Simon Brooking, Malt Master Ambassador, Laphroaig
Dan Tullio, Canadian Club Director and Brand Ambassador
Bernie Lubbers, Whiskey Professor
Steve Cole, Whiskey Professor
The Great Whisk(e)y Debate
You are invited to The Great Whisk(e)y Debate, to discuss the virtues and joys of the world's premier whiskies. This ultra-premium whiskey event provides an entertaining forum to decide once and for all, which is the world's premier whiskey.

Ronnie Cox, Director, The Glenrothes
Scotland's Best Kept Secret
Enter the warm and hospitable world of The Glenrothes, savour the differing  personalities of the Vintages and discover the other delights of what Malt  Advocate calls "one of Scotland's Best Kept Secrets". Ronnie Cox whose 25 years of experience are dwarfed by the lineage of whisky producers in his family, will host you through the fascinating nuances of this wonderfully understated and exceptional Speyside Malt.

Ian Millar, Global Brand Ambassador, Glenfiddich
The Incredible Influence of Wood at Glenfiddich
The importance of wood is never underestimated at Glenfiddich. Ian Millar, Master Distiller and Glenfiddich Global Brand Ambassador, will present various components from the barrel recipe for Glenfiddich 12 and 18. We will nose and taste cask strength samples, aged in first fill American oak and first fill European oak casks. We will also compare the vatted cask strength, and commercially bottled at 40% ABV variants, illustrating how, at Glenfiddich, Every Year Counts in the development of fine single malt whisky.

7:45 to 8:30

Parker Beam, Master Distiller, Heaven Hill
The Methuselah Myth—How Long Can A Bourbon Age?
While Scotch whiskies can mature for 20, 30 or even 50 years, the influence of a new charred oak barrel and Kentucky’s four distinct seasons impose a natural limit on how long Bourbon can age.  But where is that limit—just how long can Bourbon age?  Join Heaven Hill’s legendary Master Distiller Parker Beam as he explores rare, extra-aged Bourbons, from 18 years to 30 years, including the brand new release of Parker’s Heritage Collection. Youth will not be served here—respect your elders!

Chris Morris, Master Distiller, Woodford Reserve
Woodford Reserve Presents the Master’s Collection
Chris Morris, Master Distiller for Woodford Reserve, will lead you through a special tasting of Woodford Reserve and its super-premium Master's Collection whiskies, a limited supply of hand-crafted innovative whiskies including Four Grain bourbon and the Woodford Reserve Sonoma-Cutrer Finish whisky. The first American whisky to be finished with a super-premium American Chardonnay, the Sonoma-Cutrer finish is rich with sweet fruit notes and full of butterscotch, caramel and toasted oak character.

Lincoln Henderson, Whisky Expert, Suntory
Yamazaki Time:  The Art of Japanese Whisky
Renowned whisky expert Lincoln Henderson returns to lead his popular tasting of a full flight of Yamazaki whiskies.  Handcrafted at the oldest distillery in Japan, Yamazaki is made from the purest natural ingredients in perfect harmony with nature.  Discover the smooth, honeyed taste and uniquely Japanese characteristics that have made Yamazaki an international award-winner as you experience Yamazaki 12-year, and 18-year.  Yamazaki Time is not to be missed.

8:30 to 9:15

Simon Brooking, Malt Master Ambassador, Laphroaig and Ardmore
Highlands to Islays
Please plan on joining Simon Brooking as he takes you on a bit of a journey through the history and art of Islay's most richly flavored whisky. Of particular interest will be the tastings featuring Laphroaig 10 year old, 15 year old, and Quarter Cask. Also experience a bit of Islay in a highland malt through Ardmore. Ardmore is a fully-peated highland malt, that has just been introduced in the United States. Join us for a dram of this unique whisky.

Spike McClure, Master of Whisky, The Classic Malts
Whiskies of the World

Dr. Jim Swan, Whisky Expert, Penderyn
Penderyn, A Truly Unique Single Malt Whisky
Penderyn is the first and only malt whisky distillery in Wales since the late 1800’s although Wales can lay claim to being the first distilling nation on the UK mainland going back at as far as the 4th century.

Compared with all other malt whiskies Penderyn can claim that its points of difference make it truly unique and easy drinking. The single copper pot still is configured to produce a smooth, light and delicate malt distillate that does not require long aging to remove disagreeable flavors. The still is supplied with an all malted barley Welsh beer, unhopped yet full of fruit flavors. Green apple, boiled sweets and mangos all occur. When it comes to barrel maturation, Penderyn uses a high proportion of select ex-bourbon barrels and rich Madeira barriques. The result is a light style yet containing hints of the fruity and coconut flavors of bourbon topped-off with the cream fudge character of fresh Madeira.

9:15 to 10:00

Greg Hall, Brewmaster, Goose Island Brewing
Brewing the Best from the Barrel
At Goose Island, we pride ourselves on being innovators and leaders in the craft of brewing. We create beers that define styles, win awards, and capture the hearts, minds, and palates of beer drinkers. We have been barrel aging our beers since 1992 and have been honored with gold medals at both the Great American Beer Festival® in 2007 with our Bourbon Wheatmiser (Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer) and at the World Beer Cup® in 2006 with our Bourbon County Stout (Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer). Join me in a discussion regarding the revival of this fascinating tradition. Cheers

Chris Morris, Master Distiller, Old Forester
Old Forester, An American Idol