S&B Events

Event Production Servicessmokeandbarrel.org

S&B Events (Smoke & Barrel Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2018 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, producing annual spirits tasting and BBQ events that raise funds for United Way of SWLA and McNeese Athletic Foundation through ticket sales, vendor fees, and tiered corporate sponsorships.

Company typePrivate
Founded2018
HeadquartersLake Charles, United States
Headcount1–10
GTM typeB2B and B2C
OfferingServices

What S&B Events does

Smoke & Barrel Inc. (DBA S&B Events) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2018 and headquartered in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It produces annual food and beverage tasting events, anchored by its flagship "Smoke & Barrel: Lake Charles" — a spirits tasting event on the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse lawn featuring nearly 100 bourbons, scotches, and whiskeys paired with regional BBQ, live music, and local artisans. The event has expanded into a four-day weekend format incorporating the Meet the Makers Distiller's Dinner, the Cocktail Royale competition (supporting United Way of SWLA's Success by 6 program), and the Smokin' Brunch. A second annual event, Rum Revival, was added in spring 2026 to diversify the production slate.

The organization operates with five employees and no proprietary technology platform, relying on third-party ticketing (TicketSignup.io), social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), and bundled paid media (TV, billboard, radio, print, digital) for distribution and marketing. Revenue is generated from individual ticket sales, vendor participation fees from spirits brands, food vendors, and entertainers, and a five-tier corporate sponsorship program ranging from $2,500 (Pitt Master) to $20,000 (Presenting Sponsor). Proceeds are directed through partnership agreements to United Way of Southwest Louisiana (Success by 6 early-childhood scholarships) and the McNeese Athletic Foundation (supporting 400+ NCAA student-athletes across 15 sports). Co-founders Nathaniel Allured (Executive Director) and Adam Fontenot (Creative Director) lead the organization.

S&B Events firmographics

Firmographics

Name: S&B Events
Legal name: Smoke & Barrel Inc.
Website: https://smokeandbarrel.org
Company type: Private
Founded year: 2018
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 1–10 employees
Short description: S&B Events (Smoke & Barrel Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2018 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, producing annual spirits tasting and BBQ events that raise funds for United Way of SWLA and McNeese Athletic Foundation through ticket sales, vendor fees, and tiered corporate sponsorships.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

S&B Events industry classification

Industry

Product category: Event Production Services
NAICS: Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310)
SIC: Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
akta.pro primary industry: Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)
akta.pro secondary industries: Food, Wine & Beverage Festivals/Expos (MPAGAFAE), Beverage Services (Bar Catering, Mixology, Beverage Programs) (THAHAKAJ)

Keywords

Food beverage events
Spirits tasting events
Nonprofit event production
Corporate sponsorship packages
Charitable event management

Where S&B Events is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Lake Charles
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

S&B Events business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B and B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from selling tickets to the Smoke & Barrel event and related weekend events including the Distiller's Dinner, Cocktail Royale Finale, and Smokin' Brunch. Early bird tickets available starting May 1st with general admission pricing.
Sponsorship Revenue: Multi-tiered sponsorship packages ranging from $2,500 (Pitt Master Level) to $20,000 (Presenting Sponsor), offering marketing benefits, event tickets, sponsor lounge access, and discounts to lead-up events.
Vendor Participation Fees: Revenue from food vendors, spirits brands, retail vendors, and entertainment acts participating in the events through supplier/vendor application forms.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Other	Multi-year contract	Presenting Sponsor - $20,000 annual sponsorship
Other	Multi-year contract	Distiller Level Sponsor - $15,000 annual sponsorship
Other	Multi-year contract	Bourbon Level Sponsor - $10,000 annual sponsorship
Other	Multi-year contract	Whiskey Level Sponsor - $5,000 annual sponsorship
Other	Multi-year contract	Pitt Master Level Sponsor - $2,500 annual sponsorship

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

S&B Events product offering

Product offering

Core offering

S&B Events is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that produces annual food and beverage tasting events in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The core offering is the Smoke & Barrel: Lake Charles spirits tasting event (featuring nearly 100 bourbons, scotches, and whiskeys paired with BBQ from leading pitmasters) along with companion events including Cocktail Royale, Meet the Makers Distiller's Dinner, and Smokin' Brunch. The organization also sells tiered corporate sponsorship packages ($2,500–$20,000) with proceeds directed to charitable causes including United Way of SWLA's Success by 6 program and McNeese Athletic Foundation.

Product overview

S&B Events (Smoke and Barrel Inc) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization producing quality entertainment events for community enrichment while raising funds for charitable causes. The company operates two core annual food and beverage events: Smoke & Barrel: Lake Charles (premiere spirits tasting event in November featuring bourbon, scotch, whiskey, and BBQ) and Rum Revival (spring event). Smoke & Barrel weekend includes multiple sub-events: Grand Tasting Event, Meet the Makers: Distiller's Dinner, Cocktail Royale Competition, and Smokin' Brunch. The company also offers corporate sponsorship packages at various investment levels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

Smoke & Barrel: Lake Charles: Annual spirits tasting event established in 2018, held on the lawn of the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse in downtown Lake Charles, featuring bourbon, scotch, whiskey tastings, BBQ, live music, and local artisans.
Rum Revival
Cocktail Royale
Meet the Makers: Distiller's Dinner
Smokin' Brunch

Products and services

Smoke & Barrel: Lake Charles (Grand Tasting Event) Annual flagship spirits tasting event held each November on the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse Lawn in Downtown Lake Charles, featuring bourbon, scotch, and whiskey tastings paired with BBQ from leading pitmasters, live regional music, and local artisan displays. Targeted at adult spirits enthusiasts in Southwest Louisiana.
Rum Revival Spring food and beverage event produced by Smoke & Barrel Inc. that kicks off the warmth of the spring season. Benefits United Way of SWLA and the Success by 6 initiative.
Meet the Makers: Distiller's Dinner Exclusive tasting event held during the Smoke & Barrel weekend featuring distillers and brand ambassadors sharing rarest pours and newest releases, with gourmet hors d'oeuvres pairings from local restaurants including Augustine's.
Cocktail Royale Competition & Finale Event Annual cocktail competition during Smoke & Barrel weekend featuring 15+ Lake Charles restaurants and bars showcasing handcrafted cocktails, with proceeds supporting United Way of SWLA's Success by 6 early childhood education program.
Smokin' Brunch Sunday morning all-inclusive brunch event concluding the Smoke & Barrel weekend, featuring curated food pairings.
Corporate Sponsorship Packages Multi-tiered corporate sponsorship packages (Presenting $20,000, Distiller Level $15,000, Bourbon Level $10,000, Whiskey Level $5,000, Pitt Master Level $2,500) offering integrated marketing benefits, event tickets, sponsor lounge access, social media posts, and lead-up event discounts to regional and local businesses seeking brand visibility.

Quantifiable outcome

Supports Success by 6 program providing day school scholarships for children under 6
+2 more outcomes

Companies that use S&B Events

Customer profile

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

S&B Events technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

S&B Events partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

Penelope Wheated BourbonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 November 2026Featured spirits brand used in the Cocktail Royale competition where 15+ restaurants and bars create handcrafted cocktails. Brand serves as the foundation for competitive cocktail creation during the Smoke & Barrel weekend events.
United Way of Southwest LouisianacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary charitable partner receiving proceeds from Smoke & Barrel events. Partnership supports the Success by 6 program which provides day school scholarships for children under age 6 and enables parents to return to the workforce. The Cocktail Royale competition raises funds specifically for Success by 6 to enrich early childhood education in the community.
McNeese Athletic FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeneficiary charitable partner benefiting from Smoke & Barrel events. Works to strengthen the financial condition of all 15 NCAA sports and provide resources supporting the over 400 McNeese student-athletes. Logo appears on organization materials as charitable beneficiary.
Augustine's RestaurantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLake Charles' newest and most celebrated restaurant serving as venue and food provider for the Meet the Makers: Distiller's Dinner event. Provides perfectly paired gourmet hors d'oeuvres for the exclusive tasting experience set against the backdrop of Historic City Hall's Winter Wonderland & Selfie Art Exhibit.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

S&B Events competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

San Antonio Cocktail Conference: Multi-day spirits and cocktail festival pairing tastings with educational seminars and charitable giving components. Comparable in combining spirits tastings, food, mixology competitions, and nonprofit/community benefit framing.
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation: New Orleans-based nonprofit producing one of the world's leading spirits and cocktail industry events, featuring tastings, education, and competitions. Most directly comparable to Smoke & Barrel as a nonprofit spirits-tasting event organizer with charitable/community mission.
Bourbon & Beyond: Louisville-based bourbon, food, and music festival pairing spirits tastings with pitmaster-style food and live entertainment. Closely matches Smoke & Barrel's spirits + BBQ + live music + artisans format, scaled to a larger national audience.
Manhattan Cocktail Classic: Annual New York spirits and cocktail event featuring tastings, seminars, and gala-style programming. Comparable event format and consumer demographic for upscale spirits tastings.
Kentucky Bourbon Festival: Annual bourbon festival held in Bardstown, KY featuring spirits tastings, food pairings, and live entertainment. Comparable regional spirits festival model with similar attendee demographic and sponsor base.
WhiskyFest: Multi-city whiskey tasting event series organized by Whisky Advocate, featuring dozens of distilleries sampling bourbon, scotch, and other whiskies. Direct peer in spirits tasting event production with traveling-format reach.

Broad incumbents

Food & Wine Classic in Aspen: Premium food and wine tasting festival hosted by Food & Wine magazine, combining tastings with chef demonstrations and brand sponsorships. Larger incumbent in beverage/food festival space with broader culinary focus beyond spirits.
South Beach Wine & Food Festival: Large-scale food and beverage festival operated by the Food Network, featuring tastings, celebrity chefs, and sponsorships across multiple venues. Broader and larger incumbent in the same food/beverage festival category but covering all food types rather than spirits-only.

Regional players

NOLA Bourbon Festival: Bourbon-focused festival in the New Orleans market featuring tastings, food pairings, and live music. Same regional Gulf South positioning and bourbon-focused tasting event model, though serving a different city geography than Smoke & Barrel.
New Orleans Wine & Food Experience: Regional Louisiana-based food and beverage festival featuring wine, spirits, and culinary tastings with charitable beneficiary components. Comparable Gulf South regional festival model with similar nonprofit/community orientation, though larger in scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

S&B Events compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance1 record

S&B Events financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

S&B Events leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

S&B Events funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

S&B Events M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about S&B Events

What does S&B Events do?

Is S&B Events a public or private company?

S&B Events is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was S&B Events founded?

S&B Events was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.

Where is S&B Events based?

S&B Events is headquartered in Lake Charles, United States, in the North America region.

How does S&B Events make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are sponsorship Revenue and vendor Participation Fees.

Who are S&B Events's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are San Antonio Cocktail Conference, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, Bourbon & Beyond, Manhattan Cocktail Classic, Kentucky Bourbon Festival and WhiskyFest. Broad incumbents are Food & Wine Classic in Aspen and South Beach Wine & Food Festival. Regional players are NOLA Bourbon Festival and New Orleans Wine & Food Experience.

Does S&B Events have an API?

No public API is recorded for S&B Events.

What industry is S&B Events in?

S&B Events's product category is Event Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAGAF, Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka), with a secondary code of MPAGAFAE, Food, Wine & Beverage Festivals/Expos. Its NAICS code is 7113 and its SIC code is 7900.