Bourbon Barrel Foods is TV's latest 'Discovery'

By TED SLOAN, Kentucky Agricultural News

Ever wonder how Bourbon Barrel Foods makes its unique gourmet sauces? Viewers of The Discovery Channel will be able to see the process on the program “How It’s Made.” The Discovery Channel has scheduled an all-day taping session Oct. 29 at Bourbon Barrel Foods’ plant on Story Avenue in Louisville.

It’s not the Kentucky Proud member’s first foray into the national media – it was featured in The New York Times last fall – but it could be the biggest, company President Matt Jamie said.

“My publicist [Jamie Estes of Estes Public Relations in Louisville] said this could be 10 times what The New York Times’ food and dining section did for me,” Jamie said.

“I’m very excited for Bourbon Barrel Foods,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “They’re a perfect example of what Kentucky Proud is all about – using Kentucky ingredients from Kentucky farmers to make a premium Kentucky product. Matt and his staff will show a national audience what we’ve known all along – when it comes to Kentucky Proud, nothing else is close.”

Estes pitched his products to The Discovery Channel as a possible subject for “How It’s Made” last winter, Jamie said. Jamie and his landlord signed release papers last spring. “I never really expected to hear back from them,” he said, but in early September a representative of the channel called to set a taping date.

Bourbon Barrel Foods makes its signature Bluegrass Soy Sauce with Kentucky-grown, non-GMO (genetically modified organism) soybeans, Kentucky-grown wheat and limestone-filtered Kentucky spring water. The soybean mash is fermented and aged in used bourbon barrels, making the soy sauce the only one of its kind in the world. Bourbon Barrel Foods also produces an anchovy-free Worcestershire sauce that’s sweetened with sorghum and aged in bourbon barrels; Kentuckyaki, or Kentucky-style teriyaki; bourbon-smoked spices, flavored sorghums, gourmet baking mixes and chocolates.

Bourbon Barrel Foods’ products are in 70 Whole Foods stores, 115 Fresh Market outlets and many privately owned retailers throughout the country. It is available at numerous locations in Louisville and Lexington. Customers also may order from the company’s Web site, www.bourbonbarrelfoods.com.

For more information about Kentucky Proud, go to www.kyproud.com.

Above: Matt Jamie, president of Bourbon Barrel Foods.