Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival 2024

June 22, 2024

06/22/2024 · Beattyville, Kentucky

We made the trip out to Beattyville, Kentucky for the 2nd Annual Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival. It was a full downtown setup — distilleries, vendors, food trucks, live music, and a steady crowd working its way up and down Main Street. It was hot, but the event stayed organized and easy to navigate.

Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival street sign in downtown Beattyville, Kentucky. — Once you hit Main Street, the signage made it clear where everything was happening.

The main strip was lined with tasting tables and vendor tents on both sides. People moved at their own pace, stopping to sample, talk, and cool off wherever shade was available. Food trucks stayed busy all day, and there were plenty of spots to take a break without missing anything.

Vendor tents and tasting tables lining Main Street at the Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival in Beattyville, Kentucky. — Main Street filled with tasting tables, vendor tents, and a steady flow of people throughout the day.

One of our regular stops was Northern Yankee Moonshine. Doug Taylor had his booth running smooth and steady, and it was a good place to slow down for a few minutes and actually talk shop.

Doug Taylor at the Northern Yankee Moonshine booth during the Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival in Beattyville, Kentucky. — Doug Taylor at Northern Yankee Moonshine — always a solid stop when you want to talk with people who know the craft.

We ran into plenty of familiar faces throughout the afternoon, including Master Distiller John Bentz of Firehouse Shine. These festivals are as much about reconnecting as they are about tasting.

Big Beard and Still Will posing with Master Distiller John Bentz of Firehouse Shine at the Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival in Beattyville, Kentucky. — Big Beard and Still Will with Master Distiller John Bentz (Firehouse Shine).

Later on, we crossed paths with Moonshiner Red Dog and grabbed a quick photo. That happened a lot — short conversations, quick photos, then back into the crowd.

Big Beard and Still Will posing with Moonshiner Red Dog at the Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival in Beattyville, Kentucky. — Big Beard and Still Will with Moonshiner Red Dog during one of many quick run-ins.

We did our fair share of tasting too. Big Beard held onto an apple pie jar long enough for a photo, while Still Will handled the sample cup.

Big Beard holding an apple pie moonshine jar while Still Will samples a drink at the Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival in Beattyville, Kentucky. — Exactly what you come for — tasting, talking, and making the rounds.

The heat stayed with us all day, but the organizers handled it well. A misting station and a cool-down garage made a real difference once the street filled up.

There was also some friendly competition mixed in. Big Beard entered the beard contest and took third place, while Shana (Still Will's better half) jumped into the Hotter Than Liquor Legs contest and came out with a win!

Stage area during the beard contest at the Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival, with Big Beard standing on the right. — Beard contest time — Big Beard came away with third place and a lot of cheers.

Live music carried through the afternoon as well. We caught Low Down Revival on stage, and the sound traveled well across the open setup.

Low Down Revival performing live on stage at the Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival in Beattyville, Kentucky. — Low Down Revival keeping things moving on the main stage.

By the end of the day, it was one of those events that manages to feel busy and relaxed at the same time. Plenty going on, but still room to slow down, talk to people, and enjoy the town.

Classic Dodge pickup truck on display at the Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival in downtown Beattyville, Kentucky. — Fun Extra — one of several classic vehicles parked along Main Street during the festival.

Also in attendance

Thanks to the Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival organizers and the City of Beattyville for keeping everything running smoothly — especially in the heat. The layout, cooling stations, and pacing made it an easy day to spend downtown.

👕 Worn at This Event

“Allcorn Parody Logo” Tee
worn by Big Beard

Teapot Medallion Tee worn by Still Will at the Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival.

Custom “Teapot Medallion” Tee
worn by Still Will
(not available for purchase)

Event took place June 22, 2024 in Beattyville, Kentucky. Original Facebook coverage for this trip was first posted on June 22, 2024. Extra photos and comments from the community are available on Facebook: View the original post.

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