LOUISVILLE, KY (Sept. 23, 2025) — Bourbon and art proved to be a powerful pairing once again at the Art of Bourbon auction held Sept. 18, as collectors and connoisseurs gathered in person and online to bid on some of the world’s most sought-after whiskeys. As one of the Speed Art Museum’s largest annual fundraisers, the auction supports the Museum’s exhibitions and educational programs.

Now in its eighth year, the event has become a standout on the national bourbon calendar. This year’s auction drew passionate bidding and significant attention from seasoned collectors and industry insiders alike.

Top highlights included:

• Vintage Legends – This duo of unique vintage bottles features an Old Crow Traveler Fifth, which was part of the Traveler series that was launched in the 1960s and ran until the 80s. The Traveler Series was designed to be flat and marketed as a travel companion to those who didn’t want to leave the house without a good bottle of bourbon. The flagship Old Fitzgerald 6 Year Decanter from the 1960s was distilled and bottled by Stitzel-Weller Distillery. This highly coveted set sold for $9,000.

• House of Glunz Bottled-in-Bond – A private label bottle from Chicago’s legendary House of Glunz, distilled by Stitzel-Weller, brought in $8,000. This specific run of 20-year Kentucky straight bourbon was selected by Louis Glunz II as a five-barrel group distilled in 1953. The barrels were bottled in 1973 at the Hoffman Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Ky.

• A.H. Hirsch 16-Year, 1974 – Often called the unicorn of bourbon collecting, this bottle sold for $6,500, more than double its pre-auction estimate. Before bidding got under way, bourbon expert Fred Minnick told the crowd this is one of the top 10 bourbons he has ever had.

• Evan Williams 23-Year, distilled in 1966 - the very first year the distillery released that 23-Year-Old. Bottled in 1989 with its telltale hand-dipped wax, this was one of the first super aged bourbons ever on the market. With an impressive 107 proof result, this bottle sold for $5,500.

• Once again, the auction offered lots where bidders can receive their very own prestigious barrels. The barrel of Dareringer from Rabbit Hole Distillery sold for a whopping $13,000. This super-premium Straight Bourbon Whiskey is carefully crafted by taking fine wheated bourbon aged in alligator char barrels and resting it in handmade Pedro Ximenez Sherry Casks from Spain’s renowned Casknolia Cooperage.

Tom O’Grady, an avid bourbon collector and longtime member of the museum’s Board of Trustees, was the winning bidder of the Evan Williams 23-Year bottle. “Anytime I can support the Speed and walk away with a special bourbon is a good night,” he said. Through the years, O’Grady has stocked his bar with numerous Art of Bourbon bottles, and this year proved no exception.

In addition to master distillers and bourbon gentry, several Louder Than Life festival musicians were in attendance, adding to the star-studded atmosphere. The annual September festival drew an estimated 240,000 fans to Louisville.

Rabbitt Hole Distillery founder and 2022 Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame inductee Kaveh Zamanian was the winning bidder of the House of Glunz 20-Year bottle, which hails from the Chicago eponymous wine and spirits shop that has been in operation since 1888. Distilled in 1953 and bottled in 1973, the bottle was this year’s auction darling.

Fred Minnick, national bourbon critic, author, and emcee for the evening, emphasized how much the industry stands behind this event year after year. “What makes this auction so special isn’t just the rare bottles — it’s how the entire bourbon community shows up to support it,” said Minnick. “From legacy brands to craft newcomers, from collectors to first-time bidders, everyone understands how important this night is for both bourbon culture and the Speed Art Museum.”

Auction Chair Marc Abrams, a Louisville-based bourbon expert, praised the generosity of the audience and donors.

“Since 2018, this auction has raised more than $2 million for the Speed. This is a testament to how deeply people care — not just about bourbon, but about what it can do,” said Abrams. “That generosity directly fuels the Speed’s ability to educate and inspire through art.”

The event was conducted live at the Speed Art Museum and simultaneously online at artofbourbon.org.

‍About the Speed Art Museum  
The Speed Art Museum in Louisville, Kentucky, is the state’s oldest and largest art museum, serving as a vibrant cultural hub for the community and region for nearly 100 years. Through its expansive, encyclopedic collection, bold exhibitions, and community-focused programs, the Speed transforms how visitors perceive the world and themselves—sparking curiosity, connection, and well-being. Located on the University of Louisville campus but operating as an independent nonprofit institution, the Speed provides opportunities to engage with art through public and academic programs, screenings at the Speed Cinema, family offerings in the Art Sparks interactive learning gallery, and more. Fulfilling its mission of inviting everyone to celebrate art forever, the Speed is committed to creating a welcoming and accessible space for the community.  Significant upcoming projects include the highly anticipated Speed Art Park opening in October 2025 and the Museum’s centennial celebration in 2027. For more information, visit speedmuseum.org.

Cutline: Rabbitt Hole Distillery founder Kaveh Zamanian took home this House of Glunz 20-Year, which hails from the famed Chicago eponymous spirits shop. The bottle brought in $8,000 at the Art of Bourbon auction in September.