Speed Art Museum Announces Auction Lineup for Art of Bourbon
The Speed Art Museum unveiled a stunning lineup for its live online and in-person Art of Bourbon auction on Sept. 12 featuring some of the rarest, most elusive, and sought-after whiskeys in the world up for bid.
The live auction will be held 7:30pm-9pm EST. The online auction is free to bid but registration is required at artofbourbon.org.
In-person event tickets, which are $350, include a cocktail hour, bourbon tastings and a seated dinner with a bourbon-inspired menu. Seating is limited and guests are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.
Here are auction highlights served up:
Among the 35 lots, the auction includes exclusive and elusive experiences that allow winning bidders to get an entire custom barrel straight from the source:
Now in its seventh year, the annual bourbon auction draws serious bourbon aficionados and collectors from around the globe, as well as those who view it as a passionate spectator sport.
The curation of this event is led by Wall Street Journal-bestselling author and renowned bourbon critic Fred Minnick. Marc Abrams, a well-known bourbon expert based in Louisville, serves as this year’s event chair.
“Since 2018, I’ve worked closely with the Speed to auction the rarest whiskey bottles and experiences ever, raising millions of dollars for this institution,” Minnick said. All proceeds support education programs and exhibitions at the Speed.
🥃 Our 7th annual Art of Bourbon auction splashes back into the Speed on September 12! Mark your calendars and get your ticket today.#artofbourbon pic.twitter.com/k0h6qgaoFd
— Speed Art Museum (@SpeedArtMuseum) August 23, 2024
Minnick, widely considered the world’s leading bourbon authority, knows these bids make a difference.
“These rare whiskeys can make a huge impact on one of our country’s best art museums. We have the vintage and rare, and the new and unique. These sort of in-the-know bourbons don’t come up very often,” he added.
Prominent collectors show their support by either attending or donating bottles from their stash to this event.
“It’s not every day you can get your hands on these. You’re buying a piece of history in a bottle,” Abrams said. “And over the years, our auction followers have come to expect these iconic bourbons at this auction. After all, the Speed Art Museum is in bourbon country.”
Bill Menish will serve as the evening’s auctioneer. To review auction catalogue and purchase event tickets: artofbourbon.org.
Read more: Art of Bourbon Auction Raises $318k for Speed Art Museum
About the Speed Art Museum
The Speed Art Museum in Louisville, Ky is the state’s oldest and largest art museum and has served as a vital cultural resource for the Louisville community and the wider region for nearly 100 years. The Speed’s ever-growing encyclopedic collection, timely exhibitions, and community-driven programming explore contemporary issues and inspire meaningful personal experiences through the transformative power of art, sparking new conversations and creating opportunities for dialogue. Located on the campus of the University of Louisville but operating as an independent nonprofit institution, the Speed provides visitors from around the world with opportunities to engage with art through public and academic programs, screenings at the Speed Cinema, family offerings in the Art Sparks interactive learning gallery, and more. Fulfilling its mission of inviting everyone to celebrate art forever, the Speed is committed to creating a welcoming and accessible space for the community, including free admission on Sundays, Community Connections artmaking programs, and the Speed for All free membership. For more information, visit speedmuseum.org.