 Welcome to WhiskyWeek San Francisco!
During the week of October 6th, whisky enthusiasts can enjoy a number of whisky-related events that will be held at establishments in and around the San Francisco area in the days leading up to WhiskyWeek's anchor event ,WhiskyFest San Francisco, on October 10th.
Many distillery representatives including distillery managers and master blenders will be in town during WhiskyWeek; bars and restaurants are taking full advantage of this by planning some interesting tastings and dinners. Below is the listing of events to date. Please check back as we will be updating this list weekly.
As whisky events are announced, we'll post this information here so please check back. If you are interested in being added to our email list, we'll let you know when the event list has been updated.
Whisky Week Events
Friday, October 10th
Malt Advocate magazine presents WhiskyFest San Francisco
The grand-daddy of all whisky events and the anchor event of WhiskyWeek San Francisco. More than 250 of the world’s finest whiskies from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Canada, Japan and the U.S. available for sampling, seminars by distillery managers and master blenders, and gourmet buffet all evening and so much more. In addition to an amazing variety of whiskies, Malt Advocate has teamed up with The Macallan, Glenfarclas and The Glenlivet to offer attendees one-in-a-lifetime taste of very rare whiskies for a small charitable donation. 100% of these proceeds will benefit Food Runners of San Francisco. Many of these whiskies are bottles 1 of 1 and will never to be repeated. Advance ticket sales only. This will sell out! Sponsored by The Wall Street Journal.
San Francisco Marriott
4th and Market
Time: 6:30 to 10:00pm
Cost: General admission: $110
VIP admission: $150 (one hour early entrance at 5:30 when attendance is limited, enjoy tasting very special VIP-only whiskies, and canvas tote bag)
Order tickets online at www.maltadvocate.com or by phone at 800-610-MALT.
All Week Long
Whisky Cocktails from around the world
Bourbon and Branch
501 Jones St.
San Francisco
415-346-1735
Sunday, October 5th
Signatory/ Edradour/Tullibardine tasting
Conducted by Ed Kohl
Traverso’s Santa Rosa
2:30pm - 4:30pm
ciao@callatg.com.
707- 542-2530
Monday, Oct. 6th
Canadian Club Club Tasting
Kick off the week with another of our 150th Anniversary parties! Canadian Club and Elixir: BOTH celebrating 150th Anniversaries! 150 year old pricing for whiskey cocktails: 2 Bits! Plus a tasting of these Canadian whiskies: CC 6 year, CC Reserve (10 year), CC Classic (12 year), & 8 year Sherry Cask
Elixir
16th and Guerrero
7 to 9pm
415-552-1633
Tuesday, October 7th
Battle of the Independent Bottlers (Signatory and Gordon & MacPhail) sponsored by K&L Wine
Come and join Ed Kohl with Signatory and Michael Urquhart with Gordon & MacPhail for the Single Malt Battle Of 2008! This is a great opportunity to taste and compare single malts from four different regions of Scotland. This tasting will of course include K & L Wine & Spirits’ two exclusive casks! There will be a special discount on malts that are purchased the night of the tasting.
La Boheme Restaurant
1425 Burlingame Avenue
Burlingame, CA
Cost: $50 (paid in advance)
Time: 6 to 9 pm
For reservations, contact Susan Purnell at K&L Wines: 800-247-5987 ext. 2727 or via email at
susanpurnell@klwines.com
Compass Box Whisky Dinner
Traverso’s and Stark’s Steakhouse team up once again for a Scotch dinner with Compass Box Whisky’s John Glaser.
Stark's Steakhouse
521 Adams Street
Santa Rosa
Time: 6:30 pm
COST: Five Course Dinner with Scotch Pairing $110.00 plus tax and tip
Contact Stark's Steakhouse 707-546-5100 For Reservations
All whiskies will be available for pre-sell purchase at special discount pricing.
Glenmorangie Tasting with US Brand Ambassador David Blackmore
The full line of the original line of Glenmorangie to be finished in various barrels
Elixir
16th and Guerrero
San Francisco
7 to 9pm
415-552-1633
Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage Tasting
83 Proof
83 1st St.
San Francisco
Time: 5 pm
415-296-8383 or email chartreuse@83proof
The Whisky Tour at Broken Record
Come try High West's Rye Whiskey; Eades Double Malts Speyside, Highland and Islay; The Alchemist Springbank and Highland Park; John McDougall's Islay and Bladnoch; and The Wild Scotsman's Vatted Malt and Mortlach. And a few others friends.
Time: 6 to 9 pm
$20 in advance; $30 at the door
The Broken Record
1166 Geneva Ave.
San Francisco
415-963-1713
Four Roses Bourbon with Master Distiller Jim Rutledge
Bourbon & Branch
(Russell’s Room)
501 Jones St.
San Francisco
Time: 8 to 9:30 pm
RSVP: Jessica@bourbonandbranch.com
Seating very limited
Wednesday, October 8th
Rye Cocktail competition featuring Michter’s
Ten of San Francisco's best bartenders will compete for cash and bragging rights. The event is open to the public and there will be complimentary Michter's cocktails and appetizers.
Rye
688 Geary
San Francisco
415-474-4448
Four Roses Tasting with Master Distiller Jim Rutledge
Come discover the classic bourbon that only recently became available in California, including 3 expressions and all of the stories.
Elixir
16th and Guerrero
San Francisco
7 to 9pm
415-552-1633
Guest Bartender John Glaser, Founder and Master Blender, Compass Box Whisky at Elixir
It's a very special Elixir Charity Guest Bartending (ECGB) event with a celebrity guest bartender. Come enjoy Compass Box cocktails (including some made with the new MAGNUMS of Peat Monster Reserve) designed by both Elixir's H. Joseph Ehrmann and Compass Box's John Glaser as they mix up drinks for charity! The night's tips and the profits from the sale of Compass Box cocktails will be donated to a charity of John's choosing (TBA).
This is a rare opportunity to see one of the world's most talented and maverick whiskey blenders behind the classic Elixir stick, making cocktails!
Elixir
16th and Guerrero
San Francisco
9pm until ??
415-552-1633
Signatory and Gordon & MacPhail tasting
Conducted by Ed Kohl and Michael Urquhart and sponsored by D&M Liquors
Presidio Golf Club Clubhouse
8 Presidio Terrace
San Francisco
For reservations, contact D&M Liquors at 415-346-1325
wine@dnai.com
Van Winkle, Sazerac and Michter’s US1 Rye Tasting and Cocktails
Check out 83 Proof for tastings and cocktails made from Van Winkle 13 year old rye,
Sazerac 6 year old rye and Michter’s US1 rye
Time: 5 pm
83 Proof
83 1st St.
San Francisco
415-296-8383 or email chartreuse@83proof
Whisky Dinner with Evan Cattanach, Master Distiller, The Classic Malts sponsored by Jackson’s Wine & Spirits
Enjoy a wonderful dinner paired with many of the Classic Malts expressions. Some rare editions are expected.
Metro Lafayette
3524 Mt. Diablo Blvd
Lafayette, CA
7 to 9 pm
Cost: $50
For reservations and information: 925-284-4100
Whisky Dinner at Fior d’Italia sponsored by Coit Liquor and TheWhiskyTour.com
Enjoy a 6 course meal paired with whiskies and meet David Perkins from the High West distillery, Chris Allwood from Eades Double Malts, Jeff Topping "The Wild Scotsman" and Peter Wilkins representing the Alchemist.
Fior d'Italia Restaurant
2237 Mason St.
San Francisco
7:30 - 9:30 pm
$40 advance purchase only
RSVP: Coit Liquor at 800-255-COIT
Menu to be finalized soon.
Brendan’s Whiskey Roundtable
Come meet and greet the Whiskey insiders at Brendan's Whiskey Roundtable. We'll be sampling the wares from Glenmorangie, Independent Irish Distillers and, of course, a few from Brendan's extensive collection. Hope you can join us!
Noonan’s Bar and Grill
2233 Larkspur Landing Circle
Larkspur
Time: 7:00
Cost: $25.00.
Call 415-464-8711 for more information or reservations.
Thursday, October 9th
Compass Box dinner at the Paragon
Join Compass Box Founder John Glaser for an evening of Whisky and Food pairings at the Paragon Restaurant in San Francisco. Chef Spencer O’Meara has prepared a 3-course dinner to complement the Compass Box portfolio. They will also be debuting the US release of Hedonism Maximus and The Peat Monster Reserve Magnum.
6:30 pm: Whiskey cocktails and amuse bouche
7:00pm: dinner (menu to follow)
$60/person plus tax and gratuity
Paragon Restaurant
701 2nd Street
San Francisco
Please RSVP to: Jeremy@paragonrestaurant.com
www.paragonrestaurant.com
Wild Turkey Tasting with Master Distiller Jimmy Russell
Come meet the legendary distillery of these great whiskies and taste his ryes and bourbons. We'll be doing Polaroid photos with Mr. Russell.
Elixir
16th and Guerrero
San Francisco
6 to 8 pm
415-552-1633
Tasting of all Cooley’s Irish whiskies with Global Brand Ambassador John Cashman
Ireland's only independent distillery produces some unique brands like Connemara and Tyrconnell as well as the popular Kilbeggan. Come see what the major spirits companies don't own in Ireland...and why.
Elixir
16th and Guerrero
San Francisco
8 to 10 pm
415-552-1633
Willett Tasting at Rye Bar
Rare barrel samples and one-of-a-kind products being poured
Rye Bar
688 Geary
San Francisco
415-474-4448
Yamazaki tasting with Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson at Lingba
Tasting of different Suntory Yamazaki expressions. Space is limited to 35 guests.
Lingba
1469 18th St.
San Francisco
6 to 9 pm
Cost: $20 and includes appetizers
415-355-0001
Mini-Great Whiskey Debate" at Nihon
Whiskey Professor David Mays and Malt Master Simon Brooking will debate the merits of Scotch and Bourbon in an informal setting with cocktails, tastings, and passed hors d'oeurves
Time: 5:30 to 6:30 Cocktails
6:30 to 7:30 Whiskey Debate
Nihon
1779 Folsom Street
San Francisco
415-552-4400
Gordon & MacPhail/Benromach tasting
Conducted by Michael Urquhart
Ledgers Liquor
1399 University Avenue
Berkeley
510-540-9243
singlemalts@sbcglobal.net
Whisky tasting and bottle signing with Simon Brooking at The Whisky Shop
Come and meet Simon Brooking, Malt Master Ambassador and taste Teacher’s, Ardmore and the range of Laphroaig (including the 30 year old)
The Whiskey Shop
360 Sutter Street
San Francisco
415-989-1030
1 to 4 pm
www.whiskyshopusa.com
Whisky Dinner at the Grand Pu Bah Restaurant
Enjoy a 5 course meal and whiskies at the Grand Pu Bah with David Perkins from High West, Peter Wilkins importer of The Alchemist, Chris Allwood from Eades Double Malts and Jeff Topping "the Wild Scotsman." There will be a special additional selection after dinner.
The Grand Pu Bah Restaurant
88 Division St
San Francisco
Cost: $55 per person
RSVP: 415-255-8188; seating is limited
Bulleit Bourbon with Founder Tom Bulleit
Bourbon & Branch
(The Library)
501 Jones St.
San Francisco
Time: 6 to 8 pm
RSVP: Jessica@bourbonandbranch.com
Auchentoshan Single Malt Lowland whisky—unveiling of the new bottle
Bourbon & Branch
(Russell’s Room)
501 Jones St.
San Francisco
Time: 6 to 8 pm
RSVP: Jessica@bourbonandbranch.com
Friday afternoon, October 10th
Tomintoul Single Malt Whisky with owner Lorne Mackillop
Bourbon & Branch
(The Library)
501 Jones St.
San Francisco
Time: 6 to 8 pm
RSVP: Jessica@bourbonandbranch.com
Saturday, October 11th
Wild Turkey bottling signing at Beltramo’s
Master Distiller Jimmy Russell will be in Beltramo’s signing bottles and telling the Wild Turkey Story
1 to 4 pm
1540 El Camino Real
Menlo Park
888-710-WINE
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