Longboat Republican Club barrels into offseason with bourbon tasting

Bourbon. Burgers. Barbecue.

That’s how the Longboat Key Republican Club kicked off its offseason on Saturday — with a cookout and bourbon/whiskey tasting intended to introduce new members to the club and encourage socializing during the summer months for the club’s year-round Key residents.

Fifty-five members and guests sampled a range of bourbons, including Chicken Cock Whiskey, Rebel Yell and Bardstown Bourbon’s Discovery.

Club President Garnett Black co-founded the Bardstown Bourbon Co. in 2014. It’s now among the top distilleries in the country in production volume. 

Black moved to the area in 2019 and said events like Saturday’s help foster connection among transplants.

“People want to go to the state that’s free, but then it’s hard to connect. (Tonight) is not only a chance to talk to other Republicans but also to make friends.”

The Republican Club has traditionally met from October to April, regularly hosting speakers on a variety of topics, but Black said she intends to hold more events in the offseason and that the tasting was likely to become a regular event.

The club’s annual speaker series lineup has not been finalized yet for next season, but Black said it should be set by August.