“Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.” This sentiment, first uttered by Mark Twain, will be put to the test in November. St. Louis is host to four events sure to make whiskey-aficionados and the occasional bourbon drinker alike giddy. Each event features tastings and the inside scoop from whiskey-industry experts.
Whisky After Dark, a monthly whiskey pairing event at The Scottish Arms, takes place Nov. 7 from 8 to 11 p.m. This month, The Scottish Arms teams up with The Wine Merchant to pair five single malt Scotches with artisan cheeses. Tickets can be purchased at The Scottish Arms.
The Filson Bourbon Academy is coming to St. Louis Nov. 9. Bourbon historian Mike Veach, author of Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey: An American Heritage, leads this eight-hour class, beginning at 9 a.m. at Gamlin Whiskey House. The one-day bourbon academy features eight sessions covering topics from the origins of bourbon whiskey to understanding the evolution of early 20th-century bourbon to today’s spirit. Attendees will receive lunch and taste several different styles of bourbon and other American whiskeys. This event is limited to 40 people. Tickets can be purchased online.
Whiskeys Are Wild takes place Nov. 14 at Sanctuaria from 7 to 10 p.m. This event features 13 whiskeys paired with hors d’oeuvres created by executive chef Wil Pelly. Local whiskey expert Patrick Garrett, founder of bourbonbanter.com, will be a guest speaker. Tastings and punch bowls featuring Buffalo Trace and Heaven Hill whiskeys will also be served. Tickets are available online.
Whiskey in the Winter, takes place Nov. 23 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown St. Louis. The event offers unlimited tastings of more than 200 whiskeys from around the world. Not only will whiskey, whiskey-cocktails and whiskey-inspired food stations be served, but there will also be an array of educational seminars. Several ticket options are available from general admission to VIP, which features a Golden Ticket that gives purchasers a chance to sample select rare whiskeys. Tickets can be purchased online. Sauce Magazine is a sponsor of Whiskey in the Winter and Whiskeys Are Wild.
This article appears in Guide to the Holidays 2013.