Bring out the Whiskey!
Roll out the barrels and get ready for a good ol’ fashioned whiskey shindig. Portland is once again rounding up the entire family from bourbon, scotch and rye to mixed flavors at WhiskeyFest Northwest.
On May 11, Portland’s Pearl District will come alive for one day with live music and upwards of 60 distilleries coming with more than 100 different whiskeys to taste, plus a whole lot more.
Distilleries will travel far and wide to make it to this year’s event. Participating distilleries will be local Rouge Spirits, Kentucky’s Basil Hayden’s and Scotland’s legendary Oban. To see the full list of distilleries attending, go here.
Starting at bright and early at 11 am, folks can enter the festival at the corner of NW 11th Avenue and NW Northup Street. Once inside, tastings won’t be the only thing to savor. Head to the Prohibition Cigar Lounge enjoy a classic relaxation with your choice of a cigar and scotch (robe not included). The district’s restaurants will also be firing up whiskey-inspired dishes for festival-goers to enjoy during the day with their libations.
After enjoying a variety of tastings, hit the Bootlegger’s Lounge for a specially made mixed drink. Here, bartenders from Portland’s Raven & Rose and Imperial will concoct drinks in the lounge while live music keeps things jiving.
Other things you’ll find throughout the day will be a friendly mixology competition, shopping opportunities from local vendors, a whiskey education with expert Stewart Ramsay and comedy from Richie Stratton.
Once 10 pm roles around, the festival will end – but that doesn’t mean your night has to. Taking place at the nearby Urban Studio is the official after-party featuring music from DJ Risk One. Tickets to the after party are $15.
Tickets to WhiskeyFest Northwest are $25 each and come with three tasting tokens. Proceeds from the event will go to CASA for Children of Multnomah and Washington Counties, a nonprofit that provides support and court-appointed families for abused or neglected children.
