9 Trends From The 2025 Kentucky Bourbon Festival
If you thought the Bourbon bubble had burst—that we were bracing for a long whiskey winter—a trip to the Kentucky Bourbon Festival earlier this month would have proved you wrong. More than 7,000 enthusiasts poured into the Bourbon Capital of the World for three days of spirited revelry.
The Bourbon & Banter crew was there in the thick of it. We skipped the staged photo ops, but we soaked up the sights, moderated panels, and, of course, sampled a few pours. Now that the dust has settled, we’re connecting the dots and distilling the key takeaways from this year’s festival.
KBF Has Grown Into Bourbon’s Biggest Stage
On the festival grounds, one refrain echoed from first-timers and seasoned veterans alike: “It’s so big this year.” Attendance this year was 13% higher year-over-year, and for the fourth straight year, the event sold out completely.
Distilleries jockeyed for headlines, unveiling new releases, launching new brands, and—most dramatically—Heaven Hill returned to making Bourbon in Bardstown, cutting the ribbon to the new Springs distillery. The Kentucky Bourbon Festival isn’t just a local event anymore; it’s a tentpole moment on the whiskey calendar. Which brings us to our next observation…
Brands Are Going Big (And Not Going Home)
Showing up with just a lineup of bottles? That’s just table stakes now. At KBF, brands came ready to draw crowds—and they didn’t hold back.
Angel’s Envy went literal with the “go big” mantra, erecting a 31-by-31-foot indoor structure where mixologists slung cocktails. Not to be outdone, Luxco built a full patio deck where guests could sip Penelope, shake hands with Stephen Beam, and enjoy cigars alongside brand ambassadors.
And the party didn’t stop at the festival gates. Bardstown Bourbon Company and Heaven Hill threw massive bashes at their distilleries, while smaller players like Milam & Greene, Blue Run, and Castle & Key popped up around town with their own private celebrations. Even distilleries outside Bardstown found ways to lure attendees—RD1 Spirits hosted a special “bottle your own” experience for KBF ticket holders in Lexington, featuring a rare 12-year single barrel.
Buff-Turkey Fever Hits KBF
On the Heritage end of the festival, the lines outside Heaven Hill seemed endless. Over on the Craft side, the same story played out in front of Dark Arts—one of the buzziest booths of the year—thanks to their 16-Year K.B.F. Buff-Turkey Cuvée Blend.
Buff-Turkey has been the undeniable trend of 2025, and at KBF, it was inescapable. Augusta Distillery joined the fray with its own 16-Year release, clocking in at a fiery 130 proof. Meanwhile, Bluegrass Distillers—one of the pioneers of the Buff-Turkey wave—was pouring samples of its Elkwood Reserve, now aged to 17 years.
Age Statements Get Older and Bolder
The surge of high-age-stated bottles at this year’s festival made Michter’s 10-Year look almost routine. Knob Creek unveiled a 21-Year expression, while Hartfield & Co. poured not one but two different 18-Year releases. Over at Preservation Distillery, the table was stacked with double-digit heavyweights—an 18, a 17, and an 11-Year, which brought all the boys to the yard.
New Names Brought Serious Game
You may not have heard of Jackson Purchase before KBF, but after this year’s festival, it’s a name you’ll want to remember. After years of laying down barrels, newly minted Hall of Famer Craig Beam arrived in Bardstown with his first batch of bourbon—and it was a clear winner.
The Hargis family also made waves, debuting their new brand Silk Velvet. Distilled by Jacob Call, the 6-year-old expressions quickly became one of the most talked-about pours of the weekend.
Even Potter Jane Distillery, which only began production earlier this year, impressed with a new make that stood out.
Contract Distillers Put Their Clients In The Spotlight
Technically, only distilleries with a registered DSP can host a booth at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. But that didn’t stop a wide range of non-distilling producers from making their presence felt—thanks to their locally based sourcing and contract partners who were happy to highlight their clients.
You couldn’t miss the two-story booth of Whiskey House of Kentucky, a distillery built around producing whiskey for other brands. Inside, familiar names like Proof & Wood and Redwood Empire drew steady crowds.
Meanwhile, tucked between Bardstown Bourbon Company and Green River was the space for Lofted Spirits, BBC’s contract distilling arm. There, brands such as 15 Stars, Blue Run, and Forbidden Whiskey found a home base to connect with fans.
Cocktails Claim a Bigger Role at KBF
Once upon a time, the Kentucky Bourbon Festival was all about neat pours and barrel-strength bragging rights. But this year, cocktails weren’t just an afterthought—they were everywhere. The Barrel Craft Spirits tent set the tone with its now-iconic Seagrass slushie, a rite of passage for festival-goers.
The presence was so strong that we managed to spend an entire day sampling cocktails alone—proof that the cocktail culture at KBF has grown from novelty to necessity. Stay tuned for that video recap.
Frozen drinks definitely made a splash this year, with multiple distilleries - including Four Roses and Angel’s Envy - leaning into frozen drinks. But execution definitely varied widely. Angel’s Envy nailed it with their nostalgic nod to the beloved Peach Ring gummy candy, delivering a perfectly balanced and blended cocktail that kept me coming back for more. Meanwhile, Four Roses’ take on a strawberry margarita was chunky and sloppy: We took two sips and had to toss it. Execution really is everything.
Cocktails are an important part of the festival to highlight brand creativity, elevate bartenders, and prove that bourbon really can be a versatile spirit. We saw cocktails that featured the usual dark, rich flavors of Old Fashioneds and Manhattans but even more that put a brighter and lighter play on the traditional whiskey cocktail flavors, including Tiki twists and even basic but balanced sours.
Bigger Crowds, Bigger Lines
Long lines were inevitable—and they became part of the spectacle. Queues of attendees snaked around Heaven Hill’s booth among others. On social media, the rush of people pouring through the gates resembled Black Friday at Best Buy.
KBF’s True Spirit Is Its People
We skipped the lines this year—and still had an incredible time. Nearly every moment on the grounds was spent shaking hands, sharing hugs, and catching up with industry friends old and new.
The Bourbon & Banter crew was rarely in the same place at once, but that’s part of the magic: KBF feels like a homecoming, a trade show, and a concert after-party all rolled into one.
The energy is inescapable. Weeks later, you’re still buzzing from the memories. The real proof of bourbon’s future? The people who show up for it.
