Whiskey on the Water: Bourbon Lab on the Bourbon Boat

Must be 21+

Whiskey on the Water: Bourbon Lab on the Bourbon Boat
Climb aboard the Bourbon Boat for a hands-on whiskey experiment during Bourbon on the Banks.

After a dockside welcome cocktail (a Paper Plane riff), Master Blender Scott Beyer of The Ingram Distillery and bourbon educator Heather Wibbels (The Cocktail Contessa + founder of Bourbon Fluent) will guide you through an Uncharted and O.H. Ingram River Aged Bourbon tasting and a proofing lab: the same bourbon proofed down with four different waters—each with different pH, mineral content/hardness, and total dissolved solids.

Taste what changes in aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, and finish, and learn what “proofing” really means and why water is a power player in whiskey. You’ll never hear “it’s just water” the same way again. Hosted by Kentucky River Tours. Bourbon from The Ingram Distillery.

What it is
A bourbon class that behaves like a science experiment… on a boat. We’re answering one question with your own palate: why does water source and water chemistry matter so much in bourbon and whiskey?

We’ll kick things off dockside with a welcome cocktail (a riff on the Paper Plane). Then we’ll board the Kentucky River Tours Bourbon Boat, get the story of The Ingram Distillery, and run a guided proofing lab that shows how the same bourbon can taste wildly different depending on the water used to proof it down and the exact proof chosen.

You’ll never hear “it’s just water” the same way again.

What you’ll do

· Start with a dockside welcome cocktail (Paper Plane riff)

· Board the Bourbon Boat and learn about bourbon and The Ingram Distillery's river roots

· Taste and compare bourbon proofed down with at least four different waters

· Track changes in aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, and finish with guided sensory prompts

· Enjoy a leisurely ride down the Kentucky River, surrounded by bourbon history at every turn

What you’ll taste

· The Bourbon Boat's O.H. Ingram Single Barrel Bourbon and Single Barrel Rye

· The same bourbon, proofed with four distinct waters chosen for differences in:

o pH

o total dissolved solids (TDS)

o hardness/mineral content

· The new O.H. Ingram Flagship Batch 6 limited release bourbon

o The final blend crafted by Scott Beyer and proofed to taste

o And the batch at an alternative proof point that was a contender for the release

· Welcome cocktail on the dock (Paper Plane riff)

What you’ll learn

· What “proofing” is (and what it isn’t)

· Why proofing water can reshape the final whiskey in the bottle

· How water chemistry influences perceived sweetness, spice, texture, and finish

· How to taste more intentionally: comparing one variable at a time

Who it’s for

Perfect for curious bourbon drinkers, whiskey nerds, and anyone who wants an experience that’s interactive, sensory, and genuinely surprising. No chemistry background required—just a willingness to taste and learn!

Hosts + sponsor
Hosted by: Kentucky River Tours (The Bourbon Boat)
Bourbon from: The Ingram Distillery
Bourbon Education: Heather Wibbels (The Cocktail Contessa + Bourbon Fluent)

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Bourbon on the Banks Festival, LLC.