2nd Annual WhiskeyFest NorthWest
Portland’s Pearl District will be host to the 2nd Annual WhiskeyFest NorthWest this weekend on May 9th and 10th. Returning once again to the north end of the Pearl at NW 11th Avenue and NW Overton Street, WFNW will bring together the community while raising funds and awareness for beneficiary, Oregon Active Foundation. ORA is a Portland nonprofit dedicated to providing Adventure Therapy for people in the community with disabilities and other life challenging conditions.
This year’s WFNW has grown and will now take place over two days. Expanding to two days will allow for a larger celebration of the culture of whiskey. This year will include more attractions such as renowned distillers sampling over 150 whiskeys and scotches, educational seminars with expert Stewart Ramsey, a wide array of merchant vendors, cocktail competitions, craft beer, a mechanical bull, a VIP speakeasy, and a Prohibition Cigar Lounge.
To compliment all of the distilled spirits, there will be whiskey-inspired provisions by Andy Ricker’s Pok Pok/Whiskey Soda Lounge, Atuala, Pacific Pie, Bunk Sandwiches, Pacific Seafood, Smokehouse 21, Solstice Pizza, Brix Tavern and Ruby Jewel will also be available for purchase. There will also be specialty craft cocktails created and served by the talented mixologists of Raven & Rose, Imperial and Swank & Swine.
And if this is not enough, WFNW will feature some live music performances showcased on two stages. And the lineup is top notch, featuring Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Poor Old Shine, the Stone Foxes, Roberta Donnay, Jacob Miller & the Bridge City Crooners, Vaudeville entertainment, and more to be announced!
The Luna Foundation, who organizes WhiskeyFest NorthWest, are also the ones behind Portland Whiskey Week (PWW) which is hosted in conjunction to the weekend festival. PWW kicked off on Sunday, May 3rd and continues through the weekend of May 9th and 10th. PWW events include whiskey and beer pairing dinners, and specialty whiskey cocktails at over 20 Portland area establishments. In addition, attendees of these one-of-a-kind eating adventures will be giving to a greater cause; 100% of the proceeds earned from the whiskey tasting dinners will be donated to Oregon Active Foundation, a non-profit agency dedicated to providing adventure therapy to people in the Northwest community with disabilities and other life challenging conditions.
There will be a whiskey tasting experience for every palate and the schedule includes: an American Craft Whiskey & Beer Dinner at Smallwares (5/6/14), a Single Malt & Scotch Dinner at Morton’s Steakhouse (5/7/14), and a Sazerac Whiskey & Beer Dinner at Simpatica (5/8/14). Great food, and flavorful whiskey for a noble cause! Dinner seating is limited and ticket price includes gratuity and a single-day general admission pass to WhiskeyFest NorthWest.
Festival Hours are Friday, May 9 from 4:00PM to 9:00PM and Saturday, May 10 from 12:00PM to 9:00PM.
General Admission tickets are now on sale: $25/day or $40 for 2-day pass (pre-sale includes 3 tasting tokens day). Whiskey Tasting Dinners: $150 each (includes May 9th & 10th admission); 2-Day VIP Passes: $150. Volunteers slots are still available by clicking here. Tickets and all the festival details can be found at www.whiskeyfestnw.com
About The Author
DJ
D.J. is a Portland, Oregon based writer that spent his formative years in the Midwest. With over 25 years under his belt of drinking beer at festivals across America and the world, he has developed a strong appreciation and understanding of craft beer and the industry that surrounds it. He can be found in any of the great breweries or beer bars that make Portland the best beer city in the world. His writing can also be found in the archives of Northwest Brewing News and can be followed on Twitter and Instagram at @hopapalooza.