Buffalo Trace Millennium Bourbon Auctions Adding Up

Nearly $50,000 has been raised for charity to date through Buffalo Trace Distillery Millennium Barrel auctions. With more than two months and 100 non-profit fundraising events to go, the Distillery hopes to reach its goal of raising $200,000 for charity.

The Millennium Barrel Bourbon was the last Bourbon barrel of the twentieth century Buffalo Trace Distillery filled on Dec. 31, 1999 and set to age in the Distillery’s warehouse V, the world’s only bonded single barrel aging warehouse. 

In June of 2011, the company bottled this single barrel of whiskey, which yielded 174 handwritten and individually numbered bottles.  Each Millennium Barrel bottle was packaged in a numbered hardwood showcase box that includes a piece of the historic barrel’s charred oak stave. 

Buffalo Trace Distillery then offered all 174 bottles to non-profit organizations wishing to raise funds for their charity. The only caveat was that the bottles had to be auctioned off by Dec. 31, 2011.  Interested parties can check on upcoming charity fundraisers for their chance to win this piece of history at http://buffalotracemillennium.com/charities.html

“Some of these non-profits have found some really creative ways to raise money for their organizations. We’re excited so many people are supporting such worthwhile causes and encourage Bourbon fans everywhere to go to the Buffalo Trace Millennium Barrel website to help support these groups,” said Kris Comstock, Buffalo Trace Bourbon brand manager.

Comstock referred to the New York Cares non-profit organization that raised $6,255 for their organization by creating it as a special prize offer only premier ticket holders to the event were eligible to win.  There have been several other organizations across the country that have upped their dollars raised through other creative ways, such as combining the collector’s edition Bourbon with other upscale prizes.

“With more than 100 non-profits events still scheduled before the end of the year, we hope to reach our goal of $200,000 for these worthwhile causes,” Comstock added. 

Kentucky Bourbon Glazed Kentucky Country Ham Steak

Chef Sam Mudd, the source of this recipe, is a specialist in southern cooking. He served as the executive chef of fine dining restaurants, including the Galt House’s Flag Ship Restaurant and the Executive West Hotel, before signing on at Sullivan University, where he teaches basic culinary skills.

1 serving

1 center-cut country ham steak, about ¼ inch thick
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup and 1 tablespoon Kentucky Bourbon

1 Trim the edges of the ham steak so that 1⁄8 inch fat remains. Panfry the steak in a hot skillet until brown on both sides; remove to a platter, and keep warm by covering it with aluminum foil.

2 Dissolve the sugar in the bourbon. Discard most of the fat in the skillet and then deglaze with the bourbon-sugar mixture. Simmer until the mixture reaches the consistency of maple syrup. Pour it over the steak.