Get ready to immerse yourself in a harmonious blend of bourbon heritage and soulful sounds of Americana and Bluegrass at the second annual Bonded Spirit Music Festival! Set against the historic backdrop of Covington, Kentucky, this vibrant celebration is slated for Saturday, March 8, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
The main festival will be held outdoors in the Roebling Point entertainment district, with gates opening to general admission ticket holders at 4 p.m. The Rickhaus, a heated tent which holds the main stage, will take over Roebling Point outside of Smoke Justis, a festival partner. The stage will feature a lineup of three national acts performing from 5 – 11 p.m. New this year, the Bonded Spirit Music Trail will offer additional acts at various stops along The B-Line in Covington beginning at 1 p.m. Music along the Bonded Spirit Music Trail is FREE to the public. And your VIP ticket includes a 750ml take home BIB NEW RIFF keepsake!
A Tribute to Tradition
The festival pays homage to the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, a significant milestone in bourbon history championed by Covington native John G. Carlisle. This act ensured the quality and authenticity of bourbon, and the festival embodies this spirit by offering an authentic purely Kentucky experience.
Northern Kentucky: A Loaded BOURBON DESTINATION!
Northern Kentucky is a hot bed of Bourbon activity. Our “Best Bourbon Bars in America” list has 20 spots in NKY alone, in addition, 9 distilleries! The brown water flows through this area as mightily as the Ohio River it sits on. Smoke Justis, the main hub for this music festival, has over 500 Bourbons. Just a short walk away, Revival Vintage Bottle Shop, an absolute treasure trove of dusties and liquid history is a must visit. Wenzel Whiskey, another short walk away from this festival’s main hub, allows you (and your friends) to blend your own whiskey. And you can even stay at The Pickle Factory Boutique Hotel just above it! Check out the The B-Line for a full itinerary of what to check out and how to map out your own customized experience.
FESTIVAL TICKET INFORMATION
The John. G. Carlisle VIP Experience ($225):
- A voucher from the official Bonded Spirit Bottled-in-Bond (BIB) sponsor, New Riff Distilling, redeemable for a 750 ML commemorative bottle of BIB bourbon*
- Priority viewing of the main stage from the VIP area of the Roebling Rickhaus
- A VIP swag bag from The B-Line®
- Two drink tickets for Bonded Spirit hand-crafted, signature cocktails
- Early access beginning at 3 p.m.
- Access to a Smoke Justis smoked meats and sides buffet from 5-7 p.m.
- Early entry to the Smoke Justis Bourbon Lounge and the VIP area with limited first come, first served seating near the Roebling Rickhaus stage
- Meet and Greet with The Brothers Comatose and Lindsay Lou during early entry
- Two VIP-only bars and access to VIP restroom facilities
General Admission ($75): For $75/ticket, these tickets allow entry to the “Roebling Rickhaus” beginning at 4PM. Food, beer, and cocktails are not included but will be available for purchase. The tickets are for standing room only and attendees must be 21 or older.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
- Friday, March 7
- Bonded Spirit Music Festival Pre-Party, 8 – 11 p.m.
- The Whiskey Bent Valley Boys take the stage for a FREE show to kick off the music festival.
- Location: Smoke Justis, 302 Court Street, Covington, KY 41011
- Bonded Spirit Music Festival Pre-Party, 8 – 11 p.m.
- Saturday, March 8
- Bonded Spirit Music Trail, 1 – 4 p.m.
- New this year, The B-Line, Northern Kentucky’s self-guided bourbon experience, will host FREE musical acts throughout the day at various B-Line stops. Participating venues will offer a special hand-crafted “Bonded Spirit” cocktail featuring sponsor New Riff Distilling’s award-winning BIB whiskeys. SamJam Productions, which hosts their own Bluegrass festivals, partnered with the event to curate all the musical acts for the Bonded Spirit Music Festival this year.
- Locations:
- Jonny Estep & Gravel Drive at The GlobeBilly Cantrell at Knowledge Bar & Social RoomBrendan Martin at Wenzel WhiskeyMarcus Oglesby at Wiseguy LoungeSydney Adams Duo at Revival Vintage Spirits & Bottle Shop Jonathan Pennington at Libby’s Southern Comfort
- Jonny Estep & Gravel Drive at The GlobeBilly Cantrell at Knowledge Bar & Social RoomBrendan Martin at Wenzel WhiskeyMarcus Oglesby at Wiseguy LoungeSydney Adams Duo at Revival Vintage Spirits & Bottle Shop Jonathan Pennington at Libby’s Southern Comfort
- Locations:
- New this year, The B-Line, Northern Kentucky’s self-guided bourbon experience, will host FREE musical acts throughout the day at various B-Line stops. Participating venues will offer a special hand-crafted “Bonded Spirit” cocktail featuring sponsor New Riff Distilling’s award-winning BIB whiskeys. SamJam Productions, which hosts their own Bluegrass festivals, partnered with the event to curate all the musical acts for the Bonded Spirit Music Festival this year.
- Bonded Spirit Music Festival Mainstage, 5 – 11 p.m.
- Lindsay Lou, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, and The Brothers Comatose will take over the main festival stage inside The Rickhaus, a heated tent located next to Smoke Justis. This 21+, TICKETED experience is sponsored by The B-Line®, New Riff, and VIP Swag Bag Sponsor, The Think Shop.
- Bonded Spirit Music Trail, 1 – 4 p.m.
TICKETS: Those interested in learning more and purchasing tickets for the headlining acts, can visit bondedspirit.com.
WHY: This is a celebration of Covington’s very own John G. Carlisle. Carlisle was instrumental in passing the Botted-In-Bond (BIB) Act in 1987, one of America’s first consumer protection acts, which predates the Food & Drug Act, ensuring bourbon quality and purity. To be classified as Bottled in Bond, BIB distillers are required to put their products into federally bonded warehouses for at least four years and bottle at 100 proof (50% alcohol by volume). Additionally, owners must stipulate on the labels of their bottles where the whiskey is distilled and where it was bottled, if not at the same location where it’s distilled.
About The B-Line®:
First introduced in early 2018, The B-Line® was created to help capture the millions of bourbon-curious people who travel along I-75 or fly into CVG Airport annually to visit Kentucky’s famed Bourbon Trail®. As of 2025, the line is comprised of 7 craft distilleries, 9 bourbon bars, and 10 bourbon-centric restaurants. For more information on The B-Line® visit thebline.com.
About Smoke Justis:
Located in the historic Citizens Telephone Building in Covington Kentucky, Smoke Justis is an urban sports bar named after an urban legend, Walter “Smoke” Justis. This unique blend of casual and lounge space has created a vibe for everyone. Designed as a place to bring people together, Smoke Justis features smoked meat, bourbon, and craft beer in a warm and inviting setting at the foot of the Roebling Bridge. Visitors and locals alike can be found cheering on their favorite team or just meeting with friends to enjoy America’s native spirit at this locally-owned tavern.
