A great bourbon festival is about more than just what’s in your glass. Sure, rare pours and big-name distillers help draw crowds, but the most memorable events go beyond tasting tables to foster a true sense of community. From Bardstown and Louisville to Nashville and Greenville, this season’s lineup of bourbon-centered gatherings do just that.
June 9–15, Bardstown, Kentucky
Leave it to Bardstown—the self-proclaimed bourbon capital of the world—to stretch National Bourbon Day (June 14) into a weeklong affair. Building on last year’s debut, National Bourbon Week 2025 turns downtown Bardstown and nearby distilleries into a progressive party packed with tours, tastings, and unique ticketed events. Highlights include a daily Vintage Connoisseur Experience featuring rare and award-winning pours at Preservation Distillery; a Master Distiller’s Dinner at Lux Row; the Pour & Paired bourbon social with Log Still Distillery; and the Mash Up, which pairs top-shelf sips from nine distilleries with small plates from local chefs. It all culminates with the 22nd Annual Bourbon City Street Concert on National Bourbon Day.
Atlanta Whiskey Washback Festival
June 13, Atlanta
Held at the Kimpton Sylvan Hotel in Midtown, this can’t-miss ticketed event includes tastes from more than a hundred whiskies, including many sought-after bourbons, with distillery representatives on hand to discuss mash bills, barrel selection, and everything in between. Cocktails and Southern-inspired bites from local chefs are also on the menu. After Atlanta, the Whiskey Washback tour rolls on to Dallas (October 17) and Washington, D.C. (November 21), among other stops, with partial proceeds benefiting Virginia-based Nadia’s Hope Equine Rescue.
August 14–17, Louisville
Since its 2012 debut, the SIPosium has become a summertime staple for industry pros and enthusiasts alike, drawing hundreds of attendees for four days of education, networking, and of course, bourbon. Each morning begins with panels and workshops led by master distillers, brand ambassadors, and other speakers. Attendees embark on optional off-site distillery tours during the afternoon, while nightly themed gatherings—including the Women of Whiskey Awards—offer opportunities to meet and mingle. Though rooted in celebrating women’s contributions to bourbon, SIPosium welcomes everyone, emphasizing community and a shared passion for the spirit.
Watch Hill Proper American Whiskey Festival
August 16, Prospect, Kentucky
Now in its third year, this free event transforms Norton Commons’ North Village Square into a festive celebration of live music, food trucks, local vendors, and a cigar lounge. For deeper bourbon exploration, secure a Whiskey Garden pass to sample unlimited pours from more than thirty distilleries. VIP tickets up the ante with access to Watch Hill Proper, home to one of the country’s largest whiskey collections, for exclusive tastings, specialty cocktails, and all-inclusive fare from chef Michael Crouch.
Virginia Bourbon & Beer Festival
August 23, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Virginia-based distillers receive featured billing at this annual event, hosted at the fairgrounds near the Rappahannock River. Sample from the likes of A. Smith Bowman, KO Distilling, Ironclad Distillery, Belmont Farm Distillery, among others, alongside craft beer pours, food truck fare, and live music.
September 5–7, Bardstown, Kentucky
The centerpiece of this three-day event—a fixture on Bardstown’s bourbon calendar since 1991—is a ticketed tasting experience on the lawn outside the Oscar Getz Museum of Bourbon History, where attendees can sample pours from more than sixty-five distilleries, purchase exclusive bottles, enjoy live music, relax in a cigar lounge, and talk with master distillers and other experts.
September 11–14, Louisville
Bourbon is a headliner at this four-day music festival. While top touring acts—this year including Noah Kahan, Sturgill Simpson, the Lumineers, and Phish—perform across multiple stages, dozens of distilleries set up tasting booths and lounges across the festival grounds. A dedicated Bourbon Experience stage, hosted by expert Chris Blandford and chef Amanda Freitag, features panel discussions, workshops, and guided tastings. Meanwhile, the Culinary Atelier will showcase demos by Chris Santos and Edward Lee, among other chefs, while the Kroger Big Bourbon Bar and the Hunter’s Club lounge will serve up plenty of unique pours.
October 4, Frankfort, Kentucky
Set along the scenic Kentucky River, Bourbon on the Banks has become Frankfort’s signature tasting event. Guests can sample bourbons and other whiskies from more than seventy distilleries and talk with the many industry experts in attendance. The festival also features live music by regional artists, local food vendors, an artisan market, and on-site bottle sales.
Nashville Whiskey Festival & Battle of the Spirits
October 9–12, Nashville
The whiskey world converges in Music City for this four-day fest packed with tastings, a vendor fair, educational seminars, live demos, and music-filled evening events. Highlights include the Nashville Premier Spirits Competition, a Women in Whiskey panel, and a Grand Tasting.
October 24–26, Greenville, South Carolina
A bourbon lover’s weekend wrapped in smoky Southern flavor, Hog & Barrel celebrates whiskey, barbecue, and bacon. The main event, Bourbonpalooza, features unlimited bourbon pours, bites from local chefs, live music, and yard games. Friday night’s Taste of the Barrel pairs a five-course dinner with cocktails, while Sunday’s Makin’ Bacon Bourbon Brunch brings the weekend to a close with live music, cocktails, and a spread of sweet and savory cuisine.
