5 of the Best Whiskey Festivals in the United States

Pouring Maker’s Mark at The Grand Dram at Julio’s Liquors photo credit Erb Photography

As the whiskey market has softened over the past several years, some of the big-name tasting festivals have started to lose a great deal of their luster. Add to that the fact that participating in the once-dominant national events are cost-prohibitive for most but the largest global conglomerates, attendees aren’t getting access to many award-winning brands that lack massive marketing budgets. However, producers, enthusiasts, and other key players in the whiskey space agree that there still are a number of local and regional tastings that offer a far greater experience for makers and imbibers alike.

Fog City Social

San Francisco

Binh Dao of Dao Distillery pouring at Fog City Social

The future of whiskey festivals will be smaller events driven by regional whiskey clubs, says Adam Polonski, co-founder, with wife Nora Ganley-Roper, of Vergennes, Vermont based independent bottler Lost Lantern Whiskey. Among those is Fog City Social, a private festival organized by the San Francisco Whisky Society. “[Fog City Social] is probably the best whiskey festival in the country and has the same scale and better organization than many more established festivals,” Polonski says. “And it’s all run by volunteers, for the love of whiskey.”

The one-night-only event’s most recent edition in April welcomed 850 attendees, sipping expressions from more than 60 exhibitors. The folks behind the event note that it’s “curated for real enthusiasts, brands, and tastemakers.”

Whisky Jewbilee

Chicago

Pouring samples at Whisky Jewbilee

Another renowned independent bottler, Single Cask Nation (formerly Jewish Whisky Company) , delighted whiskey geeks near and far when it announced that its cult favorite Whisky Jewbilee would be returning this year after an eight-year hiatus. Originally launched in 2012 in New York (and never held on a Friday or Saturday to steer clear of the Jewish sabbath), Jewbilee’s triumphant reboot in Chicago coincides with Single Cask Nation’s 15th anniversary.
“It was always the best festival in New York for the serious whiskey nerd,” notes Polonski.  Expect to find several hundred unique pours, cigars, and an extensive spread of kosher bites at this fall’s Windy City edition.

Bourbon Classic 

Louisville, Kentucky

Bourbon Classic 2023 participants photo courtesy Bourbon Classic

The Bourbon Classic has been a fixture of Derby City for nearly 14 years and has become one of only a handful of events in the heart of bourbon country that local enthusiasts and industry insiders swear by, with tastings, food pairings, seminars, and competitions, spread across four days.
“I’ve been attending the Bourbon Classic since the second year, and it continues to be one of my favorites,” raves award-winning whiskey writer, editor, and World Whiskies Awards U.S. Division chair Maggie Kimberl. “The first night features a cocktail and small plates competition, which brings together some of the best culinary and mixology talent for an epicurean night. The second day includes educational sessions and a grand tasting, both of which typically come with some delightful surprises!

Binny’s World of Whiskies

Chicago

Binny’s Whiskey World photo credit Binny’s

A big part of the future of whiskey festivals lies in their connection to iconic retailers in the spirits space, believes consultant Robin Robinson, author of The History of Whiskey and The Complete Whiskey Course. Even though all 46 of its locations are in the Illinois, Binny’s Beverage Depot is a household name in the spirits community in the other 49 states as well. Its Lincoln Park location houses a sprawling, high-ceilinged tasting space in the back that makes events like World of Whiskies possible. The April event, which Binny’s first launched more than 20 years ago, consistently sells out and has gained a reputation as one of the best and biggest whiskey gatherings in the Midwest.

The Grand Dram at Julio’s Liquors

Westborough, Massachusetts

Sampling Japanese whiskey at The Grand Dram at Julio’s Liquors photo credit Erb Photography

The Great Lakes region may have Binny’s, but New England, without a doubt, belongs to Julio’s. The Grand Dram typically boasts some 300 different selections from nearly 70 exhibitors, pouring for around 450 enthusiasts.

The three-hour afternoon event punctuates the retailer’s Go! Whiskey Week, which features multiple days of educational seminars, master classes, pairing lunches, author meet-and-greets, and more. “These stores have a built-in audience, strong relationships with producers, and incentives to put on an exciting show without some of the logistical challenges that the national multi-city festivals have struggled with,” Polonski contends. “And these also usually sell whiskey on site, which is more fun for whiskey drinkers and nice for producers too. These types of shows aren't new, but they're gaining more influence again as other kinds of festivals have struggled or become very expensive.”

Events like Julio’s Grand Dram and Binny’s World of Whiskies are perpetually on brands’ radars because they know they can get more bang for their buck from the built-in retailer face time.

“Everyone knows you don’t miss these two events,” says Robinson. “When it comes down to ROI…that is really where the payoffs are going to be.”