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Listen to our podcast above as BourbonBlog.com‘s Tom Fischer interviews Blair Bowman, Founder of World Whisky Day, to celebrate World Whisky Day which is this Saturday, May 18, 2013.

Blair encourages all whiskey lovers to drink any kind of whisk(e)y at a party, bar, or simply their home (no matter how many people gather together) and to log onto this link now to officially register their event ahead of time.

Whether you’ll drink a glass of Bourbon, Scotch or any whiskey, Blair wants to include YOU and your event on the official map during the second annual World Whisky Day to show the world we’ve all come together to celebrate our favorite beverage!

BourbonBlog.com interviewed Blair last year on the first World Whisky Day, check out that interview on this:World Whisky Day 

Blair says he came up with the idea of creating a day of celebration to toast Scotland’s national drink and major export and he could never have dreamt it would prove so popular.

This soon to be graduate of Hispanic Studies found himself being hailed as one of the country’s brightest young entrepreneurs as his creation prompted more than 20,000 people to attend one of more than 200 whisky events held in 30+ countries as far afield as Kuala Lumpur to New Zealand and Alaska to Argentina.

Since then the idea and the brand have grown stronger and ahead of this year’s event www.WorldWhiskyDay.com (Saturday May 18) he shared the life-changing effects it has had on him.

“Last year I was thinking, I must start getting a CV together for when I finish my degree and this year people have been sending me their CVs wanting to come and work for World Whisky Day!” Blair said.  “I’ve had guys from Hong Kong and Australia getting in touch asking if there are job opportunities. It’s just mad.

“After I finish my studies World Whisky Day is going to be my full-time job. I really believe it has such massive potential that it will be a viable business and I’m so excited about it.

Blair Bowman, Founder of World Whisky Day

“I’ve been getting recognised a lot more as well, in public but also within the Scotch Whisky industry which is great. I suppose last year I might have been dismissed by some in the business as just some young guy with no clue but now distributors and distilleries are seeing the potential that the event has and they’re keen to be involved.”

Indeed whilst Blair was begging and borrowing to get the event off the ground last year, this time around established firms have come to him to offer support and discuss joint promotional opportunities.

“Last year the website couldn’t cope with the traffic it received on the day but this year cloud computing firm iomart got in touch to offer a dedicated server so the site won’t go down this time,” he explained. “BrewDog contacted me and they’re planning to do some taster events at their bars across the UK on the day and also the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Edinburgh and London, which are usually members-only clubs, will be open to the public which is just fantastic.

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the response in terms of people’s passion to celebrate our national drink but also by the industry to get onboard and get involved and to grow its reputation.

“I think distilleries are seeing it as a good opportunity to all come together under an independent umbrella group which can be mutually beneficial for everybody. And as they get involved, they’ll be able to influence and decide the direction of how the event should evolve.”

With well over 100 events already confirmed worldwide for World Whisky Day 2013, Blair is confident this year’s celebration will top the inaugural event

“This year we have events in every continent – except Antarctica. That would be great if we could get something happening in Antarctica! Someone tweeted us to say they were coming over to Scotland from Perth in Australia to celebrate World Whisky Day, which is almost difficult to comprehend but it shows how far the name has reached already”.

Blair’s achievement is made all the more impressive by the fact he has overseen its birth and development whilst still juggling his University studies. Though he can’t say it hasn’t affected his coursework – he managed to make whisky the subject of his Hispanic Studies dissertation by focussing on the historical links between sherry and whisky.

He said: “I’ve got three essays due in the day before World Whisky Day and an exam the day after, so it’s definitely been a challenge studying as well as everything else.

“Obviously I’m excited about this year’s event but I hope to make 2014 a really big one as I’ll be able to give it my full attention. We’ve already been confirmed as an official partner of Homecoming 2014 and I want to hold a really big flagship event in Scotland to tie everything together.”

In terms of his own movements on World Whisky Day, Blair says he’s keeping his schedule free out of necessity.

“I had intended to go to a few events last year but I was so busy with media requests for interviews I ended up flitting back and forth between Edinburgh and Glasgow and was still doing TV interviews at 10.30pm! So I think I’ll keep my diary flexible and hopefully I’ll be able to raise a glass before midnight!”

Blair tours the Laphroaig Whisky Distillery

Woodford Reserve Bar at Fort Knox

Woodford Reserve Room Fort Knox

The first ever Woodford Reserve branded room in the Army opened today at Fort Knox. On May 15th, The Woodford Reserve Room was revealed at the Saber and Quill Club at Fort Knox during an opening ceremony and an evening reception.

“Even though Fort Knox is an Army installation, we really consider ourselves part of the community and the Commonwealth,” Fort Knox Garrison Commander Colonel Bruce Jenkins tells BourbonBlog.com. “It’s an honor to have an important piece of Kentucky heritage – bourbon – showcased here on the installation.”

The grand opening included a ribbon cutting followed by a celebration offering a live band on the verandah, hors d’oeurves, and tastings of Woodford Reserve and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked.

In addition, a limited number of event-specific, commemorative Woodford Reserve engraved bottles were sold to the first 100 guests with all proceeds benefiting the Army Emergency Relief Fund, a fund to help active duty soldiers who are in need of financial assistance. The room reflects Woodford Reserve’s image with copper walls, barrels around and above the bar, and images from the distillery at every turn.

“Over the past 20 years, Brown-Forman has supported our troops and developed a strong partnership with Fort Knox which makes The Woodford Reserve Room an ideal and appropriate addition to the army base,” says Joe Bollinger, Brown-Forman’s Director of Military and Transportation.

“The goal of The Woodford Reserve Room is to provide a beautiful and comfortable facility for our troops to host meetings and social gatherings in the hopes that they will also gain a greater appreciation for bourbon country and the Woodford Reserve brand.”

To further the room’s presence, Brown-Forman plans to utilize the talents of Woodford Reserve’s Master Distiller, Chris Morris, to offer tastings as well as and to host Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) trips to the distillery throughout the year.

The hope is, with the many troops who come through Ft. Knox as a duty station or for training, that they will take away a little piece of bourbon country and Woodford Reserve with them.

Maj. Gen. Jeff Smith, commander of U.S. Cadet Command and Ft. Knox, cuts the ceremonial ribbon with Joe Bollinger, director of military and transportation for Brown-Forman, to commenorate the grand opening of the Woodford Reserve Room at the Saber and Quill Club on May 15 at Ft. Knox.

Vote below for your favorite horse below in the poll!

At BourbonBlog.com for our Kentucky Derby coverage, we want to know which horse YOU think will win Kentucky Derby 139?

As we sip our Early Times Mint Julep at Churchill Downs today, we might take check in with the poll before betting.

By no means should you take this poll as a serious resourceas a good tip on a horse. However, we will give you good tips on a Bourbon.

Kentucky Derby 139 Contenders

Listed below as : Post Position; Horse; Jockey; Trainer

1 Black Onyx, Joe Bravo; Kelly Breen

2 Oxbow; Gary Stevens; D. Wayne Lukas

3 Revolutionary; Calvin Borel; Todd Pletcher

4 Golden Soul; Robby Albarado; Dallas Stewart

5 Normandy Invasion; Javier Castellano; Chad Brown

6 Mylute; Rosie Napravnik; Tom Amoss

7 Giant Finish; Jose L. Espinoza; Anthony W. Dutrow

8 Goldencents; Kevin Krigger; Doug O’Neill

9 Overanalyze; Rafael Bejarano; Todd Pletcher

10 Palace Malice; Mike Smith; Todd Pletcher

11 Lines of Battle; Ryan Moore; Aidan O’Brien

12 Itsmyluckyday; Elvis Trujillo; Eddie Plesa Jr.

13 Falling Sky; Luis Saez; John Terranova II

14 Verrazano; John R. Velazquez; Todd Pletcher

15 Charming Kitten; Edgar Prado; Todd Pletcher

16 Orb; Joel Rosario; Claude R. McGaughey III

17 Will Take Charge; Jon Court ; D. Wayne Lukas

18 Frac Daddy; Victor Lebron; Kenny McPeek

19 Java’s War; Julien Leparoux; Kenny McPeek

20 Vyjack Garrett Gomez; Rudy Rodriguez

Kentucky Derby 139 at Churchill Downs

BourbonBlog.com‘s Tom Fischer recently attended the innagural Bourbon Classic in Louisville, Kentucky.

Distilleries and Bourbon products from across Kentucky gathered in one place to give enthuisasts a chance to taste cocktails, Bourbon, learn more about the industry, and to connect with fellow whiskey lovers.

In the video interview above, we catch up with Corsair Artistan Distillery, Mixologist Kristen Merle, and Vince Carida Founder of the Owensboro Bourbon Society.

BourbonBlog.com raises a toast to the c0-founders The Bourbon Classic who include Justin Thompson and Seth Thompson of The Bourbon Review and by Tony Butler of FSA Management Group of Louisville.

On the first night of Bourbon Classic, event attendees voted for their favorite small plates as they were paired with Bourbon cocktails from specific participating distilleries.

At the same time, the Bourbon cocktails were judged by an panel of judges including Editor-in-Chief, Liquor.com, Celebrity Chef Edward Lee from 610 Magnolia, Joy Perrine, author of The Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail Book, and Noah Rothbaum.. Here are the winners

• - 2013 Grand Champion: Jared Schubert of Monkey Wrench, representing Four Roses.
• - 2013 Classic Cocktail Winner: Isaac Fox of Volare, representing Maker’s Mark, serving a “Vieux Carre” cocktail.
• - 2013 Contemporary Cocktail Winner: Jared Schubert of Monkey Wrench representing Four Roses, serving a “Dust Bowl Smash.”
• - 2013 People’s Choice Classic Small Plate: Anthony Lamas of Seviche, serving Tuna “Old Fashioned” Seviche, paired with Four Roses.
• - 2013 People’s Choice Contemporary Small Plate: Shawn Ward of Jack Fry’s, serving Seared Scallop and Dried Citrus with Edamame Puree, paired with Michter’s.

Sponsors of The Bourbon Classic: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Four Roses Bourbon, Michter’s Distillery, Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., Jim Beam, Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company, Maker’s Mark, Blanton’s, Sullivan University National Center for Hospitality Studies, Angel’s Envy, Bulleit Bourbon, Jefferson’s Bourbon, Nestle Waters, Spirits on Ice, LLC, Wildcat Water, Willett Distillery, Art Eatables, Corsair Distillery, Limestone Branch Distillery Neil Sulier Art, The Urban Bourbon, and Kentucky Proud

Spirits Writer Camper English of Alcademics.com and BourbonBlog.com’s Tom Fischer enjoy some Bourbon at The Bourbon Classic

Photos by Tyler Gater, video filmed and edited by Tyler Gater.