The World Bourbon Toast™ goes bigger than ever on Sept. 14 with a live main stage celebration at the Pollstar Global Music Festival of the Year
For Immediate Release — August 20, 2025
FRANKFORT, KY. – The Kentucky Distillers’ Association is raising a glass once again with its signature World Bourbon Toast™. Hosted by the KDA’s iconic Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour, the second annual event on Sunday, Sept. 14, is bigger, bolder, and poised to break records.
Following a historic global debut in 2024 with toasts in every time zone, the KDA is amplifying the experience in 2025 thanks to a new partnership with Danny Wimmer Presents, founder and coordinator of Bourbon & Beyond music festival in Louisville.
This year’s World Bourbon Toast™ will stream live from Bourbon & Beyond Festival, voted Pollstar’s Global Music Festival of the Year. Together, they’ll unite Bourbon lovers and music fans with the World’s Largest Bourbon Toast, live from the festival’s main stage Sunday evening.
Fans can join the celebration by tuning in to the official livestream via Kentucky Bourbon Trail’s Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube channels. The livestream also will include artist and celebrity toasts and exclusive interviews with featured Kentucky Bourbon Trail® members throughout the day.
The KDA also invites fans to “Toast & Post” on Sept. 14 by raising a glass, snapping a photo or video and sharing their toast on social media using #WorldBourbonToast and tagging the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®.
Selected posts will be featured on Kentucky Bourbon Trail® channels, putting Bourbon fans from around the globe in the spotlight. Learn more about how you can get plugged into this year’s World Bourbon Toast™ at worldbourbontoast.com.
KDA Vice President of Operations Colleen Thomas said the World Bourbon Toast™ started as a bold idea to unite people everywhere in a shared moment of connection, and the response last year was overwhelming.
“Last year’s Toast proved that Bourbon brings people together across continents and cultures. From Kentucky to Fiji, Edinburgh to Toronto, glasses were raised in unison. It’s a simple act with a big impact, and this year’s event promises to be even more expansive, more spirited, and downright legendary.”
“Bourbon is at the heart of Kentucky’s culture, and Bourbon & Beyond is where we share that spirit with the world,” said Chamie McCurry, General Manager/CMO, Danny Wimmer Presents. “Partnering with the Kentucky Bourbon Trail to host the World Bourbon Toast is a true celebration of music, flavor, and community. We can’t wait to raise a glass alongside fans from across the globe on September 14.”
Returning for a second year, Lewis, a Nashville-based creative agency, is once again partnering with the KDA to bring the event to life and amplify its reach worldwide.
Katie Peninger, VP of Account Service & Business Growth at Lewis, said people from every time zone joined in last year, with participants spanning 32 countries and six continents and featuring 30 special guests.
“The World Bourbon Toast™ is more than an event — it’s a moment of connection that transcends borders. This year, we’re building on that momentum to create an even bigger, more engaging experience that once again invites the world to raise a glass with Kentucky.”
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Media Contact: Katie Bartholomai at katie@runswitchpr.com.
Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association is the Worldwide Voice of Bourbon™. Its diverse and growing membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from historic, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are fostering the next generation of the Commonwealth’s timeless craft. Kentucky Bourbon is a $9 billion economic engine generating more than 23,500 jobs and attracting over 2 million visits annually through the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail® experience. A 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, the KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving. Learn more at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.
KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL®, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL CRAFT TOUR®, KENTUCKY BOURBON AFFAIR™, KBT®, BOURBON TRAIL™ and KENTUCKY BOURBON HALL OF FAME® are trademarks/service marks of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. Enjoy Bourbon like a true Kentuckian – Responsibly.