LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Get ready for festival season, Kentucky. The Kentucky Derby Festival announced in a news release on Thursday that its first event of the 2022 festival season is next week. Kentucky Bourbon-inspired cuisine and cocktails will be in the spotlight for Festival Unveiled on March 16 at 5 p.m. at the Mellwood Art Center.

What You Need To Know

  • The KDF's first event, Festival Unveiled, will be on March 16 at 5 p.m. at the Mellwood Art Center

  • Festival Unveiled will highlight several elements of the 2022 festival, including the 2022 official poster and merchandise line

  • In collaboration with the event, Four Roses is hosting the Four Roses Rose Julep Cocktail Competition

  • Kentucky-inspired cuisine will also be available at the event, provided by Ladyfingers Catering

According to the release, Festival Unveiled will highlight several elements of the 2022 festival, including the 2022 official poster and merchandise line. Guests will have the chance to meet Kacy Jackson, the 2022 official poster artist, as well as purchase a poster and have it personalized by him. While enjoying the evening, they can also bid on a silent auction of framed posters.

In collaboration with the event, Four Roses is hosting the Four Roses Rose Julep Cocktail Competition, which challenges mixologists from Louisville and surrounding areas to showcase their skills in front of guests. For the first time, Four Roses is bringing back eight past competition winners to take part and go head-to-head with their previous winning recipes featuring unique and inventive twists on the season’s signature cocktail—The Mint Julep.

Attendees will have the chance to sample eight Rose Julep recipes and vote for the People’s Choice Rose Julep.

Kentucky-inspired cuisine will be available at the event, provided by Ladyfingers Catering. The menu features Ale 8-1 Brown Sugar Glazed Ham with petite biscuits, Bourbon Basted Slow Roasted Casino Beef with Henry Baines, Horseradish and Rolls, Bourbon Smoked Pulled Pork BBQ Sliders, Homemade Pimento Cheese Cocktail Rolls and Cheddar Chive Hashbrown Casserole.

Passed hors d’oeuvres include: Gourmet cubed cheese with fresh fruit, garden fresh vegetable crudité with dip, Hot Brown Dip with creamy Mornay, roasted turkey Maplewood bacon and diced tomatoes with dippers, Bourbon Peppercorn Cocktail Meatballs, Kentucky Weisenberger Grits & Shrimp and Kentucky Proud Weisenberger Grits seasoned with garlic and parmesan. Dessert for the evening will be Derby Pie from Kern’s Kitchen.

Four Roses Bourbon and German American Bank are the presenting sponsors of the pre-festival party.

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