Two women toast each other with cocktails at a round table at the Aquifer bar at New Riff Distilling

We’re excited to be a part of the first LGBTQ+ bourbon festival in the U.S.: Bourbon & Belonging: Kentucky’s Queer Bourbon Week!

Inspired by events like Sonoma County’s Gay Wine Weekend, Bourbon & Belonging was created by the nonprofit Queer Kentucky to showcase bourbon hospitality for queer travelers across the state of Kentucky. This year, it happens Oct. 2-6, with eight different regions of the state participating, offering an entertaining slate of bourbon-themed events—behind the scenes distillery tours, special bourbon tastings, cocktail classes, drag brunches, multi-course dinners, and more.

Some of Kentucky’s most storied bourbon brands are participating in and/or sponsoring Bourbon & Belonging, including Old Forester, New Riff Distilling, Bulleit Bourbon, Maker’s Mark, Lux Row, and Michter’s.

A male and female sitting against a brink wall tasting bourbon from a barrel pick.

Here in the Cincy Region, our own Northern Kentucky is one of the participating areas. Here are some of the events lined up for LGBTQ+ visitors in NKY: a kickoff party at New Riff Distilling on Oct. 2, an Old Forester and Heaven Hill tasting at The Standard on Oct. 3, “Gays and Dolls: A Prohibition Party” on Oct. 4 at the Leaping Lizard in Covington, Ky., and Bourbon and Burlesque: Cin City Burlesque presents Giggle Water on Oct. 5 at Juniper’s in Mainstrasse Village.

But that’s just a handful of the fun bourbon things to do in NKY during Bourbon & Belonging. Take a look at the full Bourbon & Belonging Events Calendar for more. And keep checking it over the next couple of weeks – new events are being planned and added as October draws closer.

Be sure to snap up any tickets you’re interested in—many of the events have limited space. And if you need a place to stay here in the Cincy Region, Hotel Covington has signed on to be one of Bourbon & Belonging's partner hotels. Also, take a look at our handy Places to Stay page for all our hotel listings.

Part of the proceeds from Bourbon & Belonging ticket sales will go toward raising money for Kentucky-based LGBTQ+ community service organizations and Queer Kentucky. Cheers, y’all!

Four people toast each other at night with the Cincinnati skyline in the background