LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) – The state’s bourbon industry is coming together to help Kentuckians who lost everything in the historic flooding two weeks ago.
In response to the disaster, the Kentucky Distillers Association, bourbon crusaders, and whisky writer Fred Minnick are teaming up to raise funds at an online auction going on now.
“This is about the people who have lost everything, this is about the people who are still trying to find pieces of their lives that are just gone,” said Kentucky Distillers Association Vice President Colleen Thomas.
When deadly flooding ravaged eastern Kentucky, on July 27, the damage was devastating with 39 people now dead and countless homes destroyed. Organizations in Kentucky are stepping in to help just as they did after last December’s tornadoes out west.
“Here we are nine months later, with the floods in eastern Kentucky, and we have our friends and neighbors and family members out there, who just really … I mean there are no words for what they are going through right now,” Thomas said
Because Kentucky is the birthplace of bourbon distillers saw an opportunity to raise money and spirits by selling some spirits.
“For example, Four Roses has donated a private barrel selection of their 13 to 16-year-old bourbon. Willet Distillery down in Bardstown has donated a private barrel selection of their 10-year rye,” Thomas said.
After the December auction, the groups raised more than $3,000,000 for tornado victims.
We are really hoping we can make the same kind of impact with this auction for our friends and neighbors in eastern Kentucky,” Thomas said.
Now don’t let the presence of some ultra-high price tags stop you from checking out what the auction has to offer. There are plenty of bottles priced below $500.
The auction will go on for the next 10 days and it will end at 11 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 21 at 11 pm.
To participate in the auction and support eastern Kentucky flood survivors bid on the Kentucky Bourbon Benefit page.
