Virtual Bourbon Tasting Offered During Lexington’s 2021 Bourbon and the Bayou Fundraiser
CASA of Lexington’s signature Mardis Gras event, Bourbon and the Bayou, has gone virtual this year, providing an opportunity to enjoy the experience of a private bourbon tasting event from the comfort of your own home.
The virtual party on Feb. 12 will feature a Bourbon education and tasting segment led by Sommelier Tim Knittel with Distilled Living. Knittel is a Kentucky bourbon industry insider with over 10 years of experience in bourbon education and event design.
The 2021 Bourbon and the Bayou virtual event, presented by Community Trust Bank, is free to attend and also features fun videos, opportunities to sponsor abused and neglected children in central Kentucky, and a silent auction. Those who wish to participate in the Bourbon education and tasting can enhance the experience by purchasing a Bourbon tasting kit on the event website, BandB2021.givesmart.com.
The kit includes a bottle of Old Limestone Mixing Water, two Woodford Reserve Bourbon balls from Ruth Hunt Candies, one Glencairn glass, two gift cards for entrees at Bourbon n’ Toulouse, a flavor wheel, a tasting mat and CASA of Lexington Mardi Gras beads.
Bourbon is not included; attendees are encouraged to purchase mini-bourbon bottles from their favorite liquor store. Knittel’s bourbon selection for the event is Jim Beam Black, Knob Creek and Four Roses Single Barrel.
All proceeds from the event benefit CASA of Lexington, a nonprofit that trains and supervises volunteer advocates who speak up for abused and neglected children in family court.
“We are following up 2020’s record-setting year for Bourbon and the Bayou with another first – a virtual event that anyone can attend,” said Melynda Jamison, Executive Director of CASA of Lexington. “The fun looks different this year, but it will still be a whole lot of fun for a good cause.”
Another exciting part of the event is a silent auction that goes live Jan. 29 on the event website. The auction includes some blockbuster items, such as a week-long rental of a house in Jamaica and signed items from some big Kentucky Basketball names.
The Bourbon and the Bayou event will be held over Zoom. You can join the night of the event by visiting bit.ly/BandB2021, by visiting casaoflexington.org/bourbon-and-the-bayou, or by visiting BandB2021.givesmart.com. You can also receive it in your email by RSVPing to info@casaoflexington.org.
The auction will end at 9 p.m. on Feb. 12, shortly after the virtual event concludes. CASA of Lexington will go live on Facebook as the auction closes to announce winners and how many abused and neglected children were sponsored during the event.
It costs about $1,000 to provide a child with a CASA volunteer for one year – less than half the cost of a month in foster care. CASA volunteers work to ensure children receive services, are not re-traumatized and can return to safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible.
Last year, Bourbon and the Bayou attendees sponsored more than 80 children, helping ensure CASA of Lexington could continue providing services uninterrupted during one of the most difficult years many have experienced.
Because of the virtual format this year, CASA of Lexington is encouraging those who wish to sponsor a child to sign up early on the event website. Updates on the number of children sponsored will be shared on CASA of Lexington’s social media channels, @CASAofLexington.
“There are hundreds of children in the family court system right now who could benefit from having a CASA volunteer,” Jamison said. “If you support us through Bourbon and the Bayou, you are helping improve the future for children right here at home.”
IF YOU GO
Bourbon and the Bayou, presented by Community Trust Bank, will be held virtually over Zoom on Feb. 12. A bourbon education segment led by Tim Knittel with Distilled Living will begin at 6:30 p.m. The Bourbon and the Bayou video party will last from 7:30 to 8 p.m. Bourbon tasting kits for the event can be purchased for $50 on the event website, BandB.givesmart.com. The website also features mask-making kits for kids, silent auction items, a link to join the live event and the ability to sponsor an abused or neglected child for $1,000.
ONLINE
Bourbon and the Bayou Website: BandB2021.givesmart.com
CASA of Lexington Facebook: facebook.com/CASAofLexington
Link to join Zoom on Feb. 12: https://bit.ly/BandB2021