Warm up this winter with a gourmet five-course dinner in The Morton Arboretum’s Ginkgo Room, paired with whiskey tastings from Kentucky distilleries Green River Whiskey and Bardstown Bourbon.
During the dinner, guests will enjoy live music from classical guitarist Jim Perona while learning about the history, production, and appreciation of whiskey from invited experts.
Each step in the process of making whiskey—from malting and mashing of the grain to fermentation, distillation, and maturation—can shape the character of the final product. Throughout the Whiskey Dinner, you’ll experience a wide range of whiskey varieties and learn how to best pair each variety of whiskey with food.
Ticket Details
Cost: $108
Member cost: $98
Guests will be seated at shared tables of 10.
Your ticket purchase helps support the Arboretum’s vision of a greener, healthier, more beautiful world where people and trees thrive together.
2025 Whiskey Dinner Menu
Appetizer
Bourbon butter shrimp and grits (GF)
Blackened jumbo shrimp, aged cheddar grits, bourbon butter sauce
Paired with Bardstown Bourbon Company, Origin Series, 6-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Soup
Roasted butternut squash soup (GF) (V)
Granny Smith apples, toasted pumpkin seeds, whiskey and cinnamon cream
No beverage pairing
Salad
Winter mixed greens salad (CN) (GF) (V)
Whiskey pickled beets, citrus segments, shaved fennel, maple- and vanilla-infused goat cheese, toasted walnuts, citrus vinaigrette
Paired with Green River Distilling Company, Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey
Entrée
Barbecue short ribs (GF)
Braised boneless short ribs, whiskey barbecue sauce, duchess sweet potato, roasted Brussels sprouts with applewood bacon, corn crisp garnish
Paired with Bardstown Bourbon Company, Origin Series 6-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, finished in toasted cherrywood and oak barrels
Dessert
Warm toffee cake (V)
White cake, banana, toffee sauce, mint sprig
Paired with Bardstown Bourbon Company, Collaborative Series, with Goose Island, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Icon Key
CN–Contains nuts GF–Gluten-free V–Vegetarian
2025 Whiskey Dinner Vegetarian Menu
Appetizer
Bourbon butter mushrooms and grits (GF) (V)
Roasted mixed mushrooms, aged cheddar grits, bourbon butter sauce
Paired with Bardstown Bourbon Company, Origin Series, 6-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Soup
Roasted butternut squash soup (GF) (V)
Granny Smith apples, toasted pumpkin seeds, whiskey cinnamon cream
No beverage pairing
Salad
Winter mixed greens salad (CN) (GF) (V)
Whiskey pickled beets, citrus segments, shaved fennel, maple- and vanilla-infused goat cheese, toasted walnuts, citrus vinaigrette
Paired with Green River Distilling Company, Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey
Entrée
Polenta cakes (GF) (V)
Grilled polenta cakes, whiskey barbecue sauce, duchess sweet potato, roasted Brussels sprouts, corn crisp garnish
Paired with Bardstown Bourbon Company, Origin Series, 6-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, finished in toasted cherrywood and oak barrels
Dessert
Warm toffee cake (CN) (GF) (V)
White cake, almond flour, banana, toffee sauce, mint sprig
Paired with Bardstown Bourbon Company, Collaborative Series, with Goose Island, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Icon Key
CN–Contains nuts GF–Gluten-free V–Vegetarian
