San Francisco Whisky Week

WhiskyFest is coming back to San Francisco on Friday, October 10th.

Get your tickets now, they are selling fast and you don't want to miss this event. The show presents a chance to try hundreds of whiskies and the list includes:

Compass Box

Benromach Organic

Bruichladdich

Sazerac

George T. Stagg 

Van Winkle

High West

Le Daig

Isle of Jura 

Hazelburn

among many, many others. I can't list them all, but you can see a more complete list here.

Since all the distillers, ambassadors and brand representatives will be in town, there are plenty of special events set around the show.

Sunday, October 5th

Signatory/ Edradour/Tullibardine tasting

Conducted by Ed Kohl, Traverso’s Santa Rosa,  2:30pm - 4:30pm,707- 542-2530, ciao@callatg.com.

Tuesday, October 7th 

Battle of the Independent Bottlers (Signatory and Gordon & MacPhail) sponsored by K&L Wine

Come and join Ed Kohl with Signatory and Michael Urquhart with Gordon & MacPhail for the Single Malt Battle Of 2008!  This is a great opportunity to taste and compare single malts from four different regions of Scotland.  This tasting will of course include K & L Wine & Spirits’ two exclusive casks! There will be a special discount on malts that are purchased the night of the tasting.

La Boheme Restaurant, 1425 Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame, Cost: $50 (paid in advance)

Time: 6 to 9 pm, For reservations, contact Susan Purnell at K&L Wines: 800-247-5987 ext. 2727 or  susanpurnell@klwines.com

Wednesday, October 8th

Rye Cocktail competition featuring Michter’s

Ten of San Francisco's best bartenders will compete for cash and bragging rights.  The event is open to the public and there will be complimentary Michter's cocktails and appetizers.

Rye, 688 Geary, 415-474-4448

Signatory and Gordon & MacPhail tasting

Conducted by Ed Kohl and Michael Urquhart and sponsored by D&M Liquors

Presidio Golf Club Clubhouse, 8 Presidio Terrace, San Francisco, CA 94118

For reservations, contact D&M Liquors at 415-346-1325, wine@dnai.com

Compass Box dinner at the Paragon

Join Compass Box Founder John Glaser for an evening of Whisky and Food pairings at the Paragon Restaurant in San Francisco.  Chef Spencer O’Meara has prepared a 3-course dinner to complement the Compass Box portfolio.  They will also be debuting the US release of Hedonism Maximus and The Peat Monster Reserve Magnum.

6:30 pm: Whiskey cocktails and amuse bouche

7:00pm: dinner (menu to follow)

$60/person plus tax and gratuity

Please RSVP to:Jeremy@paragonrestaurant.com 

www.paragonrestaurant.com

Four Roses Tasting

Elixir, 16th and Guerrero, 7 to 9pm, 415-552-1633

Thursday, October 9th

Wild Turkey Tasting with Master Distiller Jimmy Russell

Elixir, 16th and Guerrero, 6 to 8 pm, 415-552-1633

Tasting of all Cooley’s Irish whiskies

Elixir, 16th and Guerrero, 8 to 10pm, 415-552-1633

Willett Tasting at Rye Bar

Rare barrel samples and one-of-a-kind products being poured

Rye Bar, 688 Geary, 415-474-4448

Yamazaki tasting with Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson at Lingba

Tasting of different Suntory Yamazaki expressions. Space is limited to 35 guests.

Lingba, 1469 18th St., 6 to 9 pm, Cost:  $20 and includes appetizers, RSVP: cody@lingba.com

Gordon & MacPhail/Benromach tasting

Conducted by Michael Urquhart

Ledgers Liquor, 510-540-9243, singlemalts@sbcglobal.net

Willett Tasting at Absinthe

Absinthe, 398 Hayes St., 415-551-1590

Signatory / Edradour Tasting

Conducted by Ed Kohl, Coit Liquor, 415-986-4036, saintvinni@gmail.com

Friday, October 10th  

WhiskeyFest

San Francisco Marriott

4th & Market, San Francisco.

6:30 to 10:00 pm

General Admission $110.00

VIP Tickets $150.00

Tickets on-line at Malt Advocate. Or call (800-610-MALT) (6258)

More info about all the events, plus updates are available at the website.

WhiskyFest San Francisco

On Tuesday, October 23, WhiskyFest comes to San Francisco for the first time. Attendees will have the chance to sample some of over 200 of the worlds finest whiskies. The whisky list includes Springbank Rum Cask, Aberfeldy, Bruichladdich, The Dalmore, Sazerac Rye, Ardbeg and many many more.

If this wasn't reason enough to attend, a host of educational seminars are planned. All the seminars look very good, but one seminar promises to be particularly enlightening.

Whisk(e)y Debate

The Dalmore Master Blender, Richard Paterson and someone called Fred Noe plan to have a well-reasoned and civilized discussion on the relative merits of Scotland's finest malt whiskies as compared to some various types of American "Corn Likker."


Whisky


Richard Paterson, the Master Blender for The Dalmore malt whisky and Whyte & MacKay blends, is a true gentleman and a more than qualified whisky expert. A third-generation master blender,
he knows just about everything about whiskey and is a passionate and knowledgeable history buff as well. Richard is entertaining, educational and an all-around asset to the whisky industry.


Richard Paterson discusses the finer points of Scotland's Whiskies.


Whiskey

Fred Noe will be talking about various types of American Corn Whiskey.

Apparently Fred's qualifications have something to do with the fact that he comes from a family of barefoot hillbilly moonshiners going back many generations. (They say his Great Grandfather was someone called Jim Beam.)


Fred Noe discusses the produce of barefoot hillbillies.


WhiskyFest San Francisco

Tuesday, October 23
Hyatt Regency, Embarcadero
Tickets and more information at The Malt Advocate.

Mixology Monday XII

It's my turn again. I'll be hosting Mixology Monday XII here at the cocktail hour on Monday, February 12th. The theme this time is whisk(e)y. I won't say too much more about the subject, but notice your whisk(e)y can have an "e" but doesn't need to. Start mixing and tasting and get ready to post something on Monday the 12th. After you post, let me know here in the comments or send me an e-mail. I'll post the wrap-up a few days later. Thanks!