Explore the Wonders of Whisk(e)y During Chicago’s Annual Whisky Week: April 21st to 26th

Hi, I’m Martin Duffy, just your average internationally known whisky educator with over 25 years in the spirits industry. A number of years ago, along with Mike Miller, owner of Delilah’s, I helped to fashion the days leading up to Whiskyfest Chicago into what is known now as Whisky Week Chicago.

Whiskyfest itself is a gathering of the world’s top distillers and their amazing whiskies. Chicago, being the whisky town that it is, embraces the spotlight this spectacular event shines of the world’s oldest spirit, by erupting into a weeklong celebration of whisky classes, seminars, tastings, dinners, cigar pairings, distillery tours and whisky cocktail competitions and specials, all incorporating that beautiful amber spirit cherished by so many. Many of the events are free and open to the general public. They are entertaining, engaging and best of all, educational. The ability to know the difference between a Scotch and Irish whiskey, for example, can make one seem erudite and charming, and could possibly impress the boss while out for an after work cocktail.

Another big event during the week is Binny’s Beverage Depot’s World of Whiskies 2014, a precursor to Whiskyfest itself, and almost as impressive. Here you will have a chance to sample many of the offerings from the smaller craft distilleries.

The week will start off with a class taught by yours truly at Old Town’s very own Sedgwick Stop Tavern on Monday, April 21st at 6:30pm. This class will cover the five major whisky producing regions of the world and explores the history and character of each.

Whiskyfest itself has been sold out for months, but luckily there is a slew of other stellar events taking place around the city to learn about Bourbon, Scotch, Japanese, Irish and the entire world of whiskies, which you can check our here: http://whiskyadvocate.com/events/whiskyfest-chicago/whiskyfest-chicago-whiskyweek/.

So during the last week in April, no matter where you are in the city, take a glass of whisky, lift it high and remember what a wise man once said:

“They say that love makes the world go around,
but I swear that whisky makes it go around twice as fast.”