Whisky Live Tour Takes World’s Finest Whiskies to Five Cities Across the U.S.

Fiona Chandra

Whisky Live, the international annual tastings produced by Whisky Magazine, will be starting their 2017 USA tour in March, visiting five cities along the way. The USA run of Whisky Live starts in New York City on March 1, followed by Washington, DC on March 11. After that, the festival will make a stop at Louisville, Kentucky on June 10 and Northern California on Sept. 2-3. Finally, the tour will end in Los Angeles on Oct. 4.

The Whisky Live events are a good opportunity for both new whisky lovers and connoisseurs to try new brands or new expressions that they are curious about. Each city’s events will be tailored towards local flavors and the distilleries participating at each event will vary.

At each event, there will be brands from all over the world, both new and established. You may revisit old favorites such as Aberlour, Balblair, Hibiki, Johnnie Walker, Yamazaki and Knob Creek. Attendees will also be able to try even more brands including 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey, Do Good Distillery, Westland Distillery and Westward Whiskey. The New York event will also have four Master Classes with Glenlivet, Glenmorangie, Ardbeg, and a class of classic malts that include Oban, Dalwhinnie, Talisker and Lagavulin.

General admission tickets for New York, Washington, DC, Louisville and Los Angeles will vary between $139 – $143 per person based on the city in which each event takes place. VIP ticket prices range from $199 – $203. The general admission includes a souvenir Glencairn tasting glass, all the whiskey tastings, a full dinner buffet and live entertainment. VIP admission also includes a thirty-minute early entry, access to the VIP Experience Area, a year subscription to Whisky Magazine and a special crystal souvenir tasting glass. Special VIP whisky pours will include limited Whisky Magazine selections from Woodford Reserve, Evan Williams Single Barrel and Four Roses Single Barrel, along with other premium arts including Glenfarclas 25 years, Talisker 18 years and more.

The two-day tasting event in Northern California will be quite distinct from the other Whisky Live events. It is scheduled to coincide the 152nd Scottish Highland Gathering and Games at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Tickets to these tastings are $35 for a standard ticket, which includes eight samples of whiskies and a souvenir tasting glass. VIP tickets are $45 and includes 14 samples of whiskies.

Whisky Live USA begins March 1 in NYC and ends Oct. 4 in L.A.. Tickets are available for purchase on the official website.