I know what it sounds like, BUT Whiskies of the World was not a booze fest. I promise. Though it was festive, it offered tons of great information. I received an invitation to attend the event and accepted it with as much inquisitiveness as anyone still getting a feel for whiskey. I was curious about what it really was and if there was a true following for an event like it. As it turns out, folks really do show up for whiskey.
Whiskies of the World was held at the Grand Hyatt Buckhead and was a tasting experience for enthusiasts who wanted to become familiar with or expand their knowledge about whiskey. It was also an opportunity to meet a face behind a favorite brand and to be introduced to new ones. In addition to tastings, there were masterclasses, food and cigars.
I spent the evening noshing on small plates and exploring the exhibiting distilleries. A stop at the Holeman and Finch table offered a taste of Edwards Peanut Fed Surry Ham. It was pretty tasty. Food is obviously important at an event like this because you are able to learn a little about pairing it with the right whiskey but it’s also a good idea to have something on your stomach as you sip your way through the room.
Upon entering the Whiskies of the World Expo, each attendee received a program booklet which offered some helpful tasting tips. A couple that I found useful were:
“One requires at least a 0.25 ounce pour in order to properly nose the spirit but one only needs a small sip to taste.”
When evaluating and tasting the Appearance of whiskey, one observance would be the legs,
“(the tear-dropped streaks that run down the glass). Slower dripping legs indicate a higher viscosity which may be an indicator of age.”
When noting the smell,
“Always nose spirits with your mouth open to help the aroma roll through your olfactory organ.”
I know, you’re all like whaaat? Yeah, me too. It isn’t likely that I’ll ever be a whisky expert, but the bits and pieces of information you walk away from an event like this ARE interesting. Blame the nerd in me for thinking it so.
One last little bit of trivia for the curious who wonder about the spelling. Is it Whiskey or Whisky? It’s my understanding that the answer lies in the region with Irish and American liquors showing preference toward the spelling Whiskey and Scotland producers favoring Whisky. That’s a quick and easy answer but not as simple as that.
For those who want to know, you can attend Whiskies of the World when it circles around to a city near you so you can get a consensus on your own or you can check out the post Whiskey vs. Whisky: What’s the Difference? via the kitchn.
Whiskies of the World was a nice weeknight diversion. I learned something and found a couple labels I genuinely liked.
To learn more about Whiskies of the World
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Disclosure: I received complimentary admission to Whiskies of the World which was inclusive of food and drink samples. I received no monetary compensation for this post. All opinions are based on my own personal experiences. You can view my full Disclosure Policy here.
