The Kentucky Bourbon Benefit, a six-day auction organized by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, the Bourbon Crusaders, and Fred Minnick, raised over $3.4 million for the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund to support those impacted by the tornadoes which struck western Kentucky in December 2021. The auction featured rare bottles, private barrel selections, and more.

Highlights of the auction included: 

• A 19-year-old barrel of Willett that sold for $401,001, the highest ever paid for a full barrel of bourbon at the time of the auction. A second donated barrel was matched by the second-place bidder for a total of $802,002 raised.

• A private barrel selection at Four Roses Distillery, aged 17 to 24 years, sold for $278,000. A second barrel was matched for a total of $556,000 raised. With other rare donated bottles, Four Rose’s final tally was $569,920.

• The "Mayfield Collection" of 14 bottles recovered intact from Carr’s Steakhouse in downtown Mayfield, which was destroyed in the tornado, sold for $69,475. Nearly all the bottle’s brands matches the sales prices with half of the money going to Carr’s for its 29 employees – who have a combined 22 children – many of whom were displaced from their homes following the tornadoes.

The Bourbon Crusaders are humbled by the bourbon community’s support for the tornado relief victims. A recap from one of our members Brian Haara can be read here. You can still donate to the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund here.

Additional highlights from the online auction can be found here.