My Trip to Whiskies of the World Seattle
So, I heard about this Whiskies of the World event happening right here in Seattle. Saw it somewhere, maybe online or a friend mentioned it. Sounded interesting enough. I like whisky, but man, buying full bottles just to try something new gets expensive fast. Figured this would be a good way to sample around.
Getting tickets was easy. Just went to the website, clicked a few buttons, done. A bit pricey, I thought, but whatever. You gotta pay for experiences sometimes, right? Hoped it would live up to the cost.
Fast forward to the day. Made sure I had a plan to get there and back without driving myself. Definitely the smart play for something like this. Found the venue easy enough. Big line already forming when I got there, lots of folks buzzing.
Inside the Tasting Hall
Checked in, got my little tasting glass. They give you one of those Glencairn things usually. Walked into the main hall and wow. Tables everywhere. Seriously, just rows and rows of whisky brands. Scotland, Ireland, Japan, US craft stuff, probably places I don’t even remember. It was a lot to take in.
My Game Plan (Sort Of)
Okay, needed a strategy. Couldn’t just hit everything randomly, I’d be on the floor. Decided to start with a couple I knew, just to get warmed up. Then I started exploring. Looked for stuff I’d never seen before, maybe from smaller distilleries or weird countries.
- Tried some smoky Islay stuff first. Always a good starting point for me.
- Found a table with some Japanese whisky. Always curious about those. Some are really smooth.
- Stumbled on a local Washington state distillery. Good to see the local guys holding their own.
- Tried some bourbon, some rye. Mixed it up.
Some pours were fantastic. Like, really good. Made a mental note, maybe took a quick picture of the bottle with my phone. Others? Well, let’s just say they weren’t my cup of tea. Tasted one that was finished in some weird kind of barrel, tasted like wet cardboard. Hey, that’s why you go to these things, right? To find out without spending $80.
Chatting and Sipping
Talked to some of the people pouring. Some were actual distillery folks, knew their stuff, told good stories. Others seemed like hired help, just pouring and moving on. Fair enough. Also chatted with some other attendees. You know, the usual, “What have you tried that’s good?” or “Stay away from that table” kind of talk. Mostly just quick chats.
Pacing is Key
Made sure to grab water often. They usually have water stations scattered around. Super important. Skipped most of the food they had, usually just crackers or bread. Needed to keep my palate clear, or as clear as possible after the fifth or sixth sample.
Wrapping Up
After a couple of hours, I started to feel it. You hit a point where everything starts tasting the same anyway. Picked out my favorite dram of the night – I think it was a peated one from India, surprisingly – and went back for one last tiny taste just to confirm.
Then it was time to head out. Grabbed my coat, made sure I didn’t leave anything. Felt pretty good, glad I didn’t drive. Got a ride home without any drama.
Overall? Yeah, it was a decent experience. Tried a bunch of new whiskies I wouldn’t have otherwise. Saw what’s out there. It’s a bit crowded, a bit noisy, but that’s part of the deal with these big tasting events. Would I go again next year? Maybe. Depends on what else is going on. But it was a solid way to spend an afternoon exploring the world of whisky right here in Seattle.
