Avios awards opened up for all three weekends LGA-CVG-LGA, so I booked all of them. I will be there whichever date is chosen.

I've never been able to make my calendar work to permit me to attend. Flight is booked for April12 - 14 but is changeable.

The most popular choice seems to be April 12-14 weekend +/- a day.

So let's settle on that.

Will ask a mod to fix the title of this thread.

Should work for me. I would have been fine with any weekend in April.

Wanted to remind our Ohioans to enter the Ohio LCB's bourbon lottery in the hopes of scoring a bottle of Buffalo Trace Antique Collection or Pappy at MSRP:

https://www.com.ohio.gov/documents/l...otteryfaqs.pdf


Also, as we think through an agenda for April, give some thought to a potential side trip to Owensboro. In doing some research on best places to buy/taste bourbon, I came across this liquor store in OWB that has a tasting room with by far the biggest selection and lowest prices for bourbon-by-the-shot that I have ever seen:

Js Liquors - Tasting Bar and Cheese Shop


I've also seen OWB highlighted on some Travel Network show as being famous for mutton barbecue. Apparently, that's an only in Western KY delicacy. Between cheap bourbon tasting and mutton barbecue, I'm intrigued by a visit to Western KY. It would likely necessitate tacking an extra day on to the overall trip, though. Can be paired with a stop in Louisville on the way there or back for THE definitive hot brown sandwich at the Brown Hotel (itself worth an overnight stay).

Great - I will cancel my Avios booking for April 5-7 and keep this one. I may also keep my April 19-22 Avios booking and come down for two consecutive weekends.

Anyone interested in one of the fancier tours at Maker's Mark? I have done the regular one.

https://www.makersmark.com/tours

I am definitely interested in doing a "fancy" tour at MM, but won't be able to on our chosen weekend of April 12-14 as the "fancy" tours are on weekdays and I can only attend the chosen weekend from Friday night to Sunday. I guess this is another argument for me to return the following weekend, when I can make a Friday afternoon and/or Monday morning tour.

Also FYI, tours at MM are currently only bookable through early February; I'm guessing that mid-April tours won't be bookable for a couple more months.

Bumping this post for visibility.

I hit Hyatt Globalist for 2019 the other day. So if you want to stay at the Hyatt Regency (downtown) you can ride along with my top status. You'd get $16 breakfast buffet (most days, I assume for up to 4 people) plus 4 pm check out. Everyone gets free parking. Possible suite upgrade at check-in, though likely not for such a busy time. I have verified that they have 6 suites.

8000 points per night or 4000 points plus $100 or $180 plus tax at this time. The Hilton across the street is over $300. Even the Fairfield is over $150.

I'd be interested in one of the special tours at Makers Mark depending on how the schedule plays out. Makers Mark is one of my favorite distilleries to visit. I've done the regular tour there at least three times. Never gets old!

Looking at potentially heading to Owensboro for bourbon tasting and mutton barbecue, it looks like OWB now has a stop on the official Bourbon Trail:

https://oztylerdistillery.com/

Thanks for finding the OZ Tyler distillery - I definitely plan to get down this way at some point this year. If I go to OWB area during the April Do it will have to be Saturday AM, which may be too tight to make the first race at Keeneland. It is more likely that I will do this the following Friday (Good Friday) when I come back that weekend.