Whisky List is Growing for WhiskyFest Chicago
Have you been keeping an eye on the growing whisky list for WhiskyFest Chicago? It’s amazing; almost every day there are additions. Take a look at it here.
The Early Bird Catches the Worm! WhiskyFest™ Tickets Now Available
Have you heard? Tickets are now on sale for both WhiskyFest Chicago and San Francisco (New York tickets will be available soon). The Early Bird pricing means you can purchase 2012 tickets at 2011 prices. There won’t be a better time to buy your tickets, and WhiskyFest tickets make a great holiday gift!
Why not stay at the Hyatt Regency Chicago?
We have a special room rate available at the Hyatt Regency Chicago for any of the nights from March 20 through 24. The rate is $189 per night, single or double occupancy. To make your room reservations, call 1-888-421-1442 and ask for the “12th Annual WhiskyFest” block, or reserve your room online.
The room block will be available until February 21, or until it is sold out. The number of available rooms is limited, so make your reservations early. Reservation requests received after February 21 will be based on the hotel’s prevailing rates.
The Wait Will Soon Be Over…
Yes, WhiskyFest tickets for 2012 will soon be available. You know the events always sell out, so you won’t want to wait too long before placing your order. Check back here next week for the announcement that tickets are for sale.
Save the Date! 12th Annual WhiskyFest™ Chicago
Malt Advocate magazine is pleased to announce the date for the 12th Annual WhiskyFest Chicago: March 23, 2012. Be sure to mark your calendar; you won’t want to miss it! We’ll let you know when tickets are available.
Chicago’s Photos are Now Available
WhiskyFest Chicago photos are now available online! Click on the photo and take a look.
Announcing WhiskyWeek™ Chicago!
WhiskyWeek is alive and well in Chicago. With whisky events scheduled all week long, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about whisky, even if you weren’t able to get your hands on a WhiskyFest™ ticket.
Here is our list so far… and we’ll be adding more events, so be sure to check our website.
Monday, April 11
Bulleit 95 Rye Launch Party!
Delilah’s is very pleased to be hosting the first tasting of Bulleit 95 Rye Whiskey. This new Rye from the makers of Bulleit Bourbon, brings a 95% Rye mash bill whiskey to the market. Information about this innovative new product will be available.
8 pm
Free of charge
For more information: 773-742-2197
Delilah’s | 2771 N Lincoln | Chicago
Whisky Tasting
Classic Malts Whisky Tasting including a couple of Distiller’s Editions.
5-8pm
FREE
Warehouse Liquors
634 W. Wabash Avenue | Chicago, IL 60605
312.663.1850
Tuesday, April 12
2nd Annual Whisky Throwdown at the Irish Bistro
A fun mix of games, challenges, trivia and tastings MC’d by the amazingly talented and versatile Sean Ludford of BevX.com, with his bad-tempered english partner-in-crime, Sue Pitkin, Irish Bistro whisky enthusiast.
7 pm
$10
Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro, | 3905 N. Lincoln Avenue | Chicago, IL 60613
773 248 3905, ask for Sue Pitkin
Reservations strongly advised as space is limited.
Four Roses Single Barrel Sampling
This unique distillery, featuring the most number of different mash bills, will be hosting a sampling of Four Roses Single Barrel from each of the distillery’s different recipes.Information about the distillery will be available.
8 pm
Free of charge
For more information: 773-742-2197
Delilah’s | 2771 N Lincoln | Chicago
Bourbon tasting with dinner pairings
The entire evening of April 12 will feature a special menu honoring Heaven Hill Bourbons including pairings of whiskeys. Heaven Hill Brand Ambassador Rob Hutchins will be in attendance from 8:00 PM-10:00 PM.
5:00 PM until close
Free of charge
Longman and Eagle | 2657 N Kedzie Ave
For more information, contact Jim at 773.276.7110
Wednesday, April 13
Koval Distillery Tour
A unique tour of Chicago’s first boutique distillery. Learn about Koval’s process of mashing, distilling and aging it’s organic and kosher spirits. The tour begins at 2pm and finishes with a sampling of white whiskey, aged whiskey, and liqueurs. Space is limited, so please submit a reservation to tours@kovaldistillery.com. Tickets for the tour are $10 (cash only) per person. Tour and tasting last approximately 2 hours.
7 pm
For more information: 773-742-2197
Koval Distillery | 5121 N Ravenswood | Chicago
Knob Creek Single Barrel Kickoff
In conjunction with our own Hard Country Wednesdays, Delilah’s is very pleased to be hosting a tasting of the new Knob Creek Single Barrel. The ultimate Jim Beam ambassador, Fred Noe will be in attendance to answer questions about the product’s development and Bernie Lubbers will be in to teach folks about Bourbon.
8 pm
Free of charge
For more information: 773-742-2197
Delilah’s | 2771 N Lincoln | Chicago
Beer & Whiskey Dinner
Five courses paired with special whiskeys and limited release barrel-aged beers, all from New Holland. Distillery personalities is attendance.
Dinner at 7 pm; whiskeys available all night $45 for the dinner, no cover for the bar
Fountainhead | 1970 West Montrose | Chicago
(773) 697-8204
Bourbon Dinner and Tasting
Special menu with Bourbon tastings. Heaven Hill Master Distiller Craig Beam and Brand Ambassador Rob Hutchins will be available for bottle signing after 8:00 PM.
5:00 PM until close.
Free of charge
Blokes and Birds | 3341 N Clark
For more information, contact Daily Webb at 773.472.5252
Bulleit Rye Lanch Party
A party to celebrate the launch of Bulleit Rye. Tom Bulleit and Diageo’s Master of Whisky will be present to sample and talk about this new product.
FREE
Frontier
1072 North Milwaukee | Chicago, IL 60642
(773) 772-4322
Whiskies of the World
Hosted by Diageo’s Master of Whisky alongside Martini Bar’s resident mixologist. Take a tour of the whiskies of the world while learning and sampling products from America, Scotland, Ireland and Canada.
Cost: $35 at door
Martini Bar
401 South LaSalle (in the lobby) | Chicago, IL 60605
P: 312-377-6111
High on Rye
Sampling and cocktail creations featuring Bulleit Rye and Bulleit Bourbon. Meet & Greet with Master of Whisky Steve Cole.
7-9 pm
FREE
Fountainhead
1970 W Montrose Ave | Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 697-8204
North American Whiskey Dinner
Informative North American whisk(e)y Dinner & Tasting
8-10 pm
Irish Oak
3511 N. Clark St. | Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 935-6669
Templeton Rye whiskey unveils the Mobile Speakeasy in Chicago
Enjoy Templeton Rye cocktail features and climb aboard the Templeton Rye Mobile Speakeasy to step back in time to the prohibition era.
The Mobile Speakeasy is a unique and interactive look into the days of Prohibition.
Get the password and learn about the days of bootlegging Iowa’s famous Templeton Rye whiskey around the country and how it found its way to center of the Capone bootlegging empire. Learn about the production of this unique whiskey and get a taste of “The Good Stuff”.
6:00 – 8:00
Piece Pizzeria & Brewery
1927 W. North Ave.
9:00 – 11:00
Reggie’s
2109 S. State
Thursday, April 14
Lion’s Pride Whiskey Seminar and Tasting
Come learn about Chicago’s first legal whiskey since Prohibition at The Gage in downtown Chicago. Koval Distillery Brand Ambassador, Meg Bell, will be on hand to discuss Lion’s Pride Organic Whiskey. A single-grain, single-barrel whiskey made from scratch in Chicago, Lion’s Pride comes in a variety of mash bills. Meg will explore Koval’s distilling techniques and go into detail about the aging styles and choices for this unique whiskey. Described by American Craft Spirits Review as ““A new American ‘craft’ style — younger, brighter, more flavorful whiskeys for a whole new generation of brown spirits drinkers.”
5-7 pm
The Gage | 24 South Michigan | Chicago
For more information: 773-742-2197
We are opening some of the first bottles of Evan Williams Single Barrel 2001
Delilah’s is also making available a five year vertical tasting of Evan Williams Single Barrel – 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 & 2000 – this is the first time these whiskies have been tasted together in this manner. Heaven Hill Master Distiller Craig Beam will be stopping in to discuss Bourbon & Rye and the long standing family traditions that define the American Whiskey World.
8 pm
Free of charge
For more information: 773-742-2197
Delilah’s | 2771 N Lincoln | Chicago
High West Educational Dinner
Five course tasting menu with whiskey pairings, featuring David Perkins, Proprietor of High West.
7 pm
$50
Branch 27
1371 West Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 850-2700
Contact Branch 27 for tickets.
Whiskey Week starring New Holland
Limited release whiskeys, barrel-aged beers and cocktails aged in spent New Holland whiskey barrels. Distillery personalities in attendance.
9 pm
Free of charge
Twisted Spoke | 501 North Ogden Avenue | Chicago
(312) 666-1500
Friday, April 1511th Annual WhiskyFest™ Chicago
Gather. Taste. Discover. Share.
Over 275 Whiskies in One Place, on One Night
WhiskyFest After Party
Delilah’s is very pleased to be hosting the WhiskyFest After Party. With many special guest distillers + guest bartenders Preston & Julian Van Winkle !!! + The Upstairs – The Black Grouse Rock & Roll Dance Party!!!
10 pm
Free of charge
For more information: 773-742-2197
Delilah’s | 2771 N Lincoln | Chicago
New Holland After Party
Featuring limited release whiskeys, New Holland beer & cocktails as well as distillery personnel in attendance
10:30pm
Free of charge
The Exchange | 1270 North Milwaukee Ave, Chicago
(773) 342-5282
Saturday, April 16th
Ardbeg Committee Summit
Join us on the 16th April for our exclusive US gathering and be one of the first Committee members to dare to dip your toes into one of the most eagerly anticipated Ardbeg releases of all time. All attendees are invited with one guest and must register at http://ardbeg.mhusa.com. Note, space is limited, reserve your spot now! To join the Committee, simply sign up on www.ardbeg.com. We hope you see you then! (Note, all guests must be 21 years of age to enter).
Time: 12:00 Noon – 5:00 PM
Location: Bottom Lounge | 1375 West Lake Street | Chicago, Illinois
Event: Ardbeggian fare and drams will be served
Koval Distillery Tour
A unique tour of Chicago’s first boutique distillery. Learn about Koval’s process of mashing, distilling and aging it’s organic and kosher spirits. The special post-WhiskyFest tour begins at 2pm and finishes with a sampling of white whiskey, aged whiskey, and liqueurs. Space is limited, so please submit a reservation to tours@kovaldistillery.com. Tour and tasting last approximately 2 hours.
2 pm
For more information: 773-742-2197
$10 per person (cash only). Includes samples
Koval Distillery | 5121 N Ravenswood | Chicago
Koval Distillery launches new, unique Lion’s Pride Whiskeys at Delilah’s
Koval Distillery is introducing new mash bills to their Lion’s Pride Whiskey line. Chicago’s first legal whiskey since Prohibition is now available in Wheat, Millet and Spelt. Come sample these unique spirits in two aging styles (regular and dark), and meet Koval’s distillers. These are the first whiskeys to be distilled from Millet and Spelt in the USA, and Wheat whiskeys are rare (only becoming a legal category of whiskey in 2005.) Each single-grain, single-barrel whiskey is distinctively mashed, distilled, and aged in Chicago by Koval Distillery.
7-9pm
Free of charge
For more information: 773-742-2197
Delilah’s | 2771 N Lincoln | Chicago
Craft (or Artisan) Distillers Well Represented
At WhiskyFest, you’ll find many well-known whiskies alongside whiskies that are a bit more rare or expensive. But there’s another kind of whiskey you’ll find at WhiskyFest, and that’s craft whiskey. The craft movement continues to grow, and they’ll be well represented at WhiskyFest.
Which craft distillers will you find at WhiskyFest Chicago?
Angel’s Envy
Cedar Ridge
Grand Traverse Distillery
Griff’s Cowboy Whiskey
High West Distillery
Koval Distillery
New Holland
Redemption Rye
Templeton Rye
WhistlePig
We hope you’ll take some time to try their products and learn a little about what makes their whiskey unique. For the full whisky list, visit our web site.
Attend a Seminar for Even More Whiskies to Taste
Some of the seminars at WhiskyFest Chicago will also include something extra special to taste. For example, Willie Tait is bringing Isle of Jura 21 year old to his seminar. It’s a new product that will only be available to taste at Willie’s seminar; it won’t be available at the booth.
For our complete schedule of seminars, visit our web site.
Once Again, Over 275 Whiskies at WhiskyFest™
It’s pretty amazing, that you’ll be able to taste from a selection of over 275 whiskies at WhiskyFest Chicago. A wide variety of Bourbons, Ryes, Scotch, Irish, Canadian, Blends, and more! Take a look at our complete WhiskyFest Chicago whisky list here.