Masters of BourbonThursday, Oct. 5 - Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023
The Masters of Bourbon series returns to Big Cedar Lodge on Thursday, October 5th with a VIP Meet & Greet followed by a Tasting Dinner featuring Holladay Bourbon's Master Distiller, Kyle Merklein. Spend an evening enjoying many expressions of the "Whiskey Row" on Friday, October 6th at the Old Forrester Bourbon Tasting Dinner. On Saturday, October 7th, enjoy neat tastings and seminars from Horse Soldier, Heaven Hill, Holladay Bourbon, Wild Turkey, & Russell's and end the afternoon at our 4th Annual Masters of Bourbon Signature Event. Join us in celebration of tradition with fine bourbon, delicious food, and great company!
The Details
Pricing
Varies by Event
(see details below)
Event Dates
Main Event
Saturday, October 7
Location
Various by Event
(see details below)
The Events
Masters of Bourbon 4th Annual Signature Event
October 7 at 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Join us for a celebration of tradition at our 4th Annual Masters of Bourbon Signature Event. Enjoy great food, cocktails, craft beer from Ozark Brewing Co., live music, cigars and more than 30 expressions from the finest distillers. Meet some amazing people behind the brands and learn each of the unique flavors that they represent all while taking in the view of an Ozark Autumn night overlooking Table Rock Lake. Great bourbon, great food, and great company!
- $120 Per Person
Holladay Bourbon: An Exploration in Real Missouri Bourbon
October 7 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
During this seminar led by Master Distiller Kyle Merklein, we will learn in depth about the barrel-making process and how Missouri coopers are able to add unique flavors to bourbon. We will sample products from the Holladay experimental collection that have never been offered to the public for tasting. This collection will highlight the unique barrel styles discussed in the seminar.
- $65 Per Person
- Bass Pro Shops Shooting Academy
A Tasting Conversation with Dave Jennings
October 7 at 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Journey through a panel of great expressions from Wild Turkey and Russell’s Bourbon led by passionate spirits writer and critic, David Jennings. Having cemented himself as the leading independent authority on Wild Turkey Bourbon, Jenning’s 2020 book, American Spirit: Wild Turkey Bourbon from Ripy to Russell, is regarded as the ultimate resource for Wild Turkey’s brand history. Its follow-up, 2023’s WildTurkey Musings: A Whiskey Writer’s Retrospective, dives deeper into the storied brand. Discover the best of the Wild Turkey & Russell’s Bourbon portfolio while enjoying robust insight, wonderful company, and stunning views of the Ozarks.
- October 7th
- 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Bass Pro Shops Shooting Academy
- $65 Per Person
Heaven Hill Tasting Seminar
October 7 at 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Enjoy the best of Heaven Hill's portfolio! Tasting through the expressions of Elijah Craig, Larceny, Bernheim, and Rittenhouse Rye while learning the history, culture, and makings of great bourbon whiskey. Sit back, learn, and celebrate tradition with Heaven Hill!
- Bass Pro Shops Shooting Academy
- $65 Per Person
Horse Soldier Bourbon Seminar
October 7 at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Join one of our country’s heroes in a rare and unique opportunity as he guides you through the tastings of this premium bourbon and shares his stories. Mark Nutsch is a former U.S. Army Ranger and Special Forces Officer. As Captain and Commander of the ODA 595 Special Forces group, Mark led a team 12 Green Berets, to be the first to land in Afghanistan in response to the attacks on our country on 9/11. Their historic and unconventional warfare experience earned them the moniker, “The Horse Soldiers”, and has been brought to life in the Hollywood film, “12 Strong”, as well as in other numerous leading books, and documentaries.
- Shooting Academy at Thunder Ridge
- $65 Per Person
Old Forester Bourbon Tasting Dinner
October 6 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Indulge in an evening experiencing the ‘Whiskey Row’ series. Bourbons aged over a century and a half highlight the impact that historical events and Old Forester had on shaping this truly American Spirit. Begin with a masterfully mixed cocktail handcrafted by the Old Forester’s top innovators in the intimate stone walls of Top of the Rock’s All-American wine cellar. Then, dine with your new found friends and enjoy a five-course tasting menu alongside specially selected expressions of Old Forester Bourbon. Find your new favorite bourbon and look for an opportunity to take home a piece of American history.
- $145 Per person
Holladay Bourbon Tasting Dinner
October 5 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Special guest, Master Distiller Kyle Merklein will guide you through the special expressions of his Holladay Bourbon while you enjoy four courses of the best from the Historic Worman House kitchen. Great food, great conversations, and of course, great bourbon! Find your new favorite bourbon and look for an opportunity to take home the best of Holladay bourbon.
- The Historic Worman House
- $145 Per Person
VIP Meet & Greet with Holladay Bourbon
October 5 at 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Celebrate the kickoff of 2023 Masters of Bourbon with Missouri’s own Holladay Bourbon featuring the expressions from Master Distiller Kyle Merklein. The evening will begin with a VIP reception at the newly opened Harry’s Cocktail Bar and Lounge on the lower level of Worman House where Master Distiller Kyle Merklein and the Holladay Bourbon team will be available for an intimate meet and greet. Sip on specially crafted Holladay Bourbon cocktails and enjoy small bites created by the Big Cedar culinary team.
Limited tickets. This event includes the Holladay Bourbon dinner at Worman House.
- October 5th
- VIP Reception | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Harry’s Cocktail Lounge
- VIP Reception & Holladay Bourbon Tasting Dinner | $198 Per Person
Meet The Hosts
Kyle Merklein
Master Distiller, Holladay Distillery
Kyle Merklein is Kansas-born and raised and earned his biological and agricultural engineering degrees from Kansas State, with a Master’s research focus on the optimization of various fermentation systems. He is currently working toward a Ph.D. in industrial engineering as well. Merklein is passionate about bourbon - both making it and drinking it - and notes that he probably thinks about time more than most, knowing that what he does today is not what is most convenient now but rather what will be best for six or ten years in the future. “If you produce a high-quality distillate using time-tested traditions, place the distillate in a well-made barrel, and then store the barrel in a rickhouse for several years - good things will happen. That line of thinking is how I try to approach all areas of life beyond just bourbon.”
As a Master Distiller, Kyle brings his passion for the bourbon industry to production, and the evidence is clear in the taste of Holladay Bourbon. When asked what he enjoys most about his career, Kyle shared that he has always been drawn to technical challenges, so he thoroughly enjoys working through the complexities involved with making bourbon and other spirits.
Between troubleshooting a processing issue to analyzing flavor compounds on a GC/MS Chromatogram, there is always a new challenge to explore.
David Jennings
AUTHOR AND SPIRITS CRITIC
A passionate spirits writer and critic, David Jennings has cemented himself as the leading independent authority on Wild Turkey Bourbon. His 2020 book, American Spirit: Wild Turkey Bourbon from Ripy to Russell, is regarded as the ultimate resource for Wild Turkey’s brand history. Its follow-up, 2023’s Wild Turkey Musings: A Whiskey Writer’s Retrospective, dives deeper into the storied brand and provides insight into the mind and motivations of a whiskey enthusiast. David has been featured in publications like Whisky Advocate and The Bourbon Review, and has appeared as a guest on popular whiskey podcasts, such as Bourbon Pursuit and Whisky Cast. His blog, Rare Bird 101, has received over 1.6 million reads since its launch in 2016.
Mark Nutsch
Former U.S. Army Ranger & Special Forces Officer
Mark Nutsch is a former U.S. Army Ranger and Special Forces Officer. As Captain and Commander of the ODA 595 Special Forces group, Mark led a team 12 Green Berets, to be the first to land in Afghanistan in response to the attacks on our country on 9/11. Their historic and unconventional warfare experience earned them the moniker, “The Horse Soldiers”, and has been brought to life in the Hollywood film, “12 Strong”, as well as in other numerous leading books, and documentaries. Today, Mark is a Brand Ambassador for the international award-winning ultra-premium Horse Soldier Bourbon brand.