WhiskyFest Gets Ready to Roll in New York

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, WhiskyFest is coming to the Big Apple next week! The event, which will be held at the New York Marriott Marquis on November 9th, is the perfect opportunity for whisky fans to discover new pours and new friends, while also meeting the people behind some truly exceptional whiskies.

Over 280 different whiskies will be available for tasting throughout the evening. The list of pours includes 18 whiskies from our previous Top 20 lists, such as Balblair 15 year old, Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 year old, Knob Creek 12 year old, and Nikka From the Barrel, among others. Alongside great bourbons, ryes, and scotches, will be great drams from Ireland, Japan, and elsewhere around the world. The list includes American single malts from Balcones, Beam, Virginia Distillery Co., Westland, and Westward. Other spirits, such as rum and tequila, will also be available.

In addition to early admission, attendees with VIP passes will also have access to some truly exceptional and hard-to-find whiskies, such as Ardbeg Traigh Bhan Batch No. 5, Compass Box Metropolis, FUJI 50th Anniversary Single Malt, Heaven’s Door Bootleg Series V, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra, Michter’s 20 year old bourbon, Parker’s Double Barreled Blend, Lagavulin Special Release 12 year old, Johnnie Walker Blue, and more.

Educational Master Classes will be held throughout the event, offering deep dives into specific distillers. Maker’s Mark will focus on oak maturation, following the whiskey’s journey from still to bottle with an accompanying tasting. Heaven Hill will walk guests through the history of the distillery with pours of three bourbon expressions that have identical mashbills but different ages. Hibiki’s presentation will focus on blending single malt and grain whiskies. FUJI master blender Jota Tanaka will take guests on the distillery’s journey from its founding in 1973 up to the present day—50 years in the making, which will include a taste of its 50th Anniversary Single Malt. And Widow Jane will walk guests through the art of blending and barrel selection, with tastes of three whiskeys. All seminars are free to attend, with seating on a first-come-first-served basis.

WhiskyFest New York is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for whisky enthusiasts of all stripes, from the experts to the folks who are just starting to learn about the water of life. Tickets are available for purchase at whiskyfest.com. We look forward to seeing you there!