Beyond Bourbon: A Benefit Bash for OZ Arts Returns in 2026
The following is a press release:
OZ Arts Nashville’s popular fall fundraiser, Beyond Bourbon: A Benefit Bash for OZ Arts, returns on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, with dozens of spirits, wines, and non-alcoholic beverages, allowing guests to taste an exciting array of options in support of the contemporary arts center. The festive night of delicious food and spirits lights up the organization’s stylish creative warehouse in West Nashville, with proceeds directly supporting OZ Arts’ educational and artistic programs, including the upcoming international season of dance, theater, multimedia, and music performances featuring world-class artists from seven countries alongside bold performances from local Nashville artists. The unforgettable evening is supported by a host of sponsors, including Presenting Sponsors the Milton & Denice Johnson Family Foundation and The Sandra Schatten Foundation. Tickets for Beyond Bourbon are now on sale, including intimate pre-event Patron tastings from some of the most sought-after beverage brands with recognizable names like Pappy Van Winkle as well as the debut of a new bourbon from Phifer Pavitt Wine & Spirits, among others.
OZ Arts transforms into a party palace each fall for Beyond Bourbon, which has its roots in the legacy of the Ozgener family’s cigar brands, and supports the vibrant future of the contemporary arts center which now calls the former cigar warehouse home. Among the irresistible indulgences are more than 25 different high-end spirits, eats from Nashville favorite Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint, cigar products by Ozgener Family Cigars, and a dazzling assortment of silent and live auction items that benefit OZ’s dynamic international programming and vital youth education initiatives. The dynamic evening is hosted by returning honorary co-chairs Milton Johnson, former Chairman & CEO of HCA Healthcare / Tri-Star Health, and Denice Johnson, alongside a diverse group of co-chairs who have made extraordinary impacts on the Nashville community, including Jenn and Rob Adams, Dr. Robert C. Sherrill, and Nicole & C.R. Smith.
Among the assortment of top-shelf spirits, cocktails, and beers available for guests to enjoy at the festive event are samplings of: Green River Bourbon, Pickers Vodka, Borchetta Bourbon, Clayton James Tennessee Whiskey, Bearded Iris Brewing, Frey Ranch Bourbon, Daddy Rack Whiskey, Ginger’s Revenge Hard Ginger Beer, Silk Velvet Whiskey, Penelope Bourbon, and New Heights Brewing Company. A selection of wines will also be available, with offerings from: Hyland Estates, Black Sheep Wines, LYLO Sauvignon Blanc, Charles Smith Wines, and more. Among the non-alcoholic beverage options at the event, Blue Hound Brew Coffee Company will sample a selection of their cold brew and latte options. Crowned Heads and Ozgener Family Cigars will also have samples available to smoke on the lush outdoor patio of OZ’s campus. Additional brands and samplings will be added in the coming weeks, bringing the total number of products to more than two dozen offerings for the main event.
Benefit tickets are $150 for standard admission or $250 for generous admission to further support OZ Arts, with both ticket options including access to the main party at 7 p.m. For those seeking an even more elevated experience, VIP Patron tickets ranging from $500-$1,200 grant guests access to outstanding pre-event tastings featuring prestigious brands and brilliant specialist hosts. VIP partygoers can choose from one of four limited-capacity, luxury tasting experiences including:
- A specially curated tasting of Pappy Van Winkle, one of the most coveted bourbons in the world, led by bourbon aficionado Jason Eskind, President of Best Brands, Inc., and Bret Moore, President & CEO of Cool Springs Wine & Spirits
- A World Cup-inspired tasting of 12 highly rated wines from Spain and Argentina, two of the world’s great wine-producing countries, hosted by Pamela & Tony Cmelak
- Phifer Pavitt Wine & Spirits’ Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and the brand new American whiskey aged in cab barrels, led for the very first time by Founder & CEO Suzanne Phifer Pavitt
- Leyanda 1925 Tequila, a family-owned, 100% agave tequila rooted in a legacy that began more than a century ago, hosted by Martin Terporten of Frugal MacDoogal
“Every September, Beyond Bourbon gathers Nashville’s illustrious arts supporters and cultural tastemakers to enjoy an incredible sampling of top-shelf spirits, delicious food, and lively auctions, making it one of the most memorable nights of the year,” said Tim Ozgener, Co-Founder and President of OZ Arts Nashville. “We are thrilled to invite the city to join us in supporting OZ Arts’ important cultural programming by gathering in the creative warehouse for this celebratory event, made possible by the incredible support from an incredible community of co-chairs, sponsors, brand partners, and individual supporters.”
For additional details and ticket information, please visit: ozartsnashville.org/beyond-