BBQ & Barrels represents the culmination of 45 years of a cultural tradition in Owensboro and Daviess County. It is the celebration of our past, our present, and our future, bringing together two of Owensboro’s greatest traditions – authentic, unparalleled Owensboro barbecue and historic Kentucky bourbon.

On Friday, May 10, the Van Halen tribute band Fan Halen will be in town for a FREE concert! Music will start at 6PM!

In celebration of the Owensboro Convention Center’s 10 year anniversary and in partnership with The City of Owensboro, country music star Chris Janson will be in concert to celebrate on the venue front lawn! The concert is FREE! On the closing night of BBQ & Barrels on Saturday, May 11, the concert will kick off with a TBD act at 5:30PM. Hannah Ellis, a UK grad and Campbellsville, Kentucky native, will take the stage at 6:30PM. Then, country music superstar Chris Janson will hit the stage at 8PM to bring BBQ & Barrels to a thrilling and rocking close!

Saturday, May 11 from 3PM-6PM (extra hour before General Admission)
VIP Ticket – $110 (SOLD OUT)
Enjoy unique bourbon pours from over 30 distilleries paired perfectly with passed heavy hors d’oeuvres with an emphasis on bbq. Ticket also includes an official VIP BBQ and Barrels Glencairn tasting glass.

Saturday, May 11 from 4PM-6PM
General Admission Ticket – $65
Companion Ticket – $20 (NO DRINKING SAMPLES)
Sample over 30 brands of bourbon from a collection of both large and craft distilleries. Ticket also includes an official BBQ and Barrels Glencairn tasting glass.

Saturday, May 11 from 2PM-3PM
Bourbon Classes
$25 for each 45 minute class
*Must Have a VIP or General Admission Ticket to Attend a Bourbon Class*
Choose from:

– CLASS 1 – Scentsory Experience with Jaz’min Weaver: Examine your senses like never before with Bardstown Bourbon Company’s National Brand Ambassador, Jaz’min Weaver. Dive into this bespoke sensory experience which focuses on the exploration and the importance of smell. This tasting isolates lone sensory components as well as fragrance combinations. These fragrances were designed by an expert perfumer and cocktail scientist to capture the unique notes of each Origin Series release.

– CLASS 2 – The Green River “GlenCaryn” Experience: A sensory tasting through Green River’s portfolio of whiskies. It is designed to introduce consumers and trade to the depths of flavors found within our whiskey and strengthen their mental connection with the brand. Born in 1885, reintroduced in 2022, this hands-on class showcases what Green River is all about. In this immersive course, participants will learn about the history of Green River, taste through (4) expressions of the whiskey, and understand why this brand is the Pride of Owensboro.

– CLASS 3 – Master Class with Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Artisanal Distiller, Jodie Filiatreau: Detailed tasting of two award-winning Evan Williams Bourbons made in distinctly different styles: (1) Square 6 by Evan Williams (expression TBD) made in the EWBE Artisanal Distillery using Vendome pot stills; (2) Evan Williams Single Barrel made in column stills at the historic DSP-KY-1 Bernheim plant