Bourbon & Music – The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Tour

Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, Heaven Hill, and Evan Williams – four of the many distilleries found on the famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail and four whiskeys you can sip while being escorted by the terrific musical duo, Telisha and Doug Williams.

What would inspire such an event? Telisha commented, “We’ve always wanted to tour the distilleries along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, so we decided to do it with our fans, and make an adventure out of it.”

Doug added, “Who doesn’t wanna ride around on a bus in Kentucky and drink bourbon? Inviting thirty or forty or people to go with us just seemed like a way to make sure it happened.”

For those unfamiliar with the Williamses, they are the married couple at the heart of Wild Ponies. Their musical passions inspired them to forgo their “regular jobs” a few years ago and, instead, embark on a full-time musical career. Unafraid to stretch a few boundaries, they draw on countless inspirations, such as Jane’s Addiction, the Beatles, Willie Nelson, and Patsy Cline, thus have produced an eclectic mix of sounds, ranging from American folk and country to edgier rock tunes.

Telisha and Doug Williams of the Wild Ponies

Telisha commented, “We just want to make good art, and that usually means bending some rules.” One consistency involves powerful, meaningful lyrics. Doug notes, “Why even say words if they don’t mean anything? Telisha definitely packs a lot of honesty and emotion into her delivery. We leave it all out there on the stage.”

As the bourbon tour suggests, Doug and Telisha commonly connect with their fans. The title track to their latest album, Radiant (released May 13), is co-written by Mariah Moore, a 12-year-old student Doug and Telisha met through volunteering with the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Words & Music program.

Listen to the FULL STREAM HERE.

The last thing the Williamses desire is for fans to be star-struck around them.

Doug explained, “We’re actually pretty normal people. I think we’re pretty easy to hang out with. There really isn’t much of a barrier – ever – between us and our fans.”

Telisha added, “One of the changes we made to the [whiskey] tour after the first year was adding a cocktail welcome party on Friday night. We get the “meet and greet” out of the way over some cocktails. We’ve always said that we make better friends than fans, and how can you beat a bond over bourbon?”

The 2016 Wild Ponies Kentucky Bourbon Trail Ride kicks off on Friday, July 29th and lasts for an entire weekend. One can choose from several packages, such as the “Single Barrel” for one person, the “Double Shot” for a couple, or the “Quad” for a group of four. The price of each package includes the free cocktail welcome party, lodging, transportation, whiskey tastings, a few meals, and a concert (feel free to bring an instrument and jam with them). Costs start at $550 for a single, $400/person for a couple, and finally $330/person for a group of four.

It’s a bourbon party and weekend-long musical concert all in one – what could be better?