403:Bardstown Bourbon Tourism and Economic Impact with Sam Lacy of Bourbon Capital Alliance

<p>How did Bardstown go from a quick distillery stop to a true bourbon destination? Bourbon Lens hosts Jake and Scott sit down with Sam Lacy, Executive Director of the Bourbon Capital Alliance (BCA), to break down the growth of Bardstown bourbon tourism, from new hotels and downtown tasting rooms to the Bourbon Capital District, where you can carry your drink from bar to bar.</p><p>Sam shares the story behind the Bourbon Capital Alliance, the nonprofit uniting 10 partner distilleries, and how National Bourbon Week grew from a 30-minute lawn ceremony in 2018 into an eight-day event in 2026. He also shares new data showing bookings from 37 states and 70% of them from out of state.</p><p>You'll also hear about the new Bourbon Capital Diplomat Certification Program, a hospitality course that teaches bartenders and servers about bourbon, Bardstown history and proper pours. We get into why it matters, what Jake and Scott scored on the exam, and what's coming for National Bourbon Week 2027.</p><p>⏱️ <b><strong>Chapters</strong></b><br />0:12 – Welcome and meet Sam Lacy<br />1:17 – What the Bourbon Capital Alliance does<br />2:41 – How the BCA started (2016–2026)<br />5:34 – New hotels, restaurants and the premium shift downtown<br />7:37 – The Bourbon Capital District (open carry downtown)<br />8:33 – Downtown tasting rooms: Chicken Cock, Old Steel House, Boundary Oak, The Bard<br />14:14 – The history of National Bourbon Week<br />18:53 – 2026 data: 37 states, 70% out-of-state bookings<br />23:19 – The Bourbon Capital Diplomat Program<br />35:24 – Why proper glassware and "pour, not shot" matter<br />41:06 – What's next for National Bourbon Week 2027<br />49:16 – How to sign up: Academy, Guild and National Bourbon Week</p><p><b><strong>Resources mentioned</strong></b><br />Bourbon Capital Academy (Diplomat Program, $75): BourbonCapitalAcademy.com<br />National Bourbon Week: NationalBourbonWeek.com<br />Bourbon Capital Guild (member lottery): BourbonCapitalGuild.com</p><p>Subscribe for more weekly discussions, tastings, and bourbon insights from the Bourbon Lens community.<br />Follow on Instagram: <a href="https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCqqiSeI2OHr7k0nVDHNpoWQ" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">⁨@bourbonlens⁩</a><br />Visit: <a href="https://www.bourbonlens.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">www.bourbonlens.com</a><br />Merch: <a href="https://bourbon-lens-shop.printify.me/products" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://bourbon-lens-shop.printify