As you have read, WhiskyFest is not only about the whisky. It is also about the people. We met so many nice visitors and vendors at the event it is impossible to remember them all.
Here is how you generally meet someone at WhiskyFest…..Mark and I would get a sample from one of the booths. If that booth is busy then you should get your sample and step away so someone else can step up to get theirs. We would them try our sample and talk about the whisky. Then you look at the guy next to you doing the same thing and ask what he thinks of it. That is how we met Dennis Cheng. He is the owner of the Irish Lion Restaurant & Pub in Bloomington, IN. Good guy. It was great meeting him.
As I have had said in previous postings, for my next visit to WhiskyFest I will be focused on only a handful of whiskies while taking the opportunity to meet and talk with others. At one point we worked our way over to the Bulleit Bourbon booth to speak with Tom Bulliet, whom we had met at the last WhiskyFest. We found that his had other obligations and could not make it this time but we did meet his daughter Hollis. Interesting girl and a lot of fun to talk with.
And meeting people with the same interest in whisky did not stop at the event. The next day we were at Binny’s Beverage Depot. (Note: No visit to Chicago is complete without a visit to their South Loop store.) While shopping we met Mark from Cedar Ridge Winery who was in town with his family for the event. His winery has been distilling Single malt and Bourbon whiskies.
Later in the evening we were at another local store, Un-Corked, where we met Manny, a Chicago based doctor. We spent about 20 minutes talking whisky.
Both of these guys were a blast to talk with.
Well, I appreciate you taking the time to read this series. As I have tried to give you a true taste of the weekend you really have to attend WhiskyFest to get the full flavor.
Again, thanks for visiting our web site.
Doug, Member #1
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