While RailFest draws crowds to La Grange, a one-day bourbon pop-up adds to the experience. On Saturday, May 9th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ONLY, Trackside Bourbon & Kentucky Artisan Distillery will host tastings and exclusive bottle sales at Devilish Wings Bar & Grill near the Train Observation Tower. Visitors can purchase limited-edition Oldham County Trackside Bourbon bottles depicting the Train on Main Street and sample the new Kentucky Artisan Signature Series—while supplies last.
Trackside Bourbon is distilled, aged, and bottled right in the heart of Crestwood, KY at Kentucky Artisan Distillery (KAD) under Jade Peterson, Chief Operating Officer & Distiller. His direct supervision makes all the difference from grain to bottle to glass. Trackside’s process stays hands-on – no sourced whiskey here! It’s a blend of Kentucky bourbon’s bold spirit and the adrenaline of the racing world – the Kentucky Derby may be over, but this Signature Series is straight out of the starting gate.
With barrels aged at KAD, Peterson said the idea for Trackside, “really came together through relationships. Jeremy Dever has been working to reconnect the distillery with local Oldham County businesses. Jeremy’s in a unique position – he worked closely with our founder at KAD, Steve Thompson, and now works alongside me on Trackside Distilling Company. Between Jeremy and Kentucky Artisans GM, Mark Emberson, we were able to move quickly and line things up with Devilish Wings. It’s a great opportunity to showcase some of Oldham County’s hidden gems right in the heart of the community during RailFest.”
Peterson said “we’re bringing two really meaningful offerings. First, from KAD, we’ll have our very first Bottled-in-Bond release – a Four Grain bourbon that represents a big milestone for the distillery. From Trackside, we’ll be pouring and selling our Oldham County Estate bourbon. That bottle features artwork of downtown La Grange by Javid Beykzadeh. It’s a tribute to the local landscape and the grain that comes right out of Oldham County – we wanted the bottle to reflect where it’s truly from, not just what’s inside it.”
Both offerings stay true to traditional Kentucky craftsmanship, said Peterson. “They’re balanced, grain-forward bourbons that focus on structure and drinkability rather than over-oaking. You’ll find classic notes -caramel, baking spice, and a soft, rounded finish – but with enough character to reflect the grains and the place they come from.” Tastings will be available on site. By having this event at Devilish Wings Bar & Grill (209 E. Main St., La Grange, KY) it’s meant to be “approachable and community-driven, giving people a chance to experience both KAD and Trackside side-by-side, ask questions, and connect with the people behind the bottles,” he said.
Devilish Wingers co-owner Chris Johnson, said he was encouraged by Oldham County Tourism to work with KAD and Trackside Bourbon on this event. Located in the former Bourbon & Ale House, visitors will have a great view of RailFest while enjoying the best wings in town. He said visitors can also try a few cocktails made with the KAD and Trackside Distilling products as well. Since opening in February 2026, “business has been good. We are learning as we go,” Johnson said.
Food offerings include waffle nachos, wings, the Devilish smashburger, pizza, salads and desserts. Artifacts depicting the town’s railroad heritage adorn the walls as do local school sports memorabilia. Just look for the Train Observation Tower to find the bar & grill and stretch your legs with a visit to the La Grange Railroad Museum and Learning Center afterwards. Make a weekend of it with a Trains on Main stay!
What started as a weekend food truck in 2022, has grown into a brick-and-mortar location in La Grange. “We are so excited for our first Railfest as a brick-and-mortar. We had the food trucks in it last year and it was a great event.” By partnering, “we feel like this will draw others in to our new establishment and get to see the new bourbon just for LaGrange. We are hoping to have a great crowd that day and have great weather.”
