people came from all 50 states — as well as internationally — and 85% of ticket sales came from attendees outside of Kentucky. With 65 distilleries participating, bourbon flowed like the mighty Mississippi, and everyone seemed to be there for one reason: to celebrate Kentucky bourbon.
CaskX & the Kentucky Bourbon Festival
CaskX was fortunate to sponsor the festival once again, and we had two activations — one in the VIP Lounge and one on the general festival grounds. This was the first time we welcomed all ticket holders, and it was a great experience for both guests and staff. We even had a speakeasy area in the back of the tent, as well as a large “Price is Right”-style of wheel that people could spin to possibly win a pour of Pappy Van Winkle and other high-end bourbons.
I was there all three days and can humbly brag that our wheel was a huge hit, and attendees lined up to take a spin throughout all three days. We also welcomed several master distillers who we partner with to speak and share pours of their bourbons with our investors in the speakeasy area.
What made the festival so moving to me wasn’t just the bourbon itself, but the stories behind it. Listening to distillers speak about their craft — how they balance innovation with generations of knowledge — felt like being let in on a legacy. Seeing people from all walks of life gather to toast, laugh and share their favorite bourbons highlighted the community spirit that has always been at the heart of Kentucky bourbon.
Get Ready for Next Year
The KBF will return on Sept. 10-13, 2026, so it’s a good idea to make plans now to attend. You can even sign up on their preferred mailing list so that you get an alert before tickets go on sale.
If you’re a bourbon lover, it’s an experience you truly need to witness at least once. Whether it was watching a craft distillery showcase its first release or hearing veterans of the industry talk about the evolution of bourbon, I couldn’t help but feel the energy of a tradition that continues to grow stronger in the industry.
That’s a great thing for CaskX, our investors, our future investors and everyone who has a part in the industry — whether big or small. We are excited to return next year and plan to have a bigger and better experience as well.
