Inaugural Hog & Barrel Festival to bring three days of bourbon, BBQ and bacon to Greenville

By Jeannie Putnam, ​Greenville Journal

The inaugural Hog & Barrel: A Bourbon, BBQ & Bacon Festival, will be held Nov. 5-7 in Greenville.
“This is three days of some of the best barbecue and the best bourbon from across the Southeast,” said Tammy Johnson, president of High Spirits Events, the company that has produced Tacos ‘N Tequila for the past five years and is the brains behind the Hog & Barrel Festival. “This isn’t just a pig-picking. This isn’t a wine tasting. This is a festival for those who want a new and one-of-its-kind experience.”

The three-day festival's schedule includes:

• Nov. 5, 6-8 p.m. – Meet The Makers event, which will allow sponsors and Super VIP ticket holders to meet master distillers, national brand ambassadors and distillery owners.
• Nov. 6, 1-6 p.m. – “Bourbonpalooza,” which will feature games and live music Jake Bartley Band and 3 & Twenty. During the event, priority and VIP ticket holders may also participate in The Bourbon Experience, where they can sample more than 30 different bourbons.
• Nov. 7, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. – “Makin’ Bacon Bourbon Brunch,” which will feature live music from Corey Stephenson and classic brunch cocktails with a bourbon twist, such as Apple Cider Bourbon Mimosas and Bourbon Bloody Marys.

The Hog & Barrel Festival is also a food and cocktail competition with $5,000 in cash prizes being awarded to 15 “Best Of” categories including best barbecue, best bourbon-based dish, best bacon dish, best bourbon cocktail and best dessert.
In addition, the three-day event will be raising funds to support The Culinary Institute of the Carolinas at Greenville Technical College, which provides students with basic food knowledge and culinary techniques for classical and current trends.
Tickets go on sale July 19. For more information, visit hogandbarrelfestival.com.