Whiskeyfest 2014 - Chicago

[grantsi]

Anyone else get tickets today...wasn't a cheap ticket ($225 for 1 VIP ) but I've heard good things and couldn't stay away. Looks like it's sold out right now...just curious if any one else will be attending or has any opinions

[jwacky]

I attended WhiskyFest San Francisco and thought it was worth every penny. Definitely do a seminar. The rest of the night was such a great opportunity to sample drinks that I've seen on the shelf or have read about online. If I lived within two hours of a hosting city I would go every year.

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[brettckeen]

I've been going every year for a few years now in Chicago. It's great, VIP is the only way to do it. Do the VIP hour then go to a seminar or two, come back and finish it out if you can.

[GaryT]

Something I want to hit at some point, but unfortunately has fallen on the weekend of the Sampler (at least recently). Looks like a whole lot of fun, but if I have to pick between the gazebo, with the great company and pours, and a paid event . . . makes it tough. Hopefully one year they won't synch up!

[grantsi]

Thanks for the confirmation that this is a good time...my wife positioned it as a waste and that I would have been better off buying 2 bottles and staying at home.

[Dolph Lundgren]

I look forward to this every year (my third year running). It's a blast and worth every cent. VIP is a the best way to do it, too; you get a good hour of sampling in before the masses hit the floor, and when they do, you get a chance to hit up the great spread put out. Just watch out for the burly looking dudes in Delilah's bowling shirts...

Also, if you still have the stomach afterwards, hit up Delilahs after.

[jwacky]

Thanks for the confirmation that this is a good time...my wife positioned it as a waste and that I would have been better off buying 2 bottles and staying at home.

I was afraid of this, too, at first, but my brother-in-law was persistent so I finally caved. Figured for the price of admission I could try almost anything I wanted at a local whiskey bar, cab home, and call it a day. Just something about trying everything side by side that really accentuates the differences (and similarities) among them, and it was great to try so many whiskeys I'd only heard about, and so many more that I'd been wanting to try but had been leery of trying 'by the bottle.' I learned a lot and had a blast.

[AaronWF]

I have gone to this for the last three years. My first year was by far the best because of the novelty quotient and because I had some great conversations with people like David Perkins and the Van Winkles. I have continued to have nice conversations, but the event has gotten more crowded and something like the Van Winkle table is mobbed from open to close.

Also beware the vast majority of booths are pouring Scotch - it has been a huge gateway for me to the malt world, but bourbon is far from a priority there. It's been ramping up as the bourbon craze has continued to grow, but it's still very malt-centric.

Doesn't surprise me that it's already sold out. I got lucky last year and was gifted a ticket, because it sold out very quickly last year too. I believe this year, however, is a new record. It certainly is one on price as well.

[Dolph Lundgren]

Heaven Hill has had a good showing the last two years, and if you go to their seminar you typically get the chance to try whiskey that hasn't been released yet. Aaron is right and it is malt centered, but there is plenty to entertain a bourbon drinker. The bourbon presence is growing, too. It'll be interesting to see what they offer for seminars this year. Ultimately, John Hansel does a great job putting this event together.

[jwacky]

Be sure to take notes as you sip, because even if you pour a lot of stuff out your memory will get 'fuzzy'. Heck, even some of my tasting notes by the end of the night included gems like 'yum' and 'this is good'.

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[bjhowell]

I've been to the NY Whiskey fest the last couple of years. But this year they decided to move it to a Wednesday (WTF??). Who the hell can take off the middle of the work week to travel up for that. Seriously doubt I will be back to NY next year as a result.

[Lost Pollito]

The fest is closing in. Looking forward to another fun event. Who else is going?

[Kwats7]

I'll be there, looking forward to it

[JohnHansell]

If you see me walking around, be sure to say "hi."

[bjhowell]

John, I emailed you before to try to find out why NY was switched to a Wednesday but never received any response. I understand going back to 1 day. 2 days had to be a real pain. But doing Wednesday is a real hardship for those of us that traveled to NY for the show.