debut of Bourbon & Belonging marks second annual event in Kentucky, scheduled for October 3-5
Bourbon & Belonging 2025: Celebrating Queer Identity and Kentucky's Bourbon Scene
Get ready for the second annual Kentucky's Queer Bourbon Week, known as Bourbon & Belonging, taking place from October 3-5, 2025. This exciting event is set to take place across four cities in Kentucky: Louisville, Northern Kentucky, Frankfort, and Paducah.
Organised by Queer Kentucky, an LGBTQ+ led nonprofit, Bourbon & Belonging aims to highlight Kentucky's iconic bourbon while celebrating and uplifting queer identities within this cultural context. The week-long gathering will feature diverse programs including bourbon tastings, pairing events, and cultural activities designed to blend Kentucky’s bourbon heritage with queer community pride.
Collaborations involve local LGBTQ+ organizations, bourbon distilleries, and hospitality venues across participating cities, fostering a partnership between bourbon producers and queer communities. This fusion promotes both cultural appreciation and networking opportunities, emphasising intersectionality through bourbon tourism.
Some associated events, like the Skewers & Bourbon Pairing, will take place at venues such as Paddock Bourbon Club, which is active in hosting various bourbon-related tastings and classes that enrich the inclusive experience of the festival.
The event will also feature collaborations with leading bourbon brands such as Old Forester, New Riff Distilling, Wenzel Whiskey, and Maker's Mark. Returning host regions include Louisville, Lexington, Northern Kentucky, and Paducah.
Bourbon & Belonging cultivates an important space for inclusion by directly engaging LGBTQ+ visitors and local residents within Kentucky’s bourbon tourism landscape. It highlights how the bourbon industry and related tourism can be more welcoming and representative of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. By framing bourbon culture through a queer lens, the event broadens the appeal of Kentucky’s signature industry while raising awareness about LGBTQ+ contributions and presence in the state’s heritage.
This initiative contributes to diversifying Kentucky’s tourism sector, promoting economic benefits for queer-owned or allied businesses, and fostering a more inclusive community identity within a traditionally conservative region. Such events signal progressive shifts in Kentucky’s cultural tourism, encouraging sustained inclusion beyond the event dates.
According to Missy Spears, executive director of Queer Kentucky, Bourbon & Belonging is more than an event, it’s a declaration that LGBTQ+ people belong in every space, including those deeply rooted in Kentucky's cultural identity.
To learn more about Bourbon & Belonging 2025, sign up for email updates, and explore partnership or sponsorship opportunities, visit www.bourbonandbelonging.com.
- The second annual Kentucky's Queer Bourbon Week, Bourbon & Belonging, will occur from October 3-5, 2025, across four cities: Louisville, Northern Kentucky, Frankfort, and Paducah.
- Organized by Queer Kentucky, the event aims to blend Kentucky’s bourbon heritage with queer community pride, showcasing the state's iconic bourbon while celebrating LGBTQ+ identities.
- The week-long gathering will feature diverse programs like bourbon tastings, pairing events, and cultural activities, with collaborations from local LGBTQ+ organizations, bourbon distilleries, and hospitality venues.
- Leading bourbon brands such as Old Forester, New Riff Distilling, Wenzel Whiskey, and Maker's Mark will participate, with returning host regions including Louisville, Lexington, Northern Kentucky, and Paducah.
- Bourbon & Belonging will promote cultural appreciation, networking opportunities, and intersectionality through bourbon tourism, contributing to a more inclusive community identity within Kentucky’s tourism sector.
- By broadening the appeal of Kentucky’s bourbon culture through a queer lens, the event aims to highlight LGBTQ+ contributions and presence in the state’s heritage, fostering a more welcoming environment in the traditionally conservative region.
