September 17, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

As I reflected on the incredible week Wayne and I had at the distilleries and the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, I couldn’t help but acknowledge that Your Bourbon Journey began a year ago on 09/16/24 with our very first post – Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2023 – Day 1. Surprisingly, despite my initial nerves, the post was read by 34 people. While it may not have reached thousands of readers, it served as the catalyst for sharing about the rest of the festival through 4 additional posts and accumulating a total of 100 more views.

I took the time to carefully consider what Your Bourbon Journey could become, and after some thoughtful planning, I established a consistent schedule for research, writing, and publishing. Wayne has been incredibly supportive throughout, and I truly believe he enjoys sharing our journey just as much as I do. Whenever I may not feel inspired to write, Wayne always encourages us to conduct a tasting that we can then explore and share with everyone. There is nothing quite like having someone to share your passion with who is also as supportive and loving as my husband, Wayne.

Over this first year, 98 posts have been written and shared. It is humbling to know that 1895 different people have visited Your Bourbon Journey and viewed 3282 published items. To think that this was accomplished by word-of-mouth and no advertising or promotion dollars is a bit mind-boggling. It is also stunning that these posts have had views from 19 countries outside of the United States.

The largest category published is tastings. Wayne and I have completed and shared tasting notes 43 times for a total of 95 spirits. Distillery visits are next on the list at 17; however, there is still so much to write for that category. Wayne and I have visited 61 different distilleries and have enjoyed 147 bourbon experiences since I began tracking 12/27/2020. The first “stamp” in our Kentucky Bourbon Trail book was received at Jim Beam on 04/22/2022. We received our 42nd stamp to complete the trail on 05/21/2023 (394 days after the first stamp) at Woodford Reserve. We accomplished this by driving 4,697 miles over 14 separate weekend trips to 25 different cities. Yes – there is still much to write!

So what is in store for year number two? Of course, there will be more distilleries, tastings, and experiences to explore. Also, before the end of 2024 we will launch our YouTube Channel. If you have ideas and suggestions for content that you would like to see written about or talked about on our channel, please reach out because we would love to hear from you.

As Wayne and I firmly believe, it’s not just the bourbon or the location that makes this journey truly extraordinary… it’s the remarkable people we encounter along the way that fuel our desire to do even more. Bourbon is America’s Native Spirit, with deep historical ties to our society that can be difficult to fully grasp, especially when savoring a dram with friends. Yet it’s precisely this rich history, the vibrant culture, and the exceptional individuals involved that render bourbon truly unparalleled and incredibly cherished. With only 13 days remaining in Bourbon Heritage Month, there is still so much to celebrate and savor. Cheers to one and all!

Embracing the Craft,
Rebecca and Wayne