Equip Expo Will Debut a Custom Bourbon at Its Fall Landscape Show
Equip Reserve 42: Backyard Blend Earns a Distilling Award Ahead of October launch
Equip Exposition has always had the machines, the demos, the concerts and the bourbon tastings. This year, the event is raising the bar with a new twist — its very own small batch bourbon. This October, the show will debut its first custom bourbon: Equip Reserve 42: Backyard Blend. Named by Sam Meagher, owner of Sam I Am Outdoor Services, the name won Equip Expo’s bourbon-naming contest earlier this year. The bourbon celebrates the 42nd edition of Equip Expo and pays homage to Kentucky’s rich distilling heritage. From the press release:
Meagher came up with the name Backyard Blend while talking with his wife, Mary McGowan Meagher. “I wanted something ‘Equip Expo-y’, lawn care related. Something catchy, with alliteration. The feeling that name gives you [is something] a lot of people in this industry could relate to … that sentiment and that moment.”
Crafted by a Kentucky distiller, only 232 bottles will be made. Attendees can sample it at the Louisville Tourism booth on Wednesday, October 22, from 3 to 5 p.m. The limited-edition blend has already earned a Silver Medal from the American Distilling Institute.
A New Show Tradition
Equip Reserve 42 isn’t just a novelty — it kicks off a new tradition for the tradeshow. The bourbon combines the regional pride of Kentucky with the backyard ethos of lawn and landscape pros across the country. Equip Expo is always one of our favorite events. It’s a must-attend show for anyone in the green and hardscape industries interested in compact equipment, especially mini excavators, compact track loaders, small wheel loaders, UTVs and attachments. The outdoor demo area is unbeatable. You can test machines in the dirt, talk directly with manufacturers and pick up new techniques and tips from peers. Now, there’s custom bourbon.
“We’re very excited about our new bourbon blend, which is crafted by a Kentucky distiller. It celebrates our host state’s legendary bourbon heritage, and it’s very fitting that the name for it was submitted by one of our attendees,” says Kris Kiser, President & CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), which owns and manages Equip Exposition, the international landscape, outdoor living, and equipment exposition, held each year in Louisville.
This year’s show runs October 21-24 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. Last year’s event drew over 28,500 attendees, and we expect even more in 2025.
We’ll Be There
The Compact Equipment crew will be on-site to explore all things compact and off-highway — and yes, we’ll be tasting the bourbon. If you’re going, don’t miss the sampling on Wednesday afternoon. We’ll report back with our thoughts on the Backyard Blend and the show overall. From the press release:
Meagher says the show is a can’t-miss event for anyone in landscaping because of the knowledge it offers to help him grow his business and the community he’s found there.
His advice for others: “Take advantage of all it has to offer, not just equipment but the educational standpoint — the classes you can learn from, the different vendors and your peers in the industry. You [can] find someone your same size, maybe a bit bigger, [talk about] where you want to go, and they’ll take you under their wing and help you. It’s really awesome, that community,” says Meagher.
Keith Gribbins is publisher of Compact Equipment.
