A Look Back at Bourbon Boule 2023

Story: Paul Clarke

Photo: Photos by Jonathan Cooper

October 10, 2023

Black Bourbon Society Bourbon Boule Samara B. Davis — Black Bourbon Society founder Samara Davis welcomes attendees to Louisville for Bourbon Boule.

Bourbon Boule Elmer Lucille Allen — Elmer Lucille Allen, the bourbon industry’s first Black chemist, receiving recognition for her contributions to the bourbon world and the community.

Black Bourbon Society Bourbon Boule — (Left to right) Arr'Keicha Danzie, David Danzie, Courtney Trusty, Tanya Payne, Stanley Wade

Whiskey expert Tracie Franklin leading an educational session about the new world of American single malt whiskey.

Bourbon Boule — Salt Lake City bartender Michael George hugging a BBS member during the Masquerade En Noir Affair party on Saturday night.

Ezra Allen, Aaron Joseph, Jonathan Cooper — Ezra Allen and Aaron Joseph (from left) of Cane Mixers with official Bourbon Boule photographer Jonathan Cooper at the Makers Mark dinner.

Black Bourbon Society Samara B. Davis — Samara and Armond Davis share a moment during dinner at the Samuels home.

Central High School Marching Band — The Central High School marching band welcoming Bourbon Boule guests to Louisville.

The city of Louisville, Kentucky, and the surrounding region are no strangers to welcoming bourbon-curious guests. And this past Labor Day weekend, Louisville hosted some special guests indeed, as Black Bourbon Society’s Bourbon Boule swept into town for several days of bourbon adventures.

Established by Samara Davis, founder of the Black Bourbon Society, Boule was an opportunity for more than 150 of the group’s members to gather from around the country. Some attendees were longtime friends, others were meeting for the first time. But what they all shared in common was a taste for good bourbon, a desire to learn more about it, and an enthusiasm to celebrate their time together.

Here are some outtakes from Bourbon Boule 2023; for more information on the organization and upcoming events, head to blackbourbonsociety.com.

Paul Clarke

Paul Clarke is Imbibe's Executive Editor and the author of The Cocktail Chronicles: Navigating the Cocktail Renaissance With Jigger, Shaker & Glass, released in July of 2015. He believes in the importance of a diverse liquid diet.