Hickory Landmarks Society, Inc.

09/01/2026

Join Hickory Landmarks Society for “An Unforgettable Bourbon Tasting” on September 19 at Maple Grove and enjoy great food from Highlands Butchery!

BOURBON TASTING EVENT MENU
Bourbon-Style Pork Belly Burnt Ends
A play on Asian-style bourbon chicken
Pulled Pork Picnic Parfait (gluten free)
Our sides and pulled pork layered in a parfait cup for the perfect walkable lunch packed with flavor.
Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Pulled pork with sauce and pickles on a potato roll.
Smoked Chicken Leg (gluten free)
A chicken leg packed with smoky flavor and our house dry rub.
Street Corn (vegan, gluten free)
Charred corn with Lebanese toum (vegan mayonnaise substitute), veggies, and chile lime seasoning.
Bourbon Molasses Sweet Potato (vegan)
NC sweet potatoes braised in bourbon and molasses. Served as a side or a vegan entree.
Picnic Baked Beans (gluten free)
Baked Beans loaded down with bacon, beef, and caramelized veggies. Not just a sidekick, good enough to eat on their own.
Potato Salad (gluten free)
A classic potato salad, perfect to cool down.

Highlands Butchery was started by two longtime friends who bonded over a love of farming, good food, and bourbon. Much of our protein is sourced from our two-family farms in Burke County, North Carolina. Our restaurant started as an outlet for our surplus of ground beef and grew with us to include steaks, barbecue, seafood, and weekly specials with an emphasis on local agriculture and Southern comfort food. Our Valdese, NC location features craft butchery serving wholesale clients across the state, bulk orders, and walk-in guests.

08/28/2026

There is still time to register for the HLS Bus Tour to Hillsborough but only a few more days. After dinner entertainment on Wednesday is a presentation by the Ghost Guild, a non-profit organization that serves as the official paranormal research team for the City of Raleigh's Mordecai Historic Park and the Carolina Theatre of Durham. They frequently investigate historic sites including the Henry River Mill Village. Details and registration online at hickorylandmarks.org.

08/25/2026

Time is running out to get your tickets!! Sale ends soon!! This is going to be a fun event. Food, co****le, darts, music, and of course extremely good libations from four distilleries and a meadery!! Stay tuned for more information.

08/19/2026

The Hickory Landmarks Society Bourbon Tasting Fundraiser event will be September 19th and one of the features of the afternoon will be Ember & Oak Cigar Lounge. Ember & Oak was founded on a love for craftsmanship and conversation and was created as a retreat for those who appreciate the finer things done the right way. What started as a passion project among friends quickly grew into a gathering place for cigar enthusiasts, bourbon lovers, and anyone who enjoys slowing life down for a moment. From the humidor filled with premium, hand-rolled ci**rs to the shelves lined with rare small-batch bourbons, every detail reflects a commitment to quality and comfort. At Ember Oak, it’s not just about what’s in your glass or between your fingers — it’s about the people you share it with. At Ember & Oak, they pride themselves on offering a curated selection of premium ci**rs for every palate. From rich, full-bodied blends to smooth, mellow options, each cigar is handpicked for quality and flavor. Whether you’re a seasoned aficionado or just discovering the world of ci**rs, the humidor is stocked with choices that promise a satisfying, unforgettable smoking experience. Ember & Oak isn’t just a lounge — it’s a destination for unforgettable experiences. From intimate tasting nights and cigar rolling’s to bourbon pairings and private celebrations, their events bring together enthusiasts and newcomers alike in a warm, inviting atmosphere. Whether you’re joining them for a special occasion or a casual evening of camaraderie, every event at Ember & Oak is designed to celebrate great company, fine ci**rs, and exceptional spirits. Stop by Ember and Oak and join the owners Christopher Carey and Steve Liffers one evening and see what it is all about. And then attend the Bourbon Tasting Event at Hickory Landmarks and visit with the best cigar company in Hickory – Ember & Oak Cigar Lounge.

08/11/2026

Hickory Landmarks Society is pleased to invite you to attend our newest fundraising event, Couture for a Cause, a fashion show celebrating Hickory's history through style, creativity and community. The event will feature an elegant runway show showcasing designs by Cassidy Burel, owner of CassB by Design. Tickets available at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/couture-for-a-cause.

08/10/2026

Nestled in the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina is a distillery celebrating a craftsmanship full of tradition. Join Hickory Landmarks Society September 19th at the Bourbon Tasting Fundraiser Event and discover the essence of their signature spirit, Defiant Whisky.
Crafting Exceptional Spirits: The Story of Blue Ridge Distilling Company
Founded in the heart of North Carolina, Blue Ridge Distilling Company embodies a passion for quality and craftsmanship. The artisan grain to glass process ensures that every drop of Defiant Whisky reflects a commitment to excellence, using pure water sourced from a natural limestone aquifer.
Defiant is a new way of distilling. Blue Ridge is not bound by barrels or recipes or tradition. The guides are the best ingredients, Mother Nature and their own intuition. They only use four ingredients. Nothing more. Premium American white oak, toasted to perfection. Specially cultured yeast, selected by the Master Distiller. Two-row premium brewer’s barley. Pure water from the Blue Ridge Mountains drawn from a limestone cavern aquifer upon which they have built the distillery atop. Start with quality, end with quality. Blue Ridge Distilling is starting a revolution in the whisky world.
Come and join us and taste this new tradition.

08/06/2026

The Hickory Landmarks Society will present Elonzo Wesley as the musical entertainment for the Bourbon Tasting Event September 19, 2026. Elonzo Wesley began in 2015, brainchild of singer songwriter Jeremy Davis. Beginning as a solo artist, but also now performing as a string band, Elonzo Wesley has released two EP’s (To Be True, This Ain’t No Country Song), a live album (Live at the Evening Muse), and two full length albums. Most recently, releasing 2019’s Songs To No One, on the heels of multiple national tours.
Growing up in South Carolina, the son of a farmer, Davis spent his childhood in the woods and fields of the lowcountry. That plainness, that closeness to the land, that Americana shines though in the simple beauty of the music that Elonzo Wesley creates. As Joni Deutsch of NPR put it, “a beautifully poignant dance of Appalachian strings and soul.”
Carrying his father’s name as a moniker and guide, Elonzo Wesley, at it’s best is; the musical truth of the moment, combined with the beauty of what has passed.

Please join us for this event and help us welcome the band to Hickory.

08/04/2026

08/04/2026

Hickory Landmarks Society Bus Tour is BACK!!! Please join us for a fun filled two-day tour to Historic Hillsborough!! See the brochure for the schedule of events.
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/hillsborough-bus-tour