2 days ago
Kentucky hosts Bourbon and Belonging event to welcome LGBTQ+ revelers
Kentucky hosts Bourbon and Belonging event to welcome LGBTQ+ revelers
The image of a bourbon drinker has too often been that of a white cis male and his friends hanging out in rugged environments. But for a week in October 2024 at more than 60 locations in Kentucky, where 95% of the world's bourbon is produced, white cis males were in the and Belonging was a first-of-its-kind event aimed at making Kentucky's signature product a more inclusive experience. From small, curated dinners featuring bourbon pairings to large celebrations of the LGBTQ+ lifestyle, Bourbon and Belonging opened the doors and the bottles to a new audience. Some of the gatherings were free, and some came with a small price Forester, located on Louisville's historic Whiskey Row, hosted four separate events, including a garden party on the rooftop of the company headquarters where Simone the DJ emceed the event. 'It was wonderful, what we call an unwind moment,' Melissa Rift, a master taster at Old Forester and member of the LGBTQ+ community, says. 'There is a lot of stress in our community, and this was certainly a laid-back event with music and food and connections. It felt good.' About 85 people attended Old Forester's free rooftop garden party. Their other events included an intimate 10-person tour and tasting, and co-hosted events with other bourbon brands in northern Kentucky. In addition to visitors from nearly every state, Rift talked with couples from Canada, Brazil and several Caribbean the western Kentucky city of Paducah, Landee Bryant was among the merchants who immediately embraced the idea of Bourbon and Belonging in her city. She owns Bricolage Art Collective on the Market House Square, a place she describes as liberal-leaning and queer friendly. Paducah's event became a block party with more than 14 businesses participating. Bryant invited author Clint Waters to her shop for a reading of his science fiction and poetry, which feature LGBTQ+ themes. She created a fruity little cocktail for the occasion that highlighted Green River bourbon, although there were also nonalcoholic drinks on offer.'It was immediately clear that we had created a safe, collaborative community space for this celebration, and we look forward to participating again,' says Liz Hammonds with Paducah's Convention and Visitors for announcements regarding Bourbon and Belonging, Oct. 3-5, 2025 or
