Attending whisky tastings is a great way to learn about scotch, but it’s not always convenient. This Thursday, you can participate right from your home with the 7th annual Laphoaig Live.
More than 2.5 million people tuned in for at least part of last year’s event, myself not included, so they must be doing something worthwhile. The beauty of whisky education is that it’s fun even if you can’t get your hands on the spirits being tasted. Hearing pros talk about history, styles, and distilleries has always been interesting to people because it’s not a topic they’re used to discussing. At least I don’t recall any of my college classes talking about something as awesome as booze.
Of course you don’t have to sit back idly. If you want to hit up the liquor store and play along, the 45 minute webinar will be tasting through Laphroaig Quarter Cask, QA, and Cairdeas 2013, as well as Maker’s 46. The only two you’ll likely be able to get your hands out are the Quarter Cask and the Maker’s 46, so don’t feel like you’re missing out if that’s all you can find. Laphroaig QA, an American-style maturation, is only available in travel retail, and Cairdeas sold out in hours.
You likely have two questions, why Maker’s and who’s running this circus? The reason fo Maker’s 46 is more simple than you think. Almost all of Laphroaig’s whisky is aged in used Maker’s barrels. It makes sense to include one of their bourbons as a reference point. As for who’s conducting the tasting, it’s John Campbell (Laphroaig Master Distiller), Adam Harris (Bourbon Ambassador), Michael J. Neff (mixologist and founder of Ward III), and Kevin Sintumuang (GQ Web Editor).
The show will be broadcast from a Hudson River barge in Brooklyn, NY, this on Thursday, September 26, 2013 at 8:00PM Eastern. If you want in, just go to Laphroaig.com/live.