Countdown to WhiskyFest New York 2026

This year’s WhiskyFest New York takes place on Friday, November 20th at the Marriott Marquis. In addition to the usual spectacular evening of whiskies, tequilas and other spirits offered at the Grand Tasting, this year’s event will feature a special afternoon seminar session that will showcase some of the most rare, coveted ultra-aged bottlings in the whisky world.

The seminar kicks off at 2 p.m. and concludes just before 5 p.m., presenting a lineup of tastings that includes a ghost distillery bottling from Littlemill, a 50 year old Dewar’s, a 40 year old Highland Park, two prized Irish whiskeys from Midleton Very Rare, and three bottlings of Yamazaki Japanese whisky. Not to be outdone, Michter’s will be on hand to pour its 20 year old bourbon, as well as the Bomberger’s expression from its Legacy Series. If you’re curious about the value of the whiskies being poured, it adds up to more than $10,000 worth of whisky. The seminars will be led by the whisky makers and educators for each expression, alongside Whisky Advocate editors.

Setting The Stage

•Loch Lomond Group will present Littlemill 33 year old, from the “ghost” distillery of the same name from the Lowlands of Scotland. Littlemill’s stills ran dry in 1994, and the site was destroyed by fire in 2004. Loch Lomond Group owns the remaining barrels, which are rarely tasted at public events. Loch Lomond master of whisky Andy Westley will lead this tasting along with Whisky Advocate senior editor Julia Higgins. Loch Lomond will also be pouring Glen Scotia 25 year old, giving attendees a chance to taste an ultra-aged Campbeltown scotch.

•For Irish Distillers, master distiller Kevin O’Gorman will be on hand to taste through two of Midleton’s top expressions: Midleton Very Rare 2024 Vintage and Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett Legacy, a single pot still whiskey that honors one of Midleton’s most venerable master distillers. O’Gorman will be accompanied onstage by Whisky Advocate contributing editor Jonny McCormick.

•For Michter’s, owner Joseph Magliocco will present the Bombergers and Michter’s 20 year old expressions, alongside master of maturation Andrea McKeee, accompanied by Whisky Advocate editor-at-large David Savona. Magliocco, who famously bought the trademark for $245 back in 1997, has built Michter’s into an American whiskey icon and is widely considered one of the modern whiskey era’s great visionaries.

•For Dewar’s, master blender Stephanie Macleod will present two ultra-aged expressions: Dewar’s 38 year old, and a recently bottled 50 year old expression, which has never been tasted in public. The 50 year old is the oldest Dewar’s whisky ever released. Macleod will be accompanied by Jonny McCormick, who will also be joined onstage by the other Whisky Advocate editors.

•Japanese whisky Yamazaki will focus on some of the key barrel types that contribute to the taste profiles of its most renowned expressions, with tastings of its Yamazaki Spanish Oak, followed by its 18 year old and 18 year old Mizunara. Leading will be House of Suntory’s Keli Rivers and Whisky Advocate contributing editor Jonny McCormick.

•Highland Park will be presenting its 30 year old and 40 year old scotch single malts. Both show the delightful effects of sherry on ultra-aged scotch, which melds with Highland Park 's subtle peat smoke to create its unique Highlands profile. This tasting will be led by Highland Park specialist Rose Robinson, accompanied by David Savona.

The entire afternoon session will run from 2 to 4:45 p.m. There will certainly be lots of discussion about which whiskies are everybody’s favorites. One thing for sure is that there will be lots of competition in this once-in-a-lifetime tasting session! Click here for more information.