A Seat at the Table!

Join Center President Ed Clark and a group of seven other people for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, visiting the historic and iconic Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY for a barrel selection event, and VIP tour.

The exclusive eight-person group will sample from four barrels of famous Eagle Rare 10 year old, single-barrel bourbon, to select the particular barrel they feel best represents this legendary, purely American whiskey and best suits their tastes. When the barrel is selected, it will be bottled specifically for the Wildlife Center of Virginia, and will include a special "Wildlife Center of Virginia - Barrel Select" label. Participants in the tasting will each receive 10 bottles of this select bourbon to treasure and enjoy.

The full day at the distillery will also include lunch, a VIP tour of the distillery [a National Historic Landmark], and the tasting. If participants are interested, additional activities during your stay in Frankfort will be planned, including a visit to nearby Summer Wind Farm, a classic thoroughbred farm. The visit to the farm will include an introduction to and photo op with Littleprincessemma, the beautiful mother of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

The tasting will take place on a weekday in early 2022, likely March or April, with the specific date for the tasting to be determined by polling the top bid winners.

Special rules for a special item! Bidding is for a single seat at the table. Bidding on this bourbon tasting experience will close on Saturday, October 23 at 9 p.m. Eastern. The top bidder may purchase one, or up to all seven available seats, at this same per-seat price. After the top bidder has determined the number of seats s/he will purchase, the second highest bidder will be given the opportunity to purchase any remaining available seats, for the second highest bid price. This process will continue until all seven seats are sold.

If you wish to submit a bid that is at or lower than the current high bid in an attempt to secure available seat(s) after the high bidder has made his/her choice, you will need to email your bid to [email protected].

Seats at the table are transferable, or may be given as gifts, but all bidders and all participants must be over 21 years of age. Transportation to and from Frankfort, Kentucky and lodging are not included, but the Center will attempt to arrange a group discount at a nearby hotel. Bottling of the selected barrel may take several months. A special gathering to pick up participants' special bottles will be scheduled at the Wildlife Center as soon as possible in 2022. The pick-up event will include a catered lunch and a tour of the Center. In the event that someone who has won a seat is unable to attend, s/he will still receive the 10 bottles reserved for that seat.

Questions about this unique experience and the options for winning bidders should be directed to Center President Ed Clark, at [email protected].

P.S. Need an additional incentive to bid? Here's how the Virginia ABC describes Eagle Rare: "Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is masterfully crafted and carefully aged for no less than 10 years. The rareness of this great breed of bourbon is evident in its complex aroma, as well as the smooth and lingering taste. Eagle Rare is a bourbon that lives up to its name with its lofty, distinctive taste experience. The nose is complex, with aromas of toffee, hints of orange peel, herbs, honey, leather and oak. The taste is bold, dry and delicate with notes of candied almonds and very rich cocoa. The finish is dry and lingering."