Just how fabulous was WhiskyFest Las Vegas last week? See my social media below to whet your appetite, the program’s vendor list and then notes from my class with Compass Box Whisky Company! If you just want the story in photos go here.
Social Media
We had a fabulous time covering Whisky Advocate’s WhiskyFest Las Vegas – the last stop for the fest after they conquered NYC, Chicago and San Francisco! Besides an amazing class with Western Regional Manager, Scott Ellis for Compass Box Whisky Company here are just some of the new, rare and unique spirits we loved: World’s Best Bourbon 2023 = The Representative; Parker’s Heritage Double Barreled Blend from Heaven Hill; a Port and Cab Franc Barrel Finishes from Traverse City; Blackened collaboration with Rabbit Hole Calvados Casks; everything from Middle West; Uncle Nearest Single Barrel; Minoki Mizunara cask finished rum; KOME SG Shochu distilled from sweet potato; everything at the Westland table; Kamiki Japanese whiskey in cedar and pine casks; Chivas Regal 15 YO; Johnnie Walker Blue and High Rye; and Crown Royal 18 YO.
#EveBushmanWhatsInYourGlass #Whisky #WhiskyFest #LasVegas #WhiskyTasting #WhiskyAdvocate @CompassBoxWhiskyCo @KamikiSpirits @TheSGShochu @WestlandWhiskey @HeavenHillDistillery @TCWhiskey @UncleNearest @UncleNearest_NV @BlackenedAmericanWhiskey @MiddleWestSpirits @CrownRoyal @MinokiRum @ChivasRegal @JohnnieWalker @WhiskyAdvocate @WhiskyFest
Program’s Vendor List
Dewar’s, Kentucky Owl, The Wiseman, Uncle Nearest, Kamiki, Umiki, Minoki, Jack Daniel’s, Michter’s, Bomberger’s Declaration, Shenk’s Homestead, Glen Moray, Blackened, Compass Box, Widow Jane, Mary Dowling, Method and Madness, Ramazzotti, Middle West, OYO, Vim & Petal, Lux & Umbra, Martell, Jefferson’s, Redbreast, Chivas, The Glenlivet, Glendalough, Frey Ranch, Westland, Breckenridge, Charles Goodnight, Waterford, Heaven Hill, Larceny, Elijah Craig, Bernheim, Parker’s, Johnnie Walker, Bulleit, Crown Royal, George Dickel, RD1, The SG Shochu MUGI, Seven Seals, Heaven’s Door, Flecha, Proof and Wood, Traverse City.
Compass Box Whisky Company
Given an opportunity to sit down for a tasting class isn’t everyone’s choice during a tasting event. But it’s always mine as it’s just THE best way to learn about a whisky brand. We also had four hours for the event, which definitely allowed the time. I chose Compass Box as I had attended a WhiskyFest in Los Angeles years ago and they had offered the class then, I had really enjoyed it so I looked forward to trying some of their new whiskies with Scott Ellis, their Western Regional Manager.
We learned: Ellis said that Compass Box was founded in 2000 and they’ve made 100 whiskies since then. They are not distillers, they are blenders in Scotland. Hedonism is the world’s first blended grain whisky – doesn’t matter what the grain is as the character is distilled out. The average age of the whiskies in their blends are between 15 and 20 years.
We tasted: Hedonism (the first blend they made, a “signature” grain scotch whisky and still my favorite), Orchard House blended malt Scotch whisky, Art & Decadence limited edition in Marsala, Sauternes and Madera casks, one of The Extinct Blends Quartet blended Scotch whisky – the Metropolis, The Peat Monster (a wonderful peated whisky for everyone, and great for those getting started with peat) and The Peat Monster cask strength.
History of Heaven Hill Distillery (This class ran concurrent with the one from Compass Box so I was unable to attend. These are the notes from the website I wanted to share.)
Jack Choate, West Coast Whiskey Ambassador, Heaven Hill Distillery:
Walk through the history of Heaven Hill Distillery with West Coast Whiskey Ambassador, Jack Choate. In this Master Class, you’ll taste three bourbons of the same mashbill, but of varying ages, proofs and attributes. Start off by tasting William Heavenhill, a limited edition product only available in Kentucky, who’s namesake had a limestone spring that inspired our original name – Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery. From there, you’ll taste Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond, which was inspired by the distillery’s 1939 release of Old Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond. Last, but certainly not least, taste one of the newest Heaven Hill expressions, Heaven Hill Heritage Collection.
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Proof Awards, Cellarmasters, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.
