Whiskey festivals to put on your schedule

This weekend, I’ll be at the Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ festival in Timonium, MD.  It’s a huge festival with beer and bourbon.  It’s basically the happiest place on Earth.

And I almost didn’t know about it.

A friend just happened to mention that it was coming up. After I finished my spit-take, I went online to look up dates, and there it was.  Beer.  Bourbon.  BBQ.  Saturday VIP tickets already sold out.

Determined never to miss another festival, I went online to look for a list of whiskey festivals so I could fill up my calendar.  Imagine my surprise to realize that such a list doesn’t seem to exist.  Or at least, if it does, it wasn’t as easy to find as I wanted it to be.

So here you go. I’ll make one.  A list of whiskey festivals in the U.S.  Am I missing one?  Drop me a comment or an e-mail and I’ll update the list accordingly.

Traveling whiskey festivals

Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ festival: Events in New York, Tampa, Atlanta, Timonium MD, Charlotte NC, Baltimore, Richmond VA, Cary NC, and Tysons VA.  Lots of MD-DC-NoVA locations!!  Two day event in some locations, single day in others, four hours per day, with an additional 2 hours for VIP ticket holders.  Cost: Varies by location.  Typically under $100 for VIP both days.  As low as $35 for single day passes bought in advance.

The Whisky Extravaganza: Held in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Washington, DC.  Two and a half hours. Cost: about $150 (varies slightly by city)

Whiskey Guild: Events in New York, Boston, DC, and Morristown, NJ.  Two hours. Cost: Varies by location in the $100-165 range.

Whisky Live: International festival with events all over the world.  Upcoming and recent events in the USA include New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles.  Three and a half hours, with an additional hour for VIP ticket holders. Cost: $119 ($149 for VIP)

Whiskies of the World Expo: The flagship event takes place in San Francisco, but the event has also expanded to nearby San Jose, CA, as well as Austin and Atlanta.  Three hours, with an additional 45 minutes for VIP ticket holders. Cost: $125 ($155 for VIP)

WhiskyFest: Events in Chicago, San Francisco, and New York.  Three hour event, with an additional hour for VIP ticket holders. Cost: $200 ($250 for VIP).  Lower early bird pricing available.

Single city whiskey festivals

Beer, Bourbon, and Bacon: Rhinebeck, NY in late June

Big Woody Barrel Aged Beer and Whiskey Festival: Portland, OR in January

Fegley’s Whisky Festival: Allentown, PA in October

Houston Whiskey Festival: Houston in March

Kentucky Bourbon Festival: Six day festival in Bardstown, KY in September

Little Woody Barrel Aged Brew and Whiskey Fest: Bend, OR in August

Nashville Whiskey Festival: Four day festival in Nashville in September

On the Rocks Whiskey and Fine Spirits Festival: Washington, DC in October

Philadelphia Whiskey and Fine Spirits Festival: Philadelphia in late October

Pittsburgh Whiskey Festival: Pittsburgh in late October

Tennessee Whiskey Festival: Chattanooga, TN in September

Universal Whiskey Experience: Las Vegas in early April

WeHa Whiskey Festival: West Hartford, CT in October

Whiskey Business: Royal Oak, MI in late April

Whiskey in the Winter: St. Louis, MO in late November

Whiskey Obsession Festival: Sarasota, FL in late March

For a searchable list of events near you, including smaller events at restaurants and bars, as well as international festivals and events, check out WhiskyCast’s calendar of events.  It didn’t list any events at all in Maryland, and only two in DC though, so I’m not sure how comprehensive it is. But still, a great resource for finding your next whiskey outing.

And if you’re at Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ this Saturday, look for me!  I’ll be the girl with the blue-striped hair drinking everyone under the table.