

A cocktail is called "a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters." Over the course of the 19th century, the cocktail picked up a number of additions and refinements: liqueurs, fortified wines, various bits of garnish, et cetera. In recent years, more than 50,000 people have attended from all over the world.The origins of the word "cocktail" are lost to history, but the first definition we find in print comes from an 1806 newspaper from upstate New York. It began in 1991 as a bourbon tasting and dinner, and has grown tremendously since then. The Kentucky Bourbon Festival is held each September in Bardstown, KY to honor and showcase the bourbon making process and the storied history of this Kentucky-centric industry.Bourbon County was ravaged by Prohibition, and no whiskey was produced (legally) in the county between the years of 19.Bourbon takes its name from Bourbon County, Kentucky, which takes its name from the French royal family.


In 1964, Congress recognized bourbon as a “distinctive product of the United States.”.Then behold: 13 fun facts about this quintessential American spirit. And celebrate it we shall.įirst, see our primer on bourbon. In fact, it was established as a holiday by the US Senate back in 2007, which means that we all get a full 30 days to celebrate bourbon. But National Bourbon Heritage Month is very real. The calendar is filled with made-up holidays like National Grilled Cheese Day (April 12) and National Hug Your Cat Day (June 4).
