Bourbon fans will have to continue being patient for a chance to taste whiskies selected for a New Orleans, La., festival.
The New Orleans Bourbon Festival has been postponed yet again, this time because half of the ticket holders said they would not comply with pandemic mitigations required by the city. COVID-19 cases are on the rise in the state and other parts of the world.
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Festival co-founders Tracy and Barbara Napolitano said that New Orleans City officials have required proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test, along with masking for all attendees, volunteers and vendors in order to issue a permit for the festival, said 4WWL
So, they sent out a survey to ticket holders ahead of the event to see if attendees planned to adhere to these rules. Around half of those who responded said they would not, according to the Napolitanos.
They have rescheduled the event for March 2022.
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Before the pandemic hit in March 2020, the festival was held annually from 2016 to 2019, according to Nola.com. It was first postponed in the early days of the pandemic, said a Facebook post.
The bourbon-tasting event was finally expected to be held this month from Aug. 18 to Aug. 21.
“We realize that any decision we make is going to not sit well with everyone,” a recent statement from festival organizers said, according to 4WWL. “We cannot find a way to satisfy everyone when the emotional nature of vaccinations and masks are pushed into the mix.”
Tickets are not refundable, but can be used for the 2022 or 2023 New Orleans Bourbon Festivals, according to organizers.
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