More Than a Fundraiser. An Experience.
The Kind of Evening People Talk About Long After It Ends.
Lake Norman’s Most Talked-About Night Out for Charity
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Don’t just hear about it later. Experience it yourself.
Experience Mission Farm transformed with warm lighting, refined lounge spaces, and the inviting atmosphere of iconic distillery tasting rooms. More cocktails with friends than formal fundraiser, Cigars, Bourbon & Benefactors has raised more than $1.15 million to help the Lincoln County Child Advocacy Center serve children and families affected by abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Designed for Conversation, Not Assigned Seating
Formal dining tables are intentionally absent from the experience. Instead, bourbon barrels, fire-lit patios, and open-air gathering spaces create a relaxed environment that encourages guests to wander, mingle, and settle naturally into conversation throughout the evening.
Chef-attended food stations curated by Savory House Kitchen allow guests to enjoy exceptional cuisine whenever they choose — returning as often as they like rather than waiting for a formal dinner service. The evening is designed to unfold at your own pace, whether you’re sampling bourbon, sharing a cigar with friends, or lingering beside the fire with a drink in hand.
Two Full Bars, No Waiting for the “Right Time”
Two full bars serve guests throughout the evening, ensuring guests are never far from a well-crafted cocktail, premium pour, or glass of wine. Guests may enjoy premium bourbon, spirits, wine, beer, signature cocktails, and nonalcoholic options without the rigid timing or formal pacing often associated with traditional events.
The drinks and cocktails are prepared by professional bartenders who volunteer their time and talent to help create the experience — bringing an elevated level of hospitality and craftsmanship to the evening.
Cigars Without Intimidation
Burners Tobacconist & Gentleman’s Goods of Denver joins Drew Estate Cigars to provide complimentary premium cigars for guests to enjoy during the event. Experienced tobacconists remain available throughout the evening to recommend cigars based on strength, flavor, and size preferences, helping guests find something approachable and enjoyable for the evening.
Cut-and-light service is also available, allowing even first-time guests to relax and enjoy the moment without feeling uncertain or out of place.
Tastings as Part of the Experience
Master distillers, brand owners, and ambassadors are on hand, sharing the stories behind what guests are enjoying. Enjoy tastings of premium bourbons, vodkas, tequilas, rums, gins, and expertly crafted cocktails featuring them.
Some of the evening’s most memorable conversations happen when guests realize they are speaking directly with the person behind what they are enjoying.
Auctions, Raffles & Friendly Competition
The silent auction, live auction, and raffles are a major highlight of the evening, featuring premium experiences, sought-after items, exclusive bourbons, travel packages, luxury goods, and one-of-a-kind offerings guests genuinely want.
The energy around the auctions becomes part of the entertainment itself, with competitive bidding, lively conversation, and guests deciding where to place their chances throughout the night.
Additional prizes are available through the general raffle, including the legendary arms’-length bundle — a guest favorite that consistently outsells all other raffle options combined. For $100, guests stretch their arms wide while ticket sellers roll a continuous strip of raffle tickets from fingertip to fingertip — the longer the reach, the greater the number of chances to win.
The Soundtrack of the Evening
As guests move between lounges, tastings, food stations, and gathering spaces, live acoustic guitarist and vocalist, Brian English, provides the soundtrack for the night — performing recognizable classics and modern favorites with his own distinctive interpretation and style.
Covering artists ranging from Chris Stapleton, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, and The Eagles to The Killers, Kings of Leon, Morgan Wallen, Post Malone, and more, the music feels familiar, relaxed, and intentionally unforced — creating energy without overpowering conversation.
A Fully Hosted Evening
Unlike many events where food, premium pours, cigars, or specialty experiences are offered à la carte, your admission is designed to include the full evening experience from the moment you arrive — allowing guests to simply relax, explore, and enjoy the night without interruption.
Why Guests Return
Guests return year after year because the evening feels different. Relaxed but refined. Social without being crowded. Upscale without being pretentious.
Some arrive for the bourbon, some for the cigars, some for the atmosphere, and others simply for the opportunity to spend an unforgettable evening with people they genuinely enjoy being around.
Long after the final pour and last song, what people remember most is how the evening made them feel.
