WhiskyFest New York's Afternoon Seminar to Offer Iconic Ultra-Aged Whiskies

WhiskyFest New York has long been a landmark gathering for whisky lovers, offering a wealth of iconic releases and unforgettable tasting experiences. This year’s program will include an afternoon seminar session, to be held before the 6 p.m. Grand Tasting on Friday, November 20th, that will take things to the next level. The seminars will feature whiskies from some of the world’s most iconic makers, presented by their distillers, blenders, and brand owners.

Join us at the New York Marriott Marquis on the afternoon of November 20^th for this extraordinary journey of tasting through some of the world’s most outstanding whiskies. Tickets can be purchased here. Here’s a look at the whiskies being poured.

LOCH LOMOND GROUP

Littlemill 33 year old Cask Reflections Japanese Mizunara Oak Finish

A vibrant legacy of this ghost distillery, shuttered in 1994

This exceptional Lowland single malt whisky captures the soft fruit-driven character of one of Scotland's lost distilleries. Matured for over three decades in refill American oak casks, it underwent a carefully curated four-month finish in rare Japanese mizunara oak, which has imbued the whisky with fragrant sandalwood spice while preserving the Littlemill hallmarks of honeyed creaminess, tropical fruit, citrus, and delicate floral aromas. Silky layers of vanilla, gentle oak, and warming spice culminate in a long, elegant finish that showcases both the spirit's vitality and the flavor influence of the mizunara oak.

Glen Scotia 25 year old

A harbormaster’s nightcap, with toffee sweetness and signature maritime notes

Matured for a quarter of a century in refill American oak casks and finished in first-fill bourbon barrels, Glen Scotia 25 year old epitomizes the refinement and coastal characteristics of Campbeltown single malt whisky at its best. The nose showcases layers of baked orchard fruit, salted caramel, honeyed vanilla, and soft toffee, lifted by coastal salinity and a gentle wisp of smoke. The palate is rich yet composed, with honey, red apple, ground ginger, and citrus peel oils emerging through a creamy texture, leading to a long, warming finish marked by ginger, vanilla pod, and sea breeze freshness.

THE HOUSE OF SUNTORY

Yamazaki Spanish Oak

Sherry oak opulence, shaped by Japanese precision

This 2026 release, successor to the Yamazaki Spanish Oak 2022 Tsukuriwake Edition, explores one of the signature cask types used at Yamazaki Distillery. The Spanish oak imparts distinctive notes of raisin, black cherry, and prune, layered with dark chocolate, sweet spice, and rich oak, while Yamazaki's hallmark orange peel and stewed orchard fruits shine through. This limited-edition dram from the birthplace of Japanese whisky is an ideal introduction to the art of cask maturation and the layered complexity of the Yamazaki range.

Yamazaki 18 year old

Refined oak maturation, a quiet dialogue of dried fruit, spice, and incense

Widely regarded as one of Japan’s defining single malts, Yamazaki 18 year old is matured in a combination of American, Spanish, and Japanese mizunara oak. Long maturation brings forth aromas of raisins, stone fruit, and the incense-like charms of mizunara oak, allowing the whisky’s elegance to shine. Blackberry, dark chocolate, and marmalade on the palate leads to a smooth, lingering finish defined by spice and polished wood. Yamazaki 18 year old is a benchmark of Japanese whisky excellence.

Yamazaki 18 year old Mizunara

Sandalwood, cherry, and candied citrus underpin a masterclass in mizunara maturation

Yamazaki 18 year old Mizunara is an outstanding expression of Japanese whisky craftsmanship and exclusively matured in precious Japanese mizunara oak, prized for the distinctive flavors it imparts over time. Sandalwood, drifting incense, cinnamon, leather, and an array of berry fruits provide aromatic structure, while vanilla custard and candied citrus flavors mingle with cinnamon and nutmeg, with cherry and creamy latte on the finish. The pinnacle of this House of Suntory flight, it’s an exceptional whisky that offers a rare chance to sip one of Japan’s most sought-after modern releases.

MICHTER’S

Michter’s 20 year old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Midnight sippin’ on a Kentucky front porch

Selected by the Michter’s team of Dan McKee and Andrea Wilson, this bourbon expresses all the hallmarks of great aging without becoming overwhelmed by time in the barrel. Released periodically in limited quantities, the experience hits deep with aromas of dark chocolate, stone fruit, vanilla, caramel, leather, and warm baking spices, accented by dark berries and refined oak. Expect a full-bodied and chewy palate, with maple syrup sweetness, earthiness, cedar spice, and tobacco notes, with a long, drying finish of cinnamon and seasoned oak. A marvelous moment in the program to try one of Kentucky’s most celebrated bourbons.

Bomberger’s Declaration Kentucky Straight Bourbon 2026 Release

Honoring Michter's 19th-century Pennsylvania heritage

Part of Michter's acclaimed Legacy Series, this whiskey honors the historic Bomberger's Distillery in Pennsylvania, which later became Michter's Distillery in the mid-20th century. Crafted today by Michter's in Kentucky, the highly anticipated 2026 release showcases maturation in chinquapin and Hungarian oak. Rich aromas of butter toffee and roasted nuts lead into a luxurious palate of dark chocolate, toasted pecans, ripe cherry, and warming spice, culminating in a long, silky finish. Bomberger's Declaration’s remarkable profile is a testament to Michter's ability to honor its heritage while continually pushing the boundaries of flavor.

HIGHLAND PARK

Highland Park 30 year old

An artfully composed aged scotch from the Orkney Islands

Founded in 1798, Highland Park is Scotland’s most northerly whisky distillery, and remains defined by its traditional floor maltings and distinctive use of local peat cut from Hobbister Moor. This masterpiece captures the Orkney spirit at its most aromatic. Matured in a combination of sherry-seasoned European and American oak hogsheads, refill casks, and a single bourbon barrel, it moves effortlessly from inviting floral aromas into a palate of lemon brightness, creamy vanilla, tropical fruit, and soft peat smoke. An endlessly expressive island whisky that lingers with graceful complexity long after the glass is empty.

Highland Park 40 year old

Four decades of heathery smoke and sherry oak in perfect harmony

A remarkable 40 years of slow, careful aging in sherry-seasoned European oak followed by a 7-month finish in first-fill, sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks enable this superb scotch to achieve extraordinary levels of flavor. A complex dram with aromas of ripe black cherry and dark chocolate, it boasts a richly spiced palate of stone fruits and caramelized ginger, with a lingering finish of clove, mint, and elegant peat smoke. One of the highlights of the seminar, this is a dram to savor slowly and experience the exquisite refinement that only four decades of maturation can deliver.

DEWAR’S

Dewar’s Double Double 38 year old

The pinnacle of multi-stage blending, marrying, and finishing

This blended malt is an ultra-aged combination of Highland and Island single malts, aged through Dewar’s distinctive four-stage process designed to deliver exceptional smoothness and depth. Here, a final finishing period in Pedro Ximénez-seasoned Royal Brackla casks raises the bar. Dark toffee, smoked orange, caramelized nuts, and floral aromas lead into a sumptuous palate of chocolate desserts and spiced red apple, with a long finish of cocoa, coffee grounds, and smoke. The WhiskyFest seminar program offers a unique opportunity to explore this ultra-aged blended malt in a tutored setting with Stephanie Macleod, the master blender, where each layer unfolds in real time.

Dewar’s 50 year old

Half a Century in Waiting

An extraordinary 50 year old Dewar’s blended malt that represents a landmark achievement in scotch whisky. Drawn from half a century of maturation, it is a remarkable expression of time, craftsmanship, and cask selection. While its composition remains a closely guarded secret for now, seminar attendees will be among a select few ever to taste it, making this an exceptionally rare opportunity to encounter a whisky that has matured beyond expectation, defined as much by its mystery as its age.