Bourbon & Beyond announces culinary, bourbon experiences for 2023 festival. What to expect

Bourbon & Beyond featuring headliners Bruno Mars, The Killers, Brandi Carilie, and The Black Keys is now less than a month away, and we can't wait.

Along with the deep lineup of top-tier musical artists, the festival on Wednesday announced a roster of talent from the culinary and spirits world who will curate unique food and beverage experiences during the four-day festival, including chef Chris Santos of "Chopped" fame and Louisville's own chef Edward Lee. Plus, actors Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, known as the Salvatore brothers on "Vampire Diaries" and the duo behind Brother's Bond Bourbon, will be again among the festival's culinary and bourbon experts appearing Sept. 14-17 at The Highland Festival Grounds, 937 Phillips Lane.

In addition to the comprehensive food and dining experiences, Bourbon & Beyond offers music talent with something for everyone beginning with Brandi Carlile and Billy Strings on Thursday, Sept. 14; followed by The Killers and Duran Duran on Friday, Sept. 15; The Black Keys and The Black Crowes on Saturday, Sept. 16; and Bruno Mars and Blondie on Sunday, Sept. 17, rounding out the weekend.

Here's what to know:

Which celebrities will take over the Bourbon & Beyond Monogram Culinary Stage?

Chef Chris Santos ("Chopped") and chef Edward Lee ("The Mind of a Chef") will lead off Bourbon & Beyond's multi-sensory culinary opportunities showcasing America’s best chefs. Louisville's Darnell Ferguson ("Food Network" star) and Kentucky's Sara Bradley ("Top Chef" contestant) will also be appearing onstage for culinary demonstrations.

Which spirit experts will be taking the Kentucky Venues Bourbon Stage at Bourbon & Beyond?

The hosts of The Bourbon Experience will include bourbon expert Chris Blandford and Chef Amanda Freitag ("Top Chef" and "Chopped"). They will be joined by special guests including the world’s leading bourbon authority and Louisville resident Fred Minnick, among others.

Other special guests include actors Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley (behind Brother’s Bond Bourbon), actor Graham McTavish ("Outlander," "Men in Kilts"), singer Wayne Newton, and more artists to be announced.

Which bourbons will be featured at the Big Bourbon Bar?

The Big Bourbon Bar will feature a variety of brands which include: Angel’s Envy, Bardstown Bourbon, Basil Hayden’s, BeatBox Beverages, Bluegrass Distillers, BirdDog, Boundary Oak, Brother’s Bond Bourbon, Budweiser, Bulleit Bourbon, Cutwater Spirits, Crowne Plaza Airport Expo, Doc Swinson’s, Elijah Craig, Four Roses, Galt House Hotel, George Dickel, Glencairn, Green River, Heaven’s Door, Huber’s Starlight Distillery, Jack Daniel’s, Jefferson’s, Jim Beam, Kentucky Peerless, Knob Creek, Kentucky Proud, Kentucky Venues, Kroger, Larceny, Legent, Louisville Tourism, Lyte, Maker’s Mark, Maker’s 46, Marriott Louisville Downtown, Michter’s, Middle West, Monk’s Road, Old Forester, Ole Smoky Distillery, Pappy & Co., Pegasus Distilled Experiences, Rabbit Hole, Ragged Branch, Resilient Bottled in Bond, SelvaRay, Starlight Distillery, Stonehammer, T-Mobile, Team Kentucky, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, The Bard Distillery, The Music Experience, Wilderness Trail and more.

Here's the full lineup of culinary talent at Bourbon & Beyond:

● Amanda Freitag● Brian Klemm● Chris Santos● Christian Petroni● Claudette Zepeda● Danny Lee● Darnell Ferguson● Edward Lee● Maneet Chauhan● Pappy & Company● Pig Beach● Sara Bradley● Tom Jackson (Kamado Joe)

Here's the full lineup of spirit panelists at Bourbon & Beyond:

● Bernie Lubbers (Heaven Hill)● Blake Riber (Bourbonr and Seelbach-s)● Brandon O’Daniel (Copper & Kings)● Brandon Smith (The Daily Dram)● Brian Probus (The Firkin Podcast Co-Host)● Bruce Russell (Wild Turkey)● Carrie Greener (Pappy & Co)● Chris Blandford (Bourbon Stage Host and The Firkin Podcast Co-Host)● Christian Huber (Starlight Distillery)● Dan Callaway (Bardstown Bourbon Company)● Eddie Russell (Wild Turkey)● Fred Minnick (Blind Bourbon Live)● Graham McTavish (McTavish Spirits)● Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley (Brother’s Bond)● Ian Sulkowski (Brown Forman)● Jamar Mack (Kentucky Original Black Bourbon Enthusiasts)● Jessica-Ann Adkins (H&A Barrel Management)● John Wadell (Peerless)● Kenny Coleman (Bourbon Pursuit)● Lili McCabe Lambert (Galaxie Bar)● Lisa Ueltschi & Dewanna Walker (Murray’s Cheese Shop)● Matt Wheatley (Heaven’s Door)● Melissa Rift (Old Forester)● Nicole Austin (George Dickel)● Owen Martin (Angel’s Envy)● Richie Michaels (Uncle Nearest)● S.C. Baker (Epiphany Bar and 2022 Winner of “The Louisville”)● Sherri Jenkins (Epiphany Bar, 2023 USBG Member of the Year)● Steve Higdon (Big Bourbon Club)● Susie Hoyt (The Pearl)● Tracey and Scott Jacobs (Inclusion Brands)● Tyler Zoller (Louisville Bourbon Buzz)● Willy Herrera (Drew Estates)

Bourbon & Beyond 2023 Monogram Culinary Stage

Thursday, Sept. 14

• 3-3:30 p.m.: Spice It Up with Maneet Chauhan (hosted by Chris Santos)

• 4:35-5:05 p.m.: Fire It Up with Kamado Joe's Tom Jackson (hosted by Amanda Freitag)

Friday, Sept. 15

• 2:30-2:55 p.m.: Deep Thoughts with Christian Petroni (hosted by Chris Santos)

• 4-4:30 p.m.: Claudette Zepeda, La Jefa (hosted by Chris Santos)

• 5:30-6 p.m.: Pig Beach “Meats” Louisville (hosted by Ed Lee and featuring Matty B of Pit Beach BBQ)

Saturday, Sept. 16

• 1:30-2 p.m.: Hot Damn, Hot Brown Grilled Cheese with Sara Bradley (hosted by Ed Lee)

• 2:55-3:25 p.m.: Boozy AF, Delicious AF, Easy AF with Amanda Freitag (hosted by Chris Santos)

• 4:15-4:45 p.m.: A Korean BBQ Throwdown with Chefs Ed and Danny Lee and Joe Kwon (Chefs Ed Lee & Danny Lee with Joe Kwon of Avett Brothers)

Sunday, Sept. 17

• 1:30-2 p.m.: Pappy & Company with Chef Ed Lee

• 2:55-3:25 p.m.: Darnell “SuperChef” Ferguson x SelvaRey's Brian Klemm (hosted by Chris Blandford)

Bourbon & Beyond 2023 Kentucky Venues Bourbon Stage

Each panel includes a free tasting

Thursday, Sept. 14

• 2:10-2:55 p.m.: The Firkin Podcast LIVE: Every Drink Tells a Story (hosted by Chris Blandford & Brian Probus)

• 3:35-4:30 p.m.: A Seat at the Table: Grand Traditions With Fresh Perspectives (moderated by Jamar Mack, Kentucky Original Black Bourbon Enthusiasts.) Panelists: Melissa Rift, master taster, Old Forester; Richie Michaels, Uncle Nearest; Tracey & Scott Jacobs, Inclusion Brands; Rob Dietrich, Blackened American Whiskey

• 5:10-5:50 p.m.: It’s a Family Affair: Generations of Whiskey (moderated by Chris Blandford.) Panelists: Eddie Russell, master distiller, Wild Turkey; Bruce Russell, associate blender and national ambassador, Wild Turkey

• 6-6:30 p.m.: McTavish Spirits Bottle release with actor Graham McTavish (hosted by Chris Blandford)

Friday, Sept. 15

• 1:40-2:25 p.m.: Building an “Influential” Bourbon Collection: The Expert Edition (moderated by John Wadell, Single Barrel Coordinator – Peerless.) Panelists: Tyler Zoller, Louisville Bourbon Buzz; Brandon Smith, The Daily Dram; Steve Higdon, Big Bourbon Club; Blake Riber, Bourbonr/Seelbach.

• 3-3:45 p.m.: Between the Chefs: Dishing & Drinking (moderated by Chris Blandford.) Panelists: Chef Chris Santos, Chef Darnell Ferguson, Chef Amanda Frietag

• 4:40-5:15 p.m.: Smokin’ and Sippin’: Pairing Cigars with Whisky(moderated by Chris Blandford.) Panelists: Carrie Greener, Pappy & Co.; Willy Herrera, Drew Estate. Special guest, Wayne Newton

• 6:05-7 p.m.: The Firkin Podcast LIVE: Telling Stories (hosted by Chris Blandford.) Special Guests: Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley

Saturday, Sept. 16

• 2:05-2:50 p.m.: Heaven’s Door Barrel Select (hosted by Matt Wheatley, head distiller and distillery manager, Heaven’s Door.)

• 3:30-4:10 p.m.: The Art of Blending (Bardstown) - BBC's Discovery Series (hosted by Dan Callaway, vice president of New Product Development, Bardstown Bourbon Company)

• 4:50-5:30 p.m.: The Big Finish: Barreled Again (moderated by Kenny Coleman, Bourbon Pursuit.) Panelists: Brandon O’Daniel, master distiller, Copper & Kings; Owen Martin, Angel’s Envy; Christian Huber, Starlight Distillery; Jessica-Ann Adkins, H&A Barrel Management.)

• 5:45-6:30 p.m.: The Firkin Podcast LIVE: Every Drink Tells a Story (hosted by Chris Blandford & Brian Probus)

Sunday, Sept. 17

• 2:05-2:50 p.m.: Badass Bartenders & Bourbon (moderated by Ian Sulkowski, Brown-Forman Brand Ambassador.) Panelists: SC Baker, Epiphany Bar and Winner of the 2022 Bourbon & Beyond Cocktail Competition for “The Louisville,” Susie Hoyt, The Pearl; Lily McCabe Lambert, Galaxie Bar; Sherri Jenkins, Epiphany Bar, Freelancer, 2023 USBG Member of the Year)

• 3:30-4:10 p.m.: The Firkin Podcast LIVE (hosted by Chris Blandford & Brian Probus.) Special Guest: country music artist Hailey Whitters.

• 5-5:45 p.m.: The Perfect Pairing: Bourbon & Cheese (moderated by Bernie Lubbers.) Panelists: Bernie Lubbers, Heaven Hill; Lisa Ueltschi, Murray’s Cheese Shop; Dewanna Walker, Murray’s Cheese Shop; Chef Amanda Freitag

• 6-7 p.m.: Fred Minnick’s Blind Bourbon Finale: The B&B23 Fan Favorite Is…? (hosted by Fred Minnick, Celebrity Critic and Bestselling Author.) Minnick will survey the five bourbons voted on by patrons during Bourbon & Beyond 2023 and will blindfold select the bourbon that meets his palate for “Best In Show” to win his coveted Ascot Award. The festival patrons’ fan favorite vote will also be announced.

How to win a free VIP Experience to the 2023 Bourbon & Beyond

Louisville residents can enter to win a pair of Weekend Mint VIP passes and an exclusive Meet & Greet with Bruno Mars by visiting a Kroger Wine & Spirits store from Aug. 24 to Sept. 7 and registering via the QR code on location.

For tickets, schedules and further information visit bourbonandbeyond.com.

You may like: Bourbon & Beyond releases its 2023 lineup: Who's performing at the bourbon music festival?

Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 2023 Bourbon & Beyond: Festival announces lineup and what to expect