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.

Chicago’s Hotel Room Block

The WhiskyFest room block at the Hyatt Regency will be released after March 15,  so if you haven’t already, now’s the time to make your hotel reservations.

Here’s the information you’ll need:

Hyatt Regency Chicago on The River Walk
151 East Wacker Drive | Chicago | Illinois | 60601 

To make room block reservations call: 1-888-421-1442 and refer to the “11th Annual WhiskyFest” block, or reserve your room online:
https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.domode=welcome_gi_new&groupID=2769908

$179 single occupancy
$204 double occupancy

The room block is good until March 15, or until the block sells out.

Want to Learn More Before You Get There?

Before all of the excitement of WhiskyFest™ Chicago begins, we’re going to post information about many of the products you’ll find at WhiskyFest. Maybe we’ll pique your interest about a product you haven’t sampled yet.

To start us off, Castle Brands has a few different products for you to try.Knappogue Castle 12 Yr.

Knappogue Castle 12 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey, Very Special Reserve: this is the first bottling of Knappogue Castle 12 Year Old. Previously, Knappogue Castle was vintage-dated and changed each year.

Distillation & Selection Process:
• The malted barley is dried in ovens without the use of peat, allowing the crisp, clean flavor of malted barley to come through without smoky overtones. The dried malt is then ground and mixed with pure Irish spring water to extract the sugars.
• Single malt vintage whiskies of Knappogue are distilled three times in traditional onion-shaped copper pot stills.
• The spirit is then placed in oak casks, stored at a relatively consistent temperature, and aged for 12 years. This delicate distillation process, along with the moist and temperate Irish climate, yields the distinctive flavor of the Irish single malt.
• Knappogue is only lightly chill filtered and, unlike many whiskeys, no coloring is added.

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Clontarf Irish Whiskey: Named after the famous Battle of Clontarf in 1014 where High King Brian Boru sent Viking invaders tumbling back into the sea.
Clontarf wants to reclaim that fighting heritage for this century – to be bold and take a stand for what we believe in. We take a stand for this amazing Irish whiskey, made with the finest ingredients available.
Using the best grains and the purest Irish spring water, Clontarf Classic Blend is triple distilled and aged to smooth perfection in bourbon barrels. It has a velvety soft nose with hints of toffee. Its taste is lush and full textured and it finishes with lingering subtle vanilla notes bolstered by the late arrival of intriguing spice. So many drinkers are discovering the approachable and mixable taste of Irish whiskey. 40% ABV

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Jefferson’s Very Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky: This very small batch, handcrafted bourbon has been aged in the heart of metal clad warehouses to accentuate the extreme temperatures that Kentucky is blessed with, forcing the bourbon to expand deep into the barrel and pull out the prevalent flavors of the wood. These flavors of vanilla, caramel and assorted fruits assure an incredibly smooth taste and finish. There is no easier drinking bourbon whisky than this polished Kentucky gold. Jefferson’s is as smooth as it gets.

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Jefferson’s Reserve Very Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky: Like the accomplished third President of the US, this bourbon is complex, elegant and sophisticated. Jefferson’s Reserve is allowed to age slowly and reach maturity naturally. The whisky has a medium-weight, velvety textured body and a dry, robust palate, one that quickly fills the mouth with the engaging flavors of roasted corn, caramel, toffee and oak.

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Jefferson’s Presidential Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky: Jefferson’s Presidential Select is an ultra-rare, ultra-premium bourbon, bottled from the last year in operation of Louisville’s renowned Stitzel-Weller Distillery. This 94-proof, 17 yr old bourbon is a limited offering complementing the existing line of Jefferson’s Bourbons: Jefferson’s and Jefferson’s Reserve.

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A. de Fussigny Cognacs: With deep roots and abiding tradition, A. de Fussigny Cognacs embody both the traditional standards for high quality and innovation. Fussigny Cognacs have a complex taste and aroma that capture the terroir of the vineyards, distillation and aging in the heart of Cognac, France. The unique packaging of brilliant orange, purple and silver sets it apart and makes it an icon of contemporary luxury and fashionablilty.

Whiskies New to WhiskyFest

WhiskyFest always has a large selection of whiskies that are new-to-WhiskyFest, and this year’s WhiskyFest Chicago is no exception. Here are some of whiskies you’ll be introduced to on April 15:

Canadian Mist

Chieftain’s Cask Strength
Mortlach 15 yr. Sherry Cask
Teaninich 28 yr. Cask Strength (VIP hour only)

Cutty Sark

Early Times

High West Whiskey
Double Rye!

Isle of Skye 8 yr.

Kilchoman

Louisville Distilling Company
Angel’s Envy

Redemption Rye

Samoroli

Smokehead

Tomatin
 limited edition “Decades”

Usquaebach
‘Old-Rare’ Superior Blended Scotch Whisky
15yo Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 
‘Reserve’ Premium Blended Scotch Whisky 

The whisky list  on the Malt Advocate web site is being updated almost daily. And tickets are going fast, so if you haven’t yet decided if you’d like to attend, don’t wait too long! Buy tickets here.

Stay at the Hyatt; It’s Convenient!

While you’re in town for WhiskyFest Chicago, consider staying at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. It’s a AAA Four Diamond hotel, connected to Illinois Center and within minutes of the Magnificent Mile. The hotel’s central location means you have ready access to downtown Chicago. And after WhiskyFest, your hotel room is only an elevator ride away… what could be better?

We’ve arranged a special rate with the Hyatt; here’s what you’ll need to know:

Hyatt Regency Chicago on The River Walk
151 East Wacker Drive | Chicago | Illinois | 60601
telephone 312-239-4706
www.chicagohyatt.com 

To make reservations for the nights of April 14 & 15, call 1-888-421-1442 and refer to the Malt Advocate WhiskyFest block, or reserve your room online:
https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_gi_new&groupID=2769908

$179 single occupancy or $204 double occupancy.
The room block rate is good until March 15, or until the block sells out.

Make your reservations while there are still rooms available!

 

Tax Deadline Extended… No Excuses

Have you decided not to go to WhiskyFest Chicago because of Tax Day?

Yes, WhiskyFest Chicago will be held on Friday, April 15 this year. But it’s not as bad as it may seem.

We’re here to inform you that you don’t have an excuse any more… Tax Day 2011 is on April 18. Yes, due to Emancipation Day, you’ll have three additional days before you need to file your tax returns. Don’t believe us? Get it right from the horse’s mouth: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=233910,00.html

So, now you’re free to buy that WhiskyFest Chicago ticket. Click here to order yours today.

Remember to Take Advantage of the Special Pricing

You only have 18 days left to take advantage of the Early Bird special pricing on WhiskyFest tickets.

Tickets make a great holiday gift, whether for the whisky lover in your life, or for yourself. We won’t offer a better deal on tickets, so remember to buy yours before the special ends on December 31!

Discounted WhiskyFest 2011 Tickets Now Available!

The 2011 dates have been announced and tickets are now available with an Early Bird discount. Maybe you’ll be putting WhiskyFest tickets on your holiday wish list. There won’t be a better time to buy them, whether they’re for yourself or someone else.

The WhiskyFest dates for 2011 are:
April 15 – Chicago
October 7 – San Francisco
November 1 – New York

Buy tickets through December 31, 2010, and receive a $15 discount.

The Nose is grounded by volcanic ash

Volcanic ash to keep Richard Paterson from WhiskyFest Chicago? Sad but true. The glass is always half full, though.

Dawn Lambert, Marketing Director for Whyte and Mackay has a presentation you won’t want to miss.

A ‘Scotch 101 Primer’ proceeds an in-depth presentation on Whyte & Mackay’s illuminating single malt whisky, The Dalmore. Learn what makes this liquid gold one of the most talked about whiskies of our time with still some of the most rare and expensive whiskies the world has ever known. You’ll taste 4 expressions; The Dalmore 12 year old, Gran Reserva (a new rendition of the old Cigar Malt), The Dalmore 15 year old, the recently released and new Dalmore 18 year old and finally, the Dalmore King Alexander III, the only single malt scotch whisky aged in six different types of wood. For an extra treat, learn how well this fine single malt pairs with intense dark chocolate.

Pairing with dark chocolate? A seminar worth looking into.