December 1, 2017. Louisville, KY. – We’re seeing signs of the Derby Festival in December, as planning for the 2018 Festival is well under way! Today, Festival officials were at the Four Roses’ Warehouse and Bottling Facility in Coxs Creek to select bourbon as part of the Festival’s first event of 2018, Festival Unveiled.

Representatives from the Kentucky Derby Festival, along with Master Distiller, Brent Elliott, and, the Festival’s 2018 Poster Artists, Jeaneen Barnhart and Doreen Barnhart DeHart, participated in a barrel tasting and selection to choose their favorite barrel.

The group tasted bourbon from 8 different barrels and chose the No. 1 barrel featuring a bourbon with low rye mashbill and an herbal essence yeast. The single-barrel bourbon selected will now be bottled for a commemorative release in conjunction with Festival Unveiled.

Festival Unveiled Presented by Four Roses Bourbon and Citizens Union Bank is set for March 1, 2018, and will be held at the Mellwood Arts Center. Each year, the event showcases several elements of the upcoming Festival, including the roll out of the 2018 Official Poster and Merchandise line. At the event, Four Roses Bourbon also hosts their annual Rose Julep Recipe Contest. Attendees have a chance to sample the recipes made with Four Roses Bourbon. Tickets for the event go on sale in January.

Four Roses Bourbon and Citizens Union Bank are Presenting Sponsors of Festival Unveiled, with Contributing Sponsor Ladyfingers Catering and Media Sponsors LEO Weekly and 106.9 PLAY.