The Bourbon Crusaders partners with Maker’s Mark® for 2024 Charity Event
Maker’s Mark will Choose the Charity Beneficiary for the 2024 Bourbon Charity Crusade
For Immediate Release – June 14, 2024
Friday, June 14, 2024 - LOUISVILLE, KY. – On National Bourbon Day, the Bourbon Crusaders today announced Maker’s Mark as the distillery partner for the much-anticipated 2024 Bourbon Charity Crusade.
This ticketed event will be held on November 9, 2024, in Louisville and promises to deliver an extraordinary evening featuring rare tastings, dinner, a silent and live auction, an opportunity to mix and mingle with master distillers and bourbon celebrities, and more. A separate VIP fantasy camp experience, the unique location, and charity partner will all be announced this summer. Tickets, which typically sell out immediately, will go on sale in September 2024.
The Bourbon Crusaders, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, have carved a path by collaborating with top distilleries to auction off extremely rare and one-of-a-kind bourbons and barrel experiences that have become the stuff of bourbon lore. Since their inception in 2016, the Crusaders have raised over $7 million for local charities, making a monumental impact on communities across Kentucky. This year, Maker’s Mark will choose the charity that will benefit from 100% of the event’s proceeds, ensuring that every dollar makes a difference.
Maker’s Mark, a certified B-CorpTM, is the iconic Kentucky Bourbon driven by the vision for better flavor and a better world. “Partnering with the Bourbon Crusaders for the 2024 Charity Bourbon Crusade is an honor and a thrill for Maker’s Mark,” said Rob Samuels, eighth generation whisky maker and Managing Director, Maker’s Mark. “This partnership is a fantastic opportunity to combine our passion for exceptional bourbon with a deep commitment to supporting organizations that create a positive impact in Kentucky,”
Over the years, the Bourbon Crusaders have auctioned off historically notable bourbon barrels, setting records along the way, including:
The Ultimate Maker’s Mark Private Selection Experience
Two Willett 19-Year Bourbon Private Barrel Selections
Four Roses Extra Aged Private Barrel Selection and Experience
Two First-Ever Old Forester President’s Choice Barrel Selections
Four Roses Private Barrel Selection with Brent Elliott
Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon Private Selection
First-Ever E.H. Taylor 9-Year Private Barrel Selection
And many, many more.
“The Crusaders’ mission is to blend a passion for bourbon with a heart of philanthropy, creating a seismic charitable impact,” said RJ Sargent, President of the Bourbon Crusaders. “With Maker’s Mark as our partner for 2024, we are poised for unparalleled success thanks to the strong purpose-driven ethos of Maker’s Mark and the continued generosity of the bourbon community.”
About The Bourbon Crusaders:
The Bourbon Crusaders are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization comprising 30 members who leverage their collective passion for bourbon to support Kentuckians in need. Since 2016, the Bourbon Crusaders have donated nearly $7 million through seven legendary charity events, becoming a symbol of generosity in the bourbon community and beyond.
About Maker’s Mark®
In 1953, in Loretto, Ky. Bill Samuels, Sr., fulfilled his dream to create a handmade and delicious bourbon. He decided to make his whisky in small batches, using soft red winter wheat to enhance the softness and sweetness. He then rotated each barrel by hand for consistency and, finally, aged each barrel to taste. While he developed the bourbon, his wife Margie Samuels ideated the bourbon’s name and label, standout bottle shape, iconic and signature look that still involves hand-dipping each bottle in red wax to this day. Together as co-founders, Bill and Margie transformed bourbon from a “commodity” into a premium handmade spirit, and today Maker’s Mark® Kentucky Straight Bourbon continues to be crafted in the same, purposeful way.
In recent years, Maker’s Mark has introduced thoughtful, super-premium innovations to its portfolio, including Maker’s Mark 46, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength, and Maker’s Mark Cellar- Aged, all Double Gold winners of the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, as well as Maker’s Mark Private Selection: the brand’s custom barrel program. Maker’s Mark is the largest bourbon distillery in the world to achieve B Corp Certification and the first distillery to achieve Regenified certification, a reflection of the brand’s dedication towards building a more inclusive and sustainable economy. For more information, visit www.makersmark.com.
For more information or to schedule an interview, contact:
RJ Sargent, President, The Bourbon Crusaders, at bourboncrusaders@gmail.com
