I was at Randall's Wine and Spirits, getting my weekly rations, when I saw a notice for a whiskey class. I shuddered at the thought of sipping not one but 10 samples of the wretched liquid. But then, in a moment of reflection, I remembered that I had once hated gin as well.
It wasn't until a visit to a painfully hip gin joint in Chicago that I changed my mind.
Standing behind what was more of an apothecary cart than a bar, the mixologist raised an eyebrow when I turned up my nose at his juniper-spirit offering. He asked incredulously, "Are you sure you hate gin?"
I paused, searching through the Rolodex of my alcohol memories. I recalled that, in fact, I'd only had gin once, at a frat party in college, and it had been mixed with Coke. So I eased my grip on my passionate distaste for gin to give it another shot. It took him 10 minutes and $12 to prepare my concoction, which he did with the same hyper-focused flamboyance of Rowan Atkinson's gift-wrapping character in Love Actually. But the effort was not in vain—the elixir was highly drinkable.
But back to whiskey: I won't tell you how I came to revile the stuff because a lady never reveals the sordid details of her past. Suffice it to say, it was 1996, and Old Crow was involved. Since more than 15 years has passed (and I dare say, my palate has matured), it might be time to reevaluate my stance on whiskey.
So in the spirit of forgiveness, I will give whiskey another shot at the Randall's-sponsored whiskey class at Gio's Downtown (701 Market St., 314-241-2424, giosdowntown.com) on Thursday, June 21, at 7 p.m.
For $20, guests will taste—and more importantly learn about—10 different whiskies, including:
1. Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey
2. Teacher's Highland Cream Blended Scotch
3. Laphroaig 10-year Islay Single Malt Scotch
4. Jim Beam Rye
5. Canadian Club Sherry Cask
6. Basil Hayden Bourbon
7. Devil's Cut Bourbon
8. Maker's Mark 46 Bourbon
9. Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon
10. Red Stag Bourbon Liqueur
The guided tour will be led by a Beam Inc.representive, who will give students a well-rounded grasp of scotch, bourbon, Irish, and Canadian whiskies.
Tickets for the RSVP-only event, which includes whiskey and hors d'oeuvres by Gio's chef John Ruggeri, are limited and available for purchase at all Randall's locations or by calling 314-865-0199.
