Chicago WhiskeyFest 2006

[doubleblank]

This years event is Thursday, March 30th. Go to the Malt Advocate website for tickets and details. Last year, Jon, Randy2 and myself joined forces at the event and had a great time. But most of the fun lies outside the official event itself. Binny's and Sam's have tasting events. The Twisted Spoke has an evening with the Master Distillers planned (usually the Wed night before) and Delilah's has an event after the close of the Fest.....from 10pm till???? Julian and Preston tending bar and Jimmy Russel discussing bourbon with the ladies.

Myself and several other SB'ers are also planning to attend. Hope that Mark and Chuck (both local SB'ers) can make it to the fun. Post here or PM me and we'll coordinate our own social schedule.

Randy

[chasking]

I had a blast last year. The pre-Whiskeyfest event at Binny's was particularly cool. Ditto the gathering at the Twisted Spoke. It would be great to meet up with you guys.

[pepcycle]

Quote from the MM Ambassadors Website.

Speaking of whisky events, you can also join me at WhiskyFest Chicago on

Thursday, March 30. The folks at Malt Advocate do a great job at this

show, so if you can make it, you won't be disappointed. They have even

offered a $10 discount for Maker's Mark Ambassadors. Visit

https://www.maltadvocate.com/active_content/tickets.asp to order your

tickets and enter the following discount codes: makerschi06 for the

regular admission ticket and makerschi06vip for the VIP admission ticket

price.

[chasking]

I ordered my ticket today. So, who's coming?

[Rancastle]

I'll arrive on Wednesday afternoon. I look forward to meeting you!

[TNbourbon]

Dane and I will be driving up from Tennessee via St. Louis, respectively, and hopefully arriving by dinner hour Wednesday.

[cowdery]

I just got the announcement from Mitch Einhorn at Twisted Spoke that he is holding his "The Legends of Bourbon" event again this year on Wednesday night, 3/29.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

8 PM to 2 AM

Twisted Spoke

3369 N. Clark Street, Chicago.

It's the Spoke's annual "The Legends of Bourbon" event. Other guests scheduled to attend include Dave Pickerell (Maker's Mark), Even Kulsveen (Kentucky Bourbon Distillers), Fred Noe (Jim Beam), Jimmy Russell (Wild Turkey), Julian Van Winkle (Van Winkle Bourbon), Peter Pogue (Old Pogue Distillery), Craig Beam (Heaven Hill Distilleries), and Adam Seger (Nacional 27 restaurant and the Sour Mash Bourbon Bread Company). Copies of the book BOURBON, STRAIGHT: The Uncut and Unfiltered Story of American Whiskey and the DVD "Made and Bottled in Kentucky" will be available for sale and signing by me. Call 773-525-5300 for more information. (Twisted Spoke web site.)

The most notable thing here, besides my appearance of course, is that the mysterious Even Kulsveen, not his more visible son Drew, is scheduled to attend.

[COPPERSTILL]

I am going to make it this year. If I can assist anyone while making the trip just let me know.

John Ed Beam

[doubleblank]

Great John Ed......there will be several other SB'ers there too. Basic itinerary is Twisted Spoke on Wed evening follwed by the WhiskeyFest Thursday evening and Delilah's Thursday night.

Binny's also does a whiskey tasting at their store on N Clark (close to Twisted Spoke) on Wed from 5 to 8 pm. Sort of a mini WhiskeyFest but less crowded. They have all their "hand picked" bourbons at 10% off. This includes their Weller 12yo from you know where for $15 and change. Last year the VW's, BT, and HH were all there.

Randy

[chasking]

Binny's also does a whiskey tasting at their store on N Clark (close to Twisted Spoke) on Wed from 5 to 8 pm. Sort of a mini WhiskeyFest but less crowded.

Last year this was a GREAT event. I'm planning to hit it again. Hopefully then I'll see the rest of you later at the Spoke.

[cowdery]

Binny's calls their event Whiskey Expo.

[doubleblank]

It looks like SB will be well represented this year in Chicago at the WhiskeyFest....probably about ten of us plus our "industry" members. Here is my schedule (and it appears many of us will be following the same).

Wednesday, attend Binny's Whisky Expo at their store on North Clark. 5 to 8 pm. $25 in advance, $35 at the door.

Attend Twisted Spoke event afterwards. Just a few blocks away on North Clark.

Thursday, attend WhiskeyFest at the Hyatt. 6:30 till 10 pm (VIP ticket holders get in at 5:30 pm).

Go to Delilah's for more bourbon if the group is up to it.

I'll be staying at the Hyatt.....or call me on the cell 281 615 5125 to meet up. Look forward to seeing everyone again.

Randy

[doubleblank]

Well, here's the earlybird report from Chicago. First stop was the Whiskey Expo at Binny's. HH, BT, VW, Barton, and the Kulsveens were there.....and a lot of those other whiskeys. In attendance were myself (Doubleblank),Tim (TNBourbon), Dane (who needs no intro), Randy 2 (Rancastle), Dan (Schlep) and Chuck (ChasKing). Tastings of note included the Binny's Weller 12yo which tasted a lot like those barrels we purchased from BT at the Fest. My guess is that its SW whiskey. Disappointment was the Binny's ETL which tasted like a lighter version of the standard ETL. Also tasted a Balvenie 17yo "New Wood" which was interesting. They put their 17yo into new, charred barrels for three months to finish them. Its almost like the barrels absorbed some of the typical scotch elements and made a more neutral whisky out of it.....I liked it. Next stop was the Twisted Spoke.

We all grabbed a bite at the Spoke and the food is good there. Chuck Cowdery also showed up. Mitch, the owner, made up some Tempura Bacon.....that's right, bacon dipped in a sour mash coating and then fried. The tongue said yes and the heart was screaming "NO"!. Julian, Craig Beam and the HH execs, Jimmy Russel, Fred Noe, Kris Comstock and BT's people were all there too. Each brought a secret bottle......now to the good stuff. Julian stops by and shows us his "sample"......barrel proof Pappy 20. Wow, even at barrel proof, the alcohol hides in the background. We all snared several samples of that during the evening. Next was Craigs "sample"....barrel broof 21yo rye....the same rye that wowed the crowd at HH last year at the Fest. We snuck several samples of that too. Craig said plans are to release that this year, at about $100 per bottle. Also had a couple of Preston Van Winkle's Old Fashions. Oh yeah, and we actually bought some pours of FR Single Barrel and Old Commonwealth (we bought Julian a pour too as he looked thirsty). Anyway.....we had a great time. Randy 2 took some pictures and he may (?) post them later.....at least those of the "samples".

Today is a shopping trip to Binny's and Sam's, the actual WhiskyFest and finally Delilah's for a night cap.

Randy

[barturtle]

Sounds like it's already been worth the price of admission and it hasn't even started yet! I'm green with envy, but then I am a turtle

[Rancastle]

Here's a pic of the HH Lab Sample Rye.

[Rancastle]

Did I mention there were some girls there too. Recognize the guilty?

[Rancastle]

More Pics Later!

[bluesbassdad]

Great Scott! Who is that guy in the background wearing the baseball cap and pretending not to look? :grin:

In similar circumstances I always figured it was insulting not to look. That's right; I would look, but solely out of a sense of duty. :slappin:

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[luv2hunt]

Sorry, I don't recognize the the legs and belly! Betty Jo, your daughters aren't old enough to be dancing on the bar!!!!! Oh wait.......Randy2 has daughters old enough to do that!!!!

Dawn

*Just jealous that my belly doesn't look like that*

[doubleblank]

Please note that Randy (Rancastle) and I had our wits about us as we've got our drinks in our hands.....didn't want them getting kicked off the bar. That was just a momentary lapse if Dane isn't looking.......please note Julian is clearly focused on the situation.

Hey Dawn.......I hope Jon is havng fun ......wherever he is.

Randy

[camduncan]

Here's a pic of the HH Lab Sample Rye.

[ATTACH]2484[/ATTACH]

Jeez, maybe if I could put a few of those lables on bottles, customs wouldn't mind me exceeding my quota next time I travel :cool:

[luv2hunt]

Randy....Jon made it home tonight and we leave tomorrow morning. He'd still rather be there with you! Looks like you're having a great time. Can't wait for more pictures and reports!

Dawn

PS. He was drinking Tequilla in Mexico City....Tomorrow it will be Pina Colada's in St Pete!

[doubleblank]

Day 2 was a lot of fun too. Started out with a shopping trip to Binny's and Sam's. What great stores. The Antiques were all still out there except the Saz.

The WhiskeyFest was also great. Better laid out and better food this year. Saw John Ed (Copperstill) and JDKneable there. Visited all the bourbon booths and chatted with BT about their experimental bourbons. Most interesting tastes were the Santa Teresa and Pyrat Reserve rums....both excellent.

Next was Delilah's. I think they threw R2 and me out at about 3am.....as Julian, Mike and others were headed out for pancakes. Had some of the Van Winkle's Old Fashions, Delilah's bourbon, Tribute, Pappy20, and some prohibition whiskeys, one of which was quie good.....Randy2 will have to post the pic.....bottled by the A H Stitzel Distillery (sp?). Bugged Julian about the provenance of certain whiskeys....he was not talking. I'll be back next year for sure.

Post those pics of friendly faces R2.

Randy

[Rancastle]

Julian and Mitch at the Twisted Spoke.

[Rancastle]

A little FRSB at the Spoke!