Straight from the Heart (“SFTH”)

A Benefit for the American Heart Association of Louisville

Following the incredible success of the Bourbon Crusaders’ last in-person event — November 2019’s Barrel Through Hunger — the Bourbon Crusaders partnered with the American Heart Association (“AHA”) of Louisville and raised over $400,000 in one evening. Straight from the Heart set a new in-person fundraising record for the Bourbon Crusaders.

Prior to the event, two Bourbon Crusaders, five VIP attendees, as well as Drew Kulsveen and Josh Devitt from Willett selected two nine year Willett Family Estate bourbons from a group of over twenty barrels. Via an optional add-on to their ticket, paid guests had the option of receiving either #4298 “Straight from the Heart” (9y5m, 138 proof) or #2784 “Heartfelt Gratitude” (9y9m, 133.8 proof).

Guests mingled with bourbon experts like Drew Kulsveen of Willett, Chris Morris of Brown-Forman, Dr. Pat Heist of Wilderness Trail, Jim Rutledge, the team at Michter’s (Joe Magliocco, Andrea Wilson, Dan McKee), Tripp Stimson of Barrell Craft Spirits, and Ariel Jahn of Woodinville Whiskey. The event was emceed by Brian Bolter, an emmy-award winning news anchor turned restaurateur; Brian owns one of the largest whiskey bars in the country, Dry85 in Annapolis, Maryland.

There were numerous tasting options available to both VIP and standard ticket-holders — highlighting some of the Bourbon Crusaders’ most exceptional private barrel selections as well as other legendary pours.

After dinner, the highly-anticipated live auction was opened. Barrels offered by four Kentucky distilleries plus other amazing auction items pushed the donation total past prior years’ totals. With the help of a Willett 10-yr bourbon pick selling for $225,000, as well as the only six-bottles yielded from a 15yr 2019 Brown Forman King of Kentucky which sold for $50,000, the Bourbon Crusaders raised a net of $420,900 at Straight from the Heart which was donated to the American Heart Association’s Louisville Chapter.