Courtesy Synergy Productions
After much anticipation, Whiskey in the Winter is back this Friday, December 2. For first-time attendees, navigating the sold-out event can feel overwhelming—and there likely won’t be enough time to enjoy all that event has to offer. So just as you’d research a museum or new restaurant ahead of time, make a plan in advance. Here are some tips before you go.
1. Determine which seminars you plan to attend. The seminars start at 7:30, 8:15, and 9 p.m., with limited seating. Find the lineup here. Note how many seats are available, and be mindful of the queue—consider that people in line may be holding spots for friends.
2. Prioritize the whiskeys. There are more than 400 options, so take a look at the list in advance. Chances are the unicorn you wish to taste is on fellow attendees’ lists as well. Just because a whiskey is on the list does not guarantee there’s enough for everyone to sample. The most popular bottles will likely be one-offs, so keep in mind that it’s first come, first served.
3. Don’t forget to eat. Whiskey can sneak up on you, so have food in your stomach. Fortunately, the food is plentiful and delicious, with myriad options. Dinner can be an excellent palate cleanser and a good time to reconvene with friends to share updates about which tables to visit.
4. Stay hydrated. As a rule of thumb, I suggest at least 12 ounces of water for every 1.5 ounce of whiskey. I’ll typically fill and empty my 40-ounce tumbler two to three times during the course of an event.
5. Remember to be considerate and have fun. That means being patient while waiting in lines, finding a designated driver or ride service if necessary, and staying in good spirits while enjoying the evening.
Read More: Whiskey in the Winter tickets go on sale
Premium Whiskeys
GOLDEN TICKET
VIP guests with a golden ticket may select one whiskey card from the red or blue decks, which will determine the whiskey sample. Each batch of cards will also contain wild cards, which guests can redeem for any whiskey within that color deck's category.
Red Deck
- Jefferson’s Ocean Aged Rye: The rye is unique to the whiskey industry, as the barrels are aged at se, on ships. Some Cognacs are still partially matured this way.
- Russell’s Reserve 13 YO: This 13-year-old Wild Turkey is difficult to find, and that amount of time in the heat of Kentucky is akin to twice that time matured in Scotland. It's ideal for Wild Turkey fans who want a spicier, tannic, matured version of their favorite bourbon.
- Lagavulin 11 year old Offerman Edition: Guinness Cask Finish: The second release of the series from actor/author/comedian Nick Offerman, whose love of Lagavulin is legendary. For this younger, non-chill filtered expression from this Islay distillery, expect more peat, as younger Islays are peatier, and the higher proof typically delivers more peat as well.
- WhistlePig 18 YR: One of the oldest ryes available (when you can find it), it’s spicy and has developed a more complex palate due to extended maturation.
- Jameson 18 YR: This blend of three standard distillates is matured for 18 years before finally resting at least six months in new American oak barrels.
- Glenfiddich 21 YR: This Grand Reserva is finished in rum casks, which impart wonderful tropical fruit notes to the already mature, complex single malt.
- Weller 12 YR: This wheated mash bill bourbon from Buffalo Trace is considered the "poor man’s Pappy" and very difficult to find at retail.
- Middleton Very Rare: Irish whiskey drinkers often seek this annual release.
Blue Deck
- Uncle Nearest Straight Rye: The folks at Midwest Grain Products decided to bottle under their own label. The company accounts for a significant portion of bourbons and ryes that do not have stills or need to source the mature spirit as their own distillate reaches bottling age.
- Johnnie Walker Blue: It's the top mark of blends standard line and contains some old single malts, which have become soft and complex, after spending decades in oak casks. It's definitely something to taste early in the evening if possible.
- Auchentoshan Lowland 21 YR: It's a benchmark for this Lowland single malt. Although Lowland malts are typically light, with customary notes of straw and lemongrass with touches of vanilla, Auchentoshan shows well in older expressions.
- Kentucky Owl Batch 12: The self-proclaimed "wise man’s bourbon" is 115.8 proof, blending bold 7- to 14-year-old bourbons with two 4-year-old bourbons to create a complex whiskey, with the vanilla and caramel from the older stock and fruitiness from the younger barrels.
- Elijah Craig 18 YR: It's like a more complex, refined, and oakier version of the 12-year-old Elijah Craig. Some folks prefer the 12-year-old version, as it’s brighter and fruitier, but you can be the judge.
- Stellum Black Bourbon: This whiskey is designed for the modern drinker. Comprised mainly of Indiana bourbon and rye, it's blended with older bourbons and ryes from Kentucky and Tennessee, and the bourbon is bottled at cask strength.
- Mitchells Gold Spot: This 9-year-old pot distilled whiskey celebrates the company’s 135-year anniversary and is matured in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, married with spirit from ex-Bordeaux wine casks and ex-port pipes.
- Ichiro Malt and Grain: This Japanese whiskey in the style of Scotch is Ichiro Akuto’s blend, produced at the Chichibu distillery.
PLATINUM TICKET
In addition to receiving a golden ticket for a premium sample, platinum ticket holders may receive a sample of one of the following four selections:
- Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year: The youngest of the Pappy’s, this wheated bourbon is produced by Buffalo Trace and almost impossible to find at retail.
- Barrell Craft Spirits Gold Label: A blend of bourbons from Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, it's at least 16 years old and underwent a second maturation in virgin charred oak barrels.
- Johnnie Walker King George V: This special version of Johnnie Walker's Blue Label is an homage to King George V, who granted Johnnie Walker its first royal warrant in 1934. This blend contains even rarer components, including distillate from the closed Port Ellen Distillery.
- Glenfiddich 26 YR Gran Couronne: The distiller utilizes Cognac casks to impart extra opulence to this already dignified single malt.
