Downtown Frankfort Incorporated’s Executive Director Suzy Hosley says, for a community with a brand of "Kentucky Distilled," it’s almost a responsibility to highlight and celebrate bourbon.
"It's our second annual bourbon week, and this week is all about highlighting the bourbon history, culture, and tourism of our community," says Hosley. "Bourbon history runs very rich in Frankfort."
During the week-long celebration, bourbon-centric historic tours will be offered by boat, bike, or on foot. There will also be bourbon-forward retail and dining experiences and an exclusive tasting at the Capital City Museum featuring Bourbon Hall of Famer Freddie Johnson.
Sixteen downtown vendors are going to be selling "The Frankfort," the city’s official cocktail.
"Last year, for the first Frankfort Bourbon Week, we did a bourbon cocktail contest to name the official bourbon cocktail of Frankfort," says Hosley.
"The Frankfort" is made of bourbon, dry and sweet vermouth, orange bitters, and maple syrup, with an orange peel garnish. Some vendors will be selling alcohol-free versions.
"We have 'The Frankfort Junior,'" says Jesse Best, Operations at Engine House Coffee. "It's a spin-off of Downtown Frankfort's cocktail, 'The Frankfort.'"
Though there's no bourbon in any of their Bourbon Week specials, the house-made bourbon syrup tastes almost like the real thing.
"Our bourbon syrup is pretty well matched with bourbon," says Best. "If you were to taste it, it's as if you were tasting it out of the barrel. We also made, for 'The Frankfort Junior,' a vermouth syrup - also non-alcoholic - which is a modern marvel."
The event is sponsored by Bourbon on the Banks and House of Commons and continues through June 20th.