Background

For the last 20 years, Maker’s Mark bourbon distillery in Kentucky hosts an annual holiday candlelight tour of our facility on the first two Saturdays in December.

Objective

To provide a unique experience for Maker’s Mark guests that would be different from everyday distillery tours. We also had to factor in other criteria including affordability, daily setup and breakdown as well as something that exuded holiday cheer. Because of the season, an artificial ice skating rink was the perfect answer.

Results

1,800 people experienced the first annual ice skating event. Media exposure was high because of the novelty of the synthetic ice rink and gift shop sales were above average. The ice rink also enhanced relationships with the locals by providing a close and safe place for families to come and skate together. “It was a very neat experience for visitors of all ages”.