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Bourbon Through Bluegrass is an immersive bourbon tasting experience hosted at the Frazier History Museum—and now in its second season, it remains truly one of a kind on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Hosted by The Whiskey Professor Bernie Lubbers, and Bluegrass brick of gold Steve Cooley.

This unique program brings the history and evolution of bourbon to life by pairing compelling stories with thoughtfully curated Kentucky whiskeys and further paired with Live Bluegrass Music. Bernie and Steve’s instruments are also stars of the show as they share stories of how they sit in music history! Think of Bourbon Through Bluegrass as your own personal MTV Unplugged or NPR Tiny Desk Concert infused with history and bourbon.

Led by bourbon industry veteran Bernie Lubbers, a.k.a. The Whiskey Professor, alongside Bluegrass Music Legend Steve Cooley, this live musical experience quite literally brings Kentucky’s Native Spirit to life. As bourbon’s rich past unfolds, each chapter is paired with a carefully selected whiskey—and then elevated further through live performances of the music that shaped Kentucky’s culture.

The program highlights influential Kentucky musicians such as Arnold Shultz, Grandpa Jones, Uncle Pen Vandiver, Merle Travis, Ike Everly, and Bill Monroe, exploring their lasting impact on the global music scene—an influence still heard today in artists like Alison Krauss and Billy Strings.

Guests will hear it, see it, smell it, taste it, and feel it. Legendary instruments. Historic spirits. Live Kentucky Music.

This is not just a tasting—it’s a multi-sensory celebration of Kentucky’s roots.

Only in Kentucky. Only in Louisville. Only at the Frazier.

Running time is 90 minutes. Tickets are $109 per person which includes a welcome cocktail in a tumbler that you get to take home.  

Pictures and videos of the tasting

Purchase Tickets here at www.fraziermuseum.org/bourbon-through-bluegrass

Your Hosts For The Experience:

Bernie Lubbers – Bernie is a Louisville native that traveled the country from 1985 to 2005 as a full-time professional stand-up comic with regular appearances on the national radio program The Bob & Tom Show. Jim Beam lured him off the road in 2005 to represent their brands alongside the Iconic Fred Noe as their Bourbon Ambassador. Then Heaven Hill persuaded him to come work with the legendary Parker Beam in 2012 where Bernie still serves as their Global Whiskey Ambassador Emeritus.

Bernie was voted Whiskey Ambassador Of The Year as an Icon Of Whiskey from Whisky Advocate Magazine in 2009. 2012, & 2016!

Bernie formed the bluegrass band, The Bottled In Bond Boys that play around the region and recorded his original tune, Distiller’s Row 

LINK TO SONG somewhere around here?

Whiskey writer Fred Minnick credits Bernie with “Single handedly bringing Bottled In Bond Whiskey back to the forefront”, and in an article in March 2025, Garden & Gun Magazine calls Bernie “Mister Bottled In Bond.”   

LINK TO GARDEN AND GUN STORY

Steve Cooley – has been pickin’ the banjo professionally since the early 1970’s based right here out of Louisville, KY. His longest hitch was for 18 years touring with the Dillard’s (The Darlings on the Andy Griffith Show) where he was nominated for 4 Grammy’s with! Steve has also toured with Grandpa Jones and The Father Of Bluegrass Music himself Bill Monroe. Steve plays with Bernie in The Bottled In Bond Boys band along with Jeff Faith. 

Moorehead State University along with Bluegrass virtuoso and 17 time Grammy Award Winning Bela Fleck just named a scholarship in the creation of The Steve Cooley Bluegrass & Banjo Music Scholarship Endowment.

Tickets for Bourbon Through Bluegrass here at:

www.fraziermuseum.org/bourbon-through-bluegrass