The Kentucky Spirit: How Bourbon Distilleries Unite to Help in Times of Need

In November of 1996, Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Ky., went up in flames, most likely due to a lightning strike. As the fire spread, one rickhouse after another — wooden warehouses filled to the brim with high-proof bourbon, of course — burned to the ground. And when all was said and done, seven rickhouses, the historic distillery, and more than 90,000 barrels of bourbon were lost within a four-hour period. 

The very next day, fellow Kentucky distilleries like Brown-Forman (Old Forester, Woodford Reserve) and Jim Beam offered assistance to Heaven Hill, essentially their competitor, to distill whiskey for them until they were able to rebuild or purchase a new facility. It was a true testament to the comradery of the bourbon industry and an act of generosity you won’t find in any other sector of the business world. 

And it continues today, even as demand for bourbon far exceeds production capabilities at most Kentucky distilleries. 

Bourbon Benefit for Tornado Victims in Western Kentucky 

As a prime example of Kentucky distilleries coming together for one common cause, look no further than the Kentucky Bourbon Benefit, a huge undertaking organized by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, bourbon author, and curator Fred Minnick , and the charitable organization Bourbon Crusaders. Proceeds from the six-day auction will help support recovery and rebuilding efforts from the December 11 tornadoes that ravaged western Kentucky.

More than 20 private barrel selections will be up for grabs during the Bourbon Benefit photo credit Sara Havens photo

Along with hundreds of rare and vintage bottles up for grabs, there will also be private barrel select experiences people can bid on as well as other exclusive experiences the average bourbon tourist doesn’t have access to. Just about all the distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail have donated items and experiences, as well as those that are not members of the KDA (like Buffalo Trace Distillery). 

“Kentuckians are hurting. They’ve lost their homes, loved ones and their livelihoods. It’s our obligation as a signature industry — and duty as fellow Kentuckians — to help each other in times of crisis,” said KDA President Eric Gregory in a news release. “There is a real urgency here. These are our friends and neighbors, and they need help now.”

Gregory said he began making calls to distilleries the very next day, and not one turned down his request for donations. 

“I really didn’t have to ask,” he explained. “They knew why I was calling, and they were ready to help in any way. It could have been any of their communities or families or colleagues. That’s bourbon. That’s the Kentucky spirit shining through. We’re all about taking care of each other.”

According to Fred Minnick, along with bottle donations from distilleries, there have also been donations from private collectors all over the world, including many celebrities, as well as out-of-state distilleries and brands. Notable celeb donations include Mick Fleetwood, Alan Jackson and football star Charles Woodson.

The online auction began Thursday, December 16, at 5 pm EST and will run through Tuesday, December 21, at 10 pm. A live-streamed auction will be held December 21 starting at 7 pm at Louisville's Westport Whiskey & Wine and will feature elite items and immersive experiences from Kentucky’s legendary distillers.

All proceeds go to the state’s official Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund to assist those impacted by the tornados and severe storms. Just stay tuned to kybourbonbenefit.com to view all the auction items and bid.

Donations at Green River Distilling photo courtesy of Green River Distilling

Along with the Bourbon Benefit, some Kentucky distilleries also decided to launch their own fundraising efforts for the tornado victims. Rabbit Hole Distillery  in Louisville donated 100% of its distillery sales from December 13-20. 

Wild Turkey donated $50,000 to the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund and also gave numerous bourbon-related products and experiences to the Bourbon Benefit. And Green River Distilling in Owensboro, Ky., converted their distillery visitor center into a drop-off point for anyone in the area who wanted to donate supplies for those in need. They took several truckloads of supplies to the nearby Mayfield and Dawson Springs area. 

Bardstown Collection Pitches in for ‘Bourbon Capital of the World’

Matthew Jackson of Preservation, Conor O’Driscoll of Heaven Hill, Lynne Dant of Log Still, Steve Nally of Bardstown Bourbon Co., and Freddie Noe of James B. Beam offer up the Bardstown Collection photo courtesy of Bardstown Collection photo

Distilleries also partner sometimes on one-of-a-kind releases, and the latest example of this is the new Bardstown Collection series.

Founded in 1780, Bardstown is Kentucky’s second-oldest city and features more than 300 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. But that’s not exactly why most people have been visiting lately. Bardstown, nicknamed the “Bourbon Capital of the World,” contains 11 distillery experiences within 16 miles, and some of them are among the biggest in the industry. 

Five of these distilleries have decided to collaborate on a new limited-edition bourbon release, called the Bardstown Collection, that will help raise funds for improvements and organizations in the small Kentucky town. Participating distilleries are: Heaven Hill, James B. Beam Distilling Co., Bardstown Bourbon Company , Preservation Distillery, and Log Still Distillery. 

The Bardstown Collection will be an annual release photo courtesy Bardstown Collection

The special collaborative bottles will all be released January 13 and 14 at the five distilleries, with a suggested retail price of $199.99 per bottle. The bourbon in each bottle was hand-selected by the distiller and represents their company’s best whiskey. 

For most participating in this special release, it was a not a tough decision to come together for a town in which they’ve have planted their roots. 

“The Bardstown Collection is a true representation of the community, camaraderie and collaboration great bourbon is built on,” said Conor O’Driscoll, Master Distiller at Heaven Hill, in a news release. “We are honored to join our fellow Bardstown distillers to create a one-of-a-kind bourbon that will directly impact the community that raises up our historic industry.”

For Freddie Noe, the eighth generation distiller for James B. Beam Distilling, it was also a matter of honoring where he was born and raised. 

“My family has been in the area for generations, and we’ve always considered Bardstown our home,” he said. “Not just because most of us have lived here, but because we’re part of the community. So, when this idea was brought to us, it was a no-brainer.”

Going forward, the Bardstown Collection will be an annual release, with even more distilleries joining the five.

If you happen to be in Kentucky in January, here is the release schedule:

Thursday, January 13 
10 am — Heaven Hill Distillery
1 pm — Preservation Distillery
4 pm — Log Still Distillery

Friday, January 14 
10 am — James B. Beam Distilling Co.
2 pm — Bardstown Bourbon Company
6 pm — Celebration at Scout & Scholar Brewing (ticketed event)