This post is sponsored by Whiskies of the World. All opinions are my own.
Another Whiskies of the World Event has come and gone and I find myself counting down to the next one immediately like people do the day after Christmas. Whiskies of the World is like a “Whisky Christmas” to those of us that enjoy good strong pours and conversation.
Whiskies of the World #WowATL
Whiskies of the World is a gathering of the world’s most fascinating whiskies along with their makers and ambassadors. They all came to Atlanta for a night of grand tasting. We got to sample, learn about and experience over 200+ whiskies. We also got to attend Master Classes that taught us specific things about whisky such as origin and pairings.
Originating in San Francisco, Whiskies of the World is now a series of five hugely popular whisky festivals taking place in California, Texas and Georgia. Whiskies of the World offers guests the opportunity to taste superlative whiskies and to meet the outstanding personalities of the whisky world. Featuring whiskies from Scotland, Ireland, the USA, Canada, Japan and Australia, Whiskies of the World will surprise even the most savvy connoisseur.
This year’s Atlanta event was held at the Intercontinental Buckhead and was to again benefit North Atlanta Rotary Foundation.
If you keep up with my blog then you know that last year was my first time attending Whiskies of the World and that this is the event that completely my changed my mind about brown liquor which was quite a feat in itself.
So what was different this year? Besides of course, the venue. This year the set up was different. There were multiple food stations throughout, including Southern Art Ham Bar full of different types of ham. Each station was filled with the best nosh for a whiskey event. Foods like a variety of cheeses & breads, chicken and pork sliders, mac & cheese. When this amount of whisky is consumed, having heavy pastas, breads and meats is vital. Drinking on an empty stomach is a no-no. Water is also crucial and they had a huge bottled water station.
You can see the set up right here in my Periscope Walk Through Video
Whiskies of the World Tasting Stations
I went in with a bit more knowledge this time. Understanding that when tasting spirits that it is not necessary to consume the whole shot. I now know that I need to take small sips to just get it on my tongue, taste, then dump and rinse my glass. Attending as media means that I was working. Getting sloshed is not part of the job! Yes it is possible to TASTE lots of whisky without getting sh*tfaced. It is all about pacing yourself. I headed straight for the flavored whiskies which I love. Here were my absolute favorites:
Nooku Bourbon Cream by Old Elk Distillery
I am the last person that thought real dairy cream and bourbon would make a great match. But it does. The flavor I liked the best was peppermint and I could see sipping this during the holidays alone or blended in with some EggNog! It was absolutely yummy.
Sugarlands Shine Distilling Co.
Sugarlands Shine makes a variety of Moonshines, Sipping Creams and Liqueurs. They make an Appalachian Sipping Cream that is to die for. The fav flavor was Butter Pecan Cream (40 proof). It was so delicious that I wished I had some coffee to immediately put it in. Sugarlands Root Beer Moonshine (70 proof) was also a favorite. I am a huge fan of Root Beer. Tasting Root Beer flavored liqueur gave me so many cocktail ideas. I ordered some immediately after it was over, just in time for the holidays!
J. Seeds Apple Cider Whiskey
This was actually the first booth that I stepped to for this years event. They make an Apple Cider infused whiskey that is actually very crisp and refreshing. I imagine sipping this one over ice.
Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine
I enjoyed every sip of their Salty Caramel Whiskey. It tasted just like a caramel apple with a hint of salt. They also had a Mango Habanero that added just a bit of spice to the fruity mango flavor. I really enjoyed the people who worked their booth as much as I enjoyed their whiskey. I appreciated them for allowing me several sips of this deliciousness.
Of course I tried to hit every station especially the ones that had the classics like, Crown Royal and Jack Daniels. I tasted a lot of interesting whiskies and it is amazing what they are doing now to infuse flavor into these products. Creating batches of excellent tasting whiskies is truly an art form.
Whiskies of the World Master Classes
I didn’t participate in any of the Master Classes last year. This time I participated in two Master Classes.
The History of Glen Moray Distillery Master Class taught us all about Scotch Whisky and how Glen Moray uses wine barrels to enhance the flavor of their whisky. During the class we got to taste five different varieties of Glen Moray Scotch.
The Whisky and Cigar Class was held outside on the Cigar Patio. It was so cool out there. We got to watch a real cigar rolling by a professional roller. It was presented by Honor Cigars and gave some real insight on cigar/whisky pairings and the socialization of cigar smoking.
I can’t believe that I got to see to meet @scotch_trooper! check out his very popular Instagram page to see the interesting way he has paired his love of whiskey with his Star Wars obsession.
Overall, It was another amazing event. Thank you Douglas Smith for inviting me out this year. This is a MUST DO event and worth travelling to Atlanta to attend. It is filled with hundreds great whiskies and the friendliest people I’ve ever connected connected with. I’ve said it before and I will saying it again, I believe that GOOD whisky, food and conversation could be the key to world peace.
Enjoy this full video recap!
Makes sure to go to whiskiesoftheworld.com to stay updated on events going on across the country.
To see more pics head to Whiskies of the Worlds Facebook.
And don’t forget to stay tuned to TheSistahCafe.com for coverage of next years event!
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