Nothing evokes nostalgia for the halcyon days of summer more than memories of summer camp….hiking in the woods, swimming in the lake, sitting around the campfire making s’mores and telling ghost stories.
Sadly, adults can only reminisce about those days while packing off their own kids to that magical destination. That is, until now.
This summer Camp Buffalo Trace will be open for adult campers (must be 21 to attend) who are willing to give up the s’mores and ghost stories for bourbon and luxury camping.
Scheduled for two dates only – August 29th and September 5th, Camp Buffalo Trace is the latest in what distillery general manager Tyler Adams describes as “new ways to create memorable moments for our guests.
“By bringing together interactive activities, bourbon education and overnight camping accommodations, we’ve created a one-of-a-kind program designed to help guests make lasting memories at the distillery,” he continues.
Activities will test your brain, brawn and blind tasting skills – all in the spirit of competitive camaraderie.
Get the brain working during a Whiskey Woodcraft Workshop where guests will craft their own custom muddler from actual barrel staves, while at the same time learning from experts about the role white oak plays in bourbon making.
At the conclusion of this workshop, you will have a muddler that come Derby time will be the envy of all your friends.
Next, you’ll have a chance to show off your brawn in the Bung Driving Relay. In this relay, you will test your mettle (and muscles) in a cooperage-inspired, fast-paced competition using a traditional barrel-preparation technique.
Then it’s on to the real fun in the Blind Tasting & Buffalo Trace Trivia competition. Challenge your sensory skills and see if your taste buds are up to the test while at the same time, display your knowledge of Buffalo Trace history in the team trivia competition.
If you sail through this without working up a cerebral sweat, it’s on to the next round of competition – the Single Barrel Challenge.
In this one guests sample three barrels of the same bourbon at different ages, attempting to identify each. Don’t worry – you’ll get helpful hints from the camp counselors on how factors such as time, warehouse placement and maturation influence a whiskey’s final character.
If you finish at the head of the class, there may be a surprise in store for you. Slower learners, rest assured that if you finish anywhere in the class, you have a chance for that same surprise.
Why? Because Camp Buffalo Trace is available exclusively through an online sweepstakes (don’t even try to drop the names of the general manager or the master distiller – it won’t help).
Would-be campers have a choice of two experiences – day camp only or day camp plus a night of luxury camping.
There will be 90 winners randomly selected for the day camp experience over the two camp dates. Ten lucky winners will be randomly selected for the day camp plus glamping experience across both dates.
For the latter, think upscale safari camp and you’ll get the picture. You won’t see lions or elephants (unless you overindulge during the blind tasting), but you may catch a glimpse of gray foxes (known to make their home near Warehouse B) and groundhogs (count yourself especially fortunate if the patriarch Earl drops by).
Entrants who select the day camp plus luxury camping option will remain eligible to win the day camp experience if they are not selected for the overnight stay.
So, how do you sign up to become a Camp Buffalo Trace camper? The Sweepstakes begin July 14th at 12 noon and continue through July 21st at 11:59 a.m. No purchase is necessary to enter. To enter and to learn more about the official rules, go to www.buffalotracedistillery.com/camp.
If you’re one of the lucky winners, this summer it will be the kids’ turn to be jealous.