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ToggleWhisky and cigar enthusiasts from around the globe will come together for the first-ever Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest.
Whisky Advocate, the world’s leading authority on whisky and spirits, and Cigar Aficionado, the definitive lifestyle magazine for men, have combined their respective marquee events—WhiskyFest and Big Smoke—for the ultimate weekend of premium cigars and great whisky. The event takes place April 3-4 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
“Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest will be an occasion for celebrating two of the very best things in the world: whisky and cigars,” said Marvin R. Shanken, founder and chairman, M. Shanken Communications, which publishes both Whisky Advocate and Cigar Aficionado. “With the continued success of WhiskyFest and Big Smoke each as individual events, it made sense to bring them together for this special weekend, allowing our readers to bond over their shared passions.”
The show—a first of its kind—will feature both tastings and seminars. The two evenings, Saturday April 3 and Sunday April 4, will be filled with more than 150 whiskies, exceptional premium cigars, entertainment, delicious food, gambling and more. Whisky seminars led by whisky experts and distillers will also take place each night. An exciting daytime cigars program will take place on Saturday, April 4. A partial list of the premium smokes and spirits attendees will be able to enjoy has been revealed, along with the lineup for the cigar seminars. More details will be revealed leading up to the event.
CIGARS
The handmade cigar brands that have confirmed for the event include A.J. Fernandez, Aging Room, Alec Bradley, Arturo Fuente, Balmoral, CAO, Diesel, E.P. Carrillo, Epic Cigars, Foundation Cigars, Hamlet, Henry Clay, J.C. Newman, La Aroma de Cuba, La Aurora, La Flor Dominicana, La Gloria Cubana, My Father Cigars, Nat Cicco, Nub, Oliva, Padrón, Plasencia, Rocky Patel, Romeo y Julieta, Stallone and Tatuaje.
SPIRITS
There will also be a long list of spirits; more than has been ever served at a Big Smoke before. There will be more than 150 whiskies and other spirits poured at the show, including Ardbeg, The BenRiach, Bird Dog Whiskey, Brenne, Calumet Bourbon, Dewar’s, Elijah Craig, Few Spirits, Four Roses, Gentleman Jack, The Glendronach, Glenglassaugh, Glengoyne, Glenmorangie, Heaven Hill, Henry McKenna, Jack Daniel’s, Larceny Bourbon, Old Fitzgerald, Old Forester, Parker’s Heritage Collection, Peerless, Pikesville Rye, Sinatra Select, Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, Tamdhu, Templeton Rye, Widow Jane, Woodford Reserve and Zaya Rum.
SEMINARS
Hosted by the Cigar Aficionado editors and some of the biggest stars in the world of handmade cigars, the cigar seminars will cover a range of intriguing tobacco-related topics. The morning kicks off with Jorge Padrón of Padron Cigars, who will talk about his company’s storied history; Ernesto Perez-Carrillo of EPC Cigar Co. and Litto Gomez of La Flor Dominicana will explore the topic of cigarmaking in the Dominican Republic; Rocky Patel will discuss his 25-year journey to create one of America’s best-known cigar brands; there will be a seminar on Cuban cigars, with an expert panel of Cuban cigar retailers; and Carlos Fuente Jr. of Arturo Fuente Cigars will talk about his company and the resonance of the Fuente Fuente OpusX brand. Details on the whisky seminar lineup will be announced in the weeks ahead.
CIGAR OF THE YEAR MEETS WHISKY OF THE YEAR
The seminars will conclude with a very special cigar and whisky pairing featuring the Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Maestro, Cigar Aficionado’s Cigar of the Year for 2019, and the George Dickel Bottled in Bond 13 Year Old, Whisky Advocate’s Whisky of the Year for 2019.
ADMISSION
General admission for a grand tasting evening are $275 per night, while VIP admission is $345. Weekend packages are also available. For tickets and more information, visit www.bigsmokewhiskyfest.com.