Beshear looks for way to allow bourbon samplings at WEG

Free drinks still may flow at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

Gov. Steve Beshear said Wednesday that he is trying to find a way to allow bourbon distilleries to provide free samples of bourbon at this fall’s international event at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

State lawmakers were unable to come to an agreement in last month’s special legislative session on a measure to allow the bourbon tastings.

The bourbon sampling bill died in the House, where lawmakers expressed frustration that the Senate has repeatedly refused to allow alcohol sales at state parks.

Beshear was asked Wednesday after speaking at the state Future Farmers of America convention at Rupp Arena if he is considering an executive order or regulation to allow the bourbon samplings at the WEG.

“I obviously want to find a way that we can do that for the World Games,” Beshear said.

“I think it would be a shame if Kentucky’s signature industry, the bourbon industry, couldn’t have that kind of presence at an event that’s going to occur over 16 days, that is going to bring people from all over the world into Kentucky and be focused on Kentucky.

“So we are looking at what options we may have.”

Currently, free, limited samples can be given only on bourbon distilleries’ properties.

Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers Association, said the industry appreciates Beshear’s efforts “to continue to find a way to promote bourbon.”

He said the industry’s board met last week and reaffirmed its decision to drop a $100,000 sponsorship of a Kentucky exhibit at the WEG because the bourbon samplings bill did not become law.

He did say its marketing committee is to meet next week to try to find a way to promote bourbon at the Games.

Asked if the industry would reconsider its sponsorship if Beshear finds a way to allow the samplings, Gregory said, “We’d have to look at what the governor legally could do.”

Beshear also said he has made no decision on whether to implement “Instant Racing” gambling through an executive order or regulation.

It would allow horse tracks to install electronic gambling on randomly chosen previously run races.

A proposal for it could not find enough support in this year’s regular session of the state legislature.

“We haven’t made any kind of decision on Instant Racing at the moment,” Beshear said.

“We’re reviewing it to see what options we might have.”

–Jack Brammer

Filed Under: Featured • KY General Assembly • State Government • Steve Beshear