162: Inside The Bourbon Room at the World Famous Churchill Downs

The world famous Churchill Downs is home to Matt Winn's Steakhouse and we were invited to a one-of-a-kind bourbon experience inside its jaw-dropping "The Bourbon Room". Tim Knittel is the Official Bourbon Ambassador of Churchill Downs and has curated a tasting and dining experience for us as we sit down to record at the historic racetrack. We taste through a flight of private selection bourbons from the restaurant's impressive bourbon inventory. We hope you enjoy this podcast as we discuss history, the Kentucky Bourbon lifestyle, culinary experiences, and more. 

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About Tim Knittel:

Tim Knittel is the first Official Bourbon Ambassador of Churchill Downs where he developed the Bourbon program for the new Matt Winn's Steakhouse. He has over 15 years of experience in the Bourbon industry including managing the culinary and VIP hospitality programs at the Woodford Reserve Distillery. In 2016, he founded Distilled Living which provides Bourbon education, tourism and consulting services and is the world's largest combined virtual and in-person Bourbon tastings company. He additionally holds the title of Adjunct Professor of Bourbon Studies at Midway University where he teaches tourism and hospitality courses with a focus on KY Bourbon tourism. His roles and work have been featured in Maxim, Forbes, Southern Living, American Whiskey Magazine, Good Morning America, NBC News, Washington Post, The Bourbon Review, Wonderlust and, now, Bourbon Lens Podcast.

About Executive Sous Chef Stephen Dunn:

Chef Dunn has a wealth of culinary experience around Louisville where he's trained at Sullivan University, and prior to Matt Winn's, has been tapped to head the kitchen in some of Louisville's top culinary hotspots.  Chef Dunn previously lead the kitchen of Equus & Jack's Lounge, The Hub, and Sullivan's Tap House in St. Matthews. He embraces Southern cuisine, bourbon, local ingredients, and Kentucky's heritage. 

About Matt Winn & Matt Winn's Steakhouse:

Matt Winn attended his first Kentucky Derby, the first Kentucky Derby, in 1875 at the age of 14. Over the next 75 years, he served as a pioneer and innovator of horse racing at the iconic Churchill Downs Racetrack and his impact would change the landscape of the Kentucky Derby forever.

Winn's passion for Churchill Downs is evident in the many traditions that we still hold dear today: the design of the coveted Derby Trophy, the official Mint Julep glass, the garland of roses, the singing of "My Old Kentucky Home" during the post parade and the pari-mutuel wagering system just to name a few.

Matt Winn's Steakhouse pays homage to the legacy of Colonel Winn. Oh, if these walls could talk… Millionaires Row, the fabled Room 20 – Colonel Winn's private nook, Derby history – rich with lure and tall tales… to new beginnings forging new traditions. Matt Winn started it all. His treasured view is now in your gaze. Take a look around. From the endless veranda to a lap around the handsome bar. Cushy seating, incomparable service, tableside charcuterie and a bourbon selection that is second to none. It's all in front of you, but don't worry, we understand, your best bet is the show out the window.

Show Links:

• Matt Winn's Steakhouse 
• Churchill Downs 
• Distilled Living 
• Bourbon Studies Minor - Midway University 
• Tourism MBA - Midway University 
• Churchill Downs Chef Will Teach You How To Cook A Kentucky Derby Meal At Home
• Churchill Downs: Masterful Mixology: Woodford Reserve Spire and Mint Julep - Distilled Living
• Secrets of Bluegrass Chefs - Matt Winn's Steakhouse
• Studying Bourbon At Midway University - American Whiskey Magazine

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Cheers,
Scott, Jake, & Michael
Bourbon Lens