Get A Taste Of Lawrenceburg History At First Whiskey City Festival

Friday, November 7, 2014 at 6:28 AM

By Mike Perleberg

Photo by Mike Perleberg, Eagle 99.3. (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - Raise a glass and have a drink this weekend to honor the Lawrenceburg area’s heritage as one of the biggest distillery locations in the country. Bootleggers, bottling lines, and big batch spirits have all played a part in Lawrenceburg’s history and economy since the first distillery in town opened in 1803. Today, the MPG Ingredients distillery – which locals still refer to as Seagram’s – keeps the city on the bourbon and whiskey map. MGP Ingredients is one of the main sponsors of the inaugural Whiskey City Festival happening Friday and Saturday. The event is one of the first full-fledged expositions to be hosted at the new Lawrenceburg Event Center, 91 Walnut Street, in downtown Lawrenceburg. Other sponsors of the Whiskey City Festival include Dearborn County Tourism, the City of Lawrenceburg, Lawrenceburg Main Street, and Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg. “It’s about time we got two big employers within the city – Hollywood and MGP – to partner up and be able to put on a festival like this,” says Greg Tufts, director of food and beverage at Hollywood Casino. Friday night’s activities run from 7:00 until 11:00 p.m. Attendees will hear from master distillers at MGP, enjoy VIP tastings, enjoy live music, a buffet, cigar tent, and a free gift. Tickets are $75 with a limited number available. “It’s a higher-end event. We’ll be tasting some bourbon, rye, and whiskey,” says Tufts. HEAR EAGLE 99.3'S INTERVIEW WITH HOLLYWOOD CASINO'S GREG TUFTS ABOUT THE WHISKEY CITY FESTIVAL IN THE AUDIO PLAYER BELOW. [audio mp3="http://eaglecountryonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/whiskey-city-festival-tufts-11072014.mp3"][/audio] On Saturday, the festival will run from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tickets are priced for more casual liquor aficionados at $30 at the door or $25 in advance. Ten whiskey and beer tastings are included. There will also be food vendors. Renowned Cincinnati mixologist Molly Wellmann will guest judge a signature cocktail contest. “Basically, you can walk around and there will be a lot of different booths set up that you can participate in,” says Tufts. Saturday night will be capped by a concert by classic rock ban REO Speedwagon. The concert is the first to be held in the Lawrenceburg Event Center’s large hall capable of holding an audience of 1,600. A limited number of tickets can still be purchased at iTickets.com. A special, limited edition drink has been created just for the festival. MGP Ingredients master distiller Greg Metze – he’s been in Lawrenceburg for his entire 36-year career – has crafted a straight bourbon whiskey called Metze’s Medley. It is 20% 2005 Bourbon (21% Rye), 20% 2005 Bourbon (36% Rye), and 60% 2008 Bourbon (21% Rye). “Showcasing subtle grain differences, this finely crafted combination delivers a rich full taste with slight vanilla notes and a spicy finish,” according to a news release from MGP Ingredients. Not being planned for retail sale, only folks attending the Whiskey City Festival will receive a bottle signed by Metze himself in exchange for a $100 donation to the United Way of Greater Cincinnati. Stories by past Lawrenceburg distillery employees will be featured on a wall at the Whiskey City Festival. Festival organizers asked current or retired employees or their families to share memorable stories about rolling barrels, bottling, or stirring the vats. “We got a funny anonymous letter the other day from a gentleman who didn’t want to put his name on there because he and the boys actually stole a barrel from Seagrams 40 years ago and he’s still sipping on it today,” Tufts says. Part of the marketing plan for the Whiskey City Festival has been wooden barrels branded with the festival logo stationed at various businesses throughout town. And, yes, you do have to be 21 or older to attend. RELATED STORIES: Whiskey City Fest Is Only Chance To Get “Metze’s Medley” Who’da Thought: The Lawrenceburg Hilton 211 Years In The Making: Lawrenceburg’s First Whiskey City Festival