One for the Road: Festival Guide

We officially declare this the start of the spirited travel season. From New York City and Chicago to New Orleans, fun festivals and interesting conventions combine two of our favorite things: traveling and liquor. But these events aren’t just booze fests. They offer unforgettable experiences, including tastings with distillers, workshops with master mixologists, historic pub crawls and talks given by top experts and authors. And, of course, there are plenty of tasty libations and often gourmet food. Book now: Many of these events sell out very quickly. Safe travels.

WhiskyFest, April 23, Chicago:

There are tastings and then there’s WhiskyFest. Attendees get to try more than 200 whiskies from around the world. There are also seminars and talks featuring master distillers and blenders. Tickets are $110 and sell out fast. If you can’t make it to Chicago, attend WhiskyFest in San Francisco in October or in New York City in November.

Manhattan Cocktail Classic, May 14-18, New York City:

New York City is one of the best places to drink in the world, and this May’s five-day Manhattan Cocktail Classic proves it. Look for dozens of events around the city, featuring a number of Liquor.com advisors. The highlight of the Classic is the gala party at the iconic New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue. Tickets go on sale April 1.

Tales of the Cocktail, July 21-25, New Orleans:

Many of the world’s best bartenders and drink experts will be down in New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail. There are seminars on just about every aspect of mixology, including a series of “Spirited Dinners” at some of the city’s finest restaurants. Ticket packages are on sale now.

Kentucky Bourbon Festival, September 14-19, Bardstown:

Every September tens of thousands of bourbon drinkers make a pilgrimage to Bardstown, Kentucky. The 19th annual Bourbon Festival is made up of 35 events, including cooking classes, a tasting, a motorcycle ride and an auction. Tickets are on sale now.