Border Beverage owner Julie O’Connell holds a bucket full of raffle tickets so Evanston Youth Club President Kevin Kallas can draw a lucky raffle winner. The event, held Saturday, Feb. 24, raised more than $23,000 for the youth club.

(HERALD PHOTO/Bryon Glathar)

EVANSTON — Local whiskey coinsurers joined their Wasatch Front counterparts to raise funds for the Evanston Youth Club on Saturday, Feb. 24, when Border Beverage held the third annual Bourbon Bash. The event drew about 75 people to the local liquor store, most of whom traveled from Utah for the event.

This year’s event raised $23,781 to help support local youth. Of the 63 registered bidders, 21 went home with some rare bourbon — three of whom live in Evanston.

Evanston Youth Club CEO Holly West expressed her appreciation to Border Beverage for the company’s support over the years.

“The Evanston Youth Club is extremely appreciative of the support of Border Beverage and their third annual Bourbon Bash. In these three events, they have raised and donated over $60,000,” West told the Herald.

This year’s event, while still a resounding success, fell short of last year’s Bourbon Bash, which raised $35,000.

“At this time, fundraising is at a low and these funds are literally helping our programs and doors stay open,” West said. “Julie and Dave O’Connell and their staff are helping youth succeed in school and life. Our programs and staff are having great success, but it costs money to operate. With rising costs, we simply couldn’t provide positive change without this support.”

Border Beverage owner Julie O’Connell said that, in all, 103 bottles of booze were auctioned, grouped in lots, which accounted for the vast majority of the haul. An additional $923 was raised through raffling items such as coolers, patio umbrellas, yard games and a mystery bottle of spirits (revealed at the end of the raffle as a bottle of Rock Hill Farms).

O’Connell said some of the most sought-after items this year were:

• Weller Collection: Special Reserve, Antique 107, 12-year, Single Barrel, CYPB, and full proof;

• Pappy Van Winkle (10-year and 12-year);

• Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC): George T. Stagg, Thomas H. Handy, and Sazerac 18 year;

The Weller Collection sold for $3,100, O’Connell told the Herald. The BTAC lot sold for a whopping $5,000.

Some rare Wyoming products were also included in the auction, including Yellowstone 2003 Limited, Cowboy Country Single Barrel, Wyoming Whiskey National Parks No. 3, Wyoming Whiskey Barrel Strength and Wyoming Whiskey The Grand. O’Connell said The Grand lot sold for $1,550 and included three bottles of rye whiskey, each coming from a different specialty barrel.

In addition to the O’Connell’s generosity, the Bourbon Bash was made possible by four sponsors, which each held a bourbon tasting during the event. Attendees were not only treated to tastings by Horse Soldier, Old Elk, High West, Cowboy Country Distilling and A Taste of the West — sandwiches, T-shirts and swag bags were given to those in attendance.

“Kevin Kallas, the president of the Evanston Youth Club, was our auctioneer once again, and always does such a great job,” O’Connell said. “Holly West opened up the evening pulling on everyone’s heart strings … reminding us of the importance of supporting the youth in this community and that every dollar helps.”

O’Connell also praised her staff for their hard work during and leading up to the fundraiser.

“My staff at Border Beverage worked long hours and weeks in preparation,” she wrote in an email to the Herald. “They worked incredibly well as a team and helped the evening run smoothly — they truly are the BEST!”