DEAR WISE-FRIENDS, OUR PARTNERS IN SARASOTA, FLORIDA ARE CELEBRATING THEIR 5TH ANNUAL WHISKY OBSESSION FESTIVAL, A FESTIVAL LIKE NO OTHER OF ITS KIND!
Here are 5 Reasons you cannot miss this festival:
- Whiskey Obsession is one of the largest world whiskey festival in the United States with 20 events over 4 days.
- There will be over 250 whiskies presented at the Grand Tasting
- The Panel of Whiskey Experts Interactive Tasting and Discussion, join eight distillers and brand ambassadors for this unique panel and tasting as they share their favorite spirits.
- The Glenmorangie Experience Grain vs. Grape Dinner, Brand Ambassador Dan Crowell will lead guests through a five course meal starring Glenmorangie single malt Scotch paired deconstruction style with five fortified wines.
- Saturday night we conclude with Bourbon Rock and Blues Bash, powered by Woodford Reserve. This free downtown Sarasota street party (between Lemon and State) will feature Brown Forman cocktails, craft beer, local food vendors and five local, regional and national rock and blues acts.
Tickets and information are available at whiskeyobsessionfestival.com.
Press and interview requests: Turner@WhiskeyObsessionFestival.com
The Fifth Annual Whiskey Obsession Festival will be held from March 29 to April 1, 2017 in Sarasota, Florida. Whiskey Obsession is the largest world whiskey festival in the U.S., with twenty events over four days: classes, tastings, lunch and dinner pairings, panel discussion, cigars, VIP pours, live music street party, and grand tasting with 250 whiskies from six countries.
Whiskey Obsession enjoys tremendous industry support, making the many trade and consumer events unique and memorable experiences. Dozens of distillers and brand ambassadors travel from all over to be in Sarasota in late March, for example Malcolm Waring, Old Pulteney distiller manager hailing from northern Scotland at nearly the same latitude as Anchorage, AK! Whiskey fans also will be heading to Florida from all around the U.S. and Canada, including Washington, California, Rhode Island, Indiana, Georgia and beyond.
The first toast of the Fifth Annual Whiskey Obsession Festival will be Moët & Chandon champagne at the The Glenmorangie Experience Grain vs. Grape Dinner on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at Sarasota Yacht Club at 6:30 pm. Brand Ambassador Dan Crowell will lead guests through a five course meal starring Glenmorangie single malt Scotch whiskies paired deconstruction style with fortified and dessert wines including sherry, port, Madeira, and Sauternes. Each course is paired with a special menu created by SYC Executive Chef Anthony Puccio. Tickets are $125 per person.
All three events on Thursday, March 30, 2017 occur at The Francis, starting with the Bartender Academy from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Bartenders and spirits industry professionals will enjoy this trade-exclusive workshop featuring distinguished distillers, ambassadors, and mixologists from Brown Forman, Louis Vitton Moët Hennessy , Glengoyne, Michter’s, Old Pulteney, and Breakthru Beverage, demonstrating of range of skills related to molecular mixology, ice cutting, sous-vide infusions, reinventing traditional cocktails with a whiskey focus, and more. Tickets are $20 per person and includes lunch, swag and Whiskey Obsession recipe book with 18 cocktails from sponsoring brands.
The Super VIP Dinner with Chris Morris from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. is sold out but tickets are available for the The Panel of Whiskey Experts Interactive Tasting and Discussion from 7:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Join eight distillers and brand ambassadors for this unique interactive panel and tasting as they share their favorite spirits. Guests will sample a broad range of sixteen world whiskies, accompanied by light bites and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are $75 and seating is limited to 100 guests. Panelists are:
On Friday, March 31, 2017 begin with one of the Lunch Master Classes, 12:00 p.m, to 2:00 p.m. at State Street Eatery featuring Glenfiddich Family Spirits Single Malt Scotch with Tracie Franklin, Brand Ambassador, or the East Meets West: Beam Suntory Japanese & American Whiskey Showcase with Gardner Dunn and Philip Pepperdine, Brand Ambassadors at The Bijou Cafe. $35 per person includes lunch and whiskies.
With over 250 whiskies available to sample, the Grand Tasting features dozens of the world’s premium global brands as well as many emerging craft distillers. Taught by industry professionals, our six seminar-style master classes present an opportunity for in-depth learning at these interactive tastings with distillers and professional brand ambassadors.
Stick around on Saturday, April 1 for a free concert with five bands! Whiskey Obsession Festival partners with Gator Club and the Harvey Milk Festival to conclude its 2017 series of events with the Bourbon Rock and Blues Bash, powered by Woodford Reserve. This free downtown Sarasota street party (between Lemon and State) will feature Brown Forman cocktails, craft beer, local food vendors and five local, regional and national rock and blues acts. This year’s lineup includes headliner Lower Dens, the praised indie pop-rock band from Baltimore, Maryland whose latest LP ‘Escape from Evil’ got a ‘Best New Music’ nod from Pitchfork and made the year-end ‘best of’ list on Gorilla vs. Bear. Florida southern rock and blues favorite Thomas Wynn and The Believers (Orlando) and Americana-flavored rock band Have Gun Will Travel(Bradenton) will also join, along with psych-rockers Luxury Mane (St. Petersburg) and local favorite RJ Howson(Sarasota) keeping the party alive until 1 a.m.
Sarasota is a beautiful resort community on the Gulf of Mexico, an hour south of Tampa and two hours from Orlando. Sarasota boasts award winning beaches like Siesta Key as well as activities like golf, fishing, shopping, sports, polo, and fine dining. Cultural assets and performing arts abound, including opera, ballet, theatre, symphony, and live music.
Tickets and information are available at whiskeyobsessionfestival.com.
Press and interview requests: Turner@WhiskeyObsessionFestival.com
