Here are some of the highlights. (To read the full post, visit the blog here.)

WhiskyFest New York: imagine a weekend of the world’s best whiskies, two nights of grand tastings and a day of seminars presented by the world’s top whisky distillers and blenders, bringing their best, their oldest,and their newest. The seminars on Saturday, October 27th, 2012, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. will be an unprecedented whisky event for those fortunate enough to attend. This educational experience takes the hands-on approach to learning, engaging every sense as we nose and taste our way through a line-up that is not to be missed. Legendary master distillers, blenders, and whisky makers will be pouring their finest—and newest—whiskies!

The Whisky Advocate writers—the best in the business—will moderate the five 45-minute seminar sessions, and a special whisky-themed lunch, along with several whiskies making their U.S. and world debuts.

Debut Scotch Whisky
The first debuting whisky of the day will be presented by John Glaser of Compass Box Whisky, featuring mixologist and Whisky Advocate contributor David Wondrich.  In addition to treating us with a world-debut Compass Box whisky, they’ll also be serving it up in a breakfast cocktail.

Whisky Collecting and Auctions
Jonny McCormick, Whisky Advocate contributor and Martin Green of Bonhams will enlighten us on the auction and collecting scene that has exploded lately. They will offer tips on collecting and participating in whisky auctions. Attendees will taste some of the very rare whiskies that have been seen on the auction block. The whiskies speak for themselves, as do the personalities presenting them:

Gold Bowmore – Iain McCallum
Balvenie Islay Cask 17 year old – Nicholas Pollacchi
Glemorangie 1963 Vintage – Dr. Bill Lumsden
Brora 30 year old - Dr. Nick Morgan
The Glenlivet Cellar Collection (1983 Vintage)

Debut Irish Whiskey
Then, legendary Barry Crockett from the Midleton distillery will present the U.S. debut of his very own Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy bottling.

Trending Scotch
Keeping the momentum going, Dave Broom, Whisky Advocate contributor, examines the trends in Scotch whisky. Join Dave to explore smoky blends, designer whiskies, single malt extremes, and brand premiumization. Dave will be joined by the A-list of master distillers and blenders from Scotland who are making some of these special whiskies. Here they are, with the whiskies they will be pouring:

Dr. Bill Lumsden – Glenmorangie Malaga Wood Finish 30 year
Jim McEwan – Bruichladdich Octomore 4.2
Matthew Crow – Johnnie Walker Double Black
Richard Paterson – Dalmore Castle Leod

Debut Bourbon
Here we will feature the world debut of a very special bourbon presented by Truman Cox,  master distiller from  the A. Smith Bowman distillery.  He knows what the whiskey will be, but for now he’s keeping it a surprise.

Understanding Irish
Dominic Roskrow, Whisky Advocate contributor, follows by taking us on a tour of Ireland, explaining the difference between the single pot still, single malt, grain, and blended whiskeys of Ireland. And, of course, we will taste some very special examples of each, and we will be joined by the master distillers who make them:

Barry Crockett of Midleton distillery will pour Powers John’s Lane (Single Pot Still) and Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve (Blend)
Noel Sweeney from the Cooley distillery will be pouring a very special grain whiskey – Greenore 8 year old
Colum Egan of Bushmills distillery treats us to a very special Bushmills 21 year old single malt.

Lagavulin Lunch
The whisky fun continues at lunch. Diageo’s Dr. Nick Morgan, Head of Whisky Outreach, along withWhisky Advocate writer Gavin Smith, will lead us through a tasting and comparison of three special Lagavulin whiskies: Lagavulin 16, Lagavulin Distillers Edition, and the very limited 2012 Lagavulin 21 year old Special Release.

Bourbon and Rye Innovations
Immediately after lunch, we focus on American whiskey. Whisky Advocate contributor and managing editor Lew Bryson will lead a session focused on innovations in bourbon and rye. Joining him will be three legendary master distillers and one whiskey pioneer, and they will be pouring some very special new releases:

Chris Morris – Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection new 2012 release
Harlan Wheatley  – Buffalo Trace Single Oak Project, comparing two Single Oak bottlings
Parker Beam – Parker’s Heritage Collection new 2012 release
David Perkins – American whiskey blending, High West’s “Campfire” (a blend of bourbon, rye and scotch!)

Award Winning Whiskies
Finishing up our special day, attendees will taste a sampling of the 18^th Annual Whisky Advocate Awards winners published in the spring issue of Whisky Advocate magazine. Here they are, along with the Whisky Advocate contributors who will be presenting them:

Gavin Smith: Lowland/Campbeltown Single Malt of the Year: Springbank 18 year old (2^nd edition)
Dave Broom: Islay Single Malt of the Year:Bruichladdich 10 year old
Lew Bryson: Canadian Whisky of the Year:Wiser’s 18 year old
John Hansell: American Whiskey of the Year:Elijah Craig 20 year old
Dominic Roskrow: Blended/Blended Malt Whisky of the Year: Compass Box Great King Street

Tickets for this special day of seminars can only be purchased through a combination package with one of the evening grand tastings.  Tickets are available at whiskyadvocate.com.

You will not want to miss the truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The festival is being expanded to two days, and will feature some of the top master blenders and distillers in the whisky industry. Seminar panelists will include:
John Glaser, Compass Box
Dr. Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie & Ardbeg
Jim McEwan, Bruichladdich
Richard Paterson, The Dalmore
Matthew Crow, Johnnie Walker
Barry Crockett, Midleton Distillery
Colum Egan, Bushmills
Noel Sweeney, Cooley Distillery
Truman Cox, A. Smith Bowman
Parker Beam, Heaven Hill
Chris Morris, Brown-Forman
Harlan Wheatley, Buffalo Trace
David Perkins, High West

Whisky Advocate writers will also be participating:
Dave Broom
Lew Bryson
Jonny McCormick
Dominic Roskrow
Gavin Smith

You will not find this impressive gathering of whisky experts anywhere else! Early Bird pricing will end on Saturday, so buy your tickets now! http://www.whiskyadvocate.com/whiskyfest_new_york.asp

There’s a complete list of whiskies, including a diagram showing where you can find each of them in the ballroom. The seminar schedule is also included, along with a description of each. You’ve got to take a look at them; they will not disappoint! 

Early access to the program will allow you to plan ahead, which will help you to get the most out of your time while at WhiskyFest. 

If you purchased a ticket to this year’s WhiskyFest Chicago, you will receive an email from us this Friday with some details about Registration, as well as the complete schedule of WhiskyWeek events, so be sure to watch for it!

We look forward to welcoming you to WhiskyFest Chicago in just a couple of weeks!

Seminars range from food pairings to whisky paired with beer, bourbon finished in cognac casks, how culture and cuisine influence whisky, and much more! Take a look at the seminar schedule (http://bit.ly/y2ORRQ) and tell me you don’t have some difficult choices to make.

Two Grand Tasting events  
Daytime seminars, including:
        several world-debuting whiskies
        a tasting of rare, collectible whiskies often featured at whisky auctions
        the A-list of master blenders, distillers, and whiskymakers
        the Whisky Advocate writers and editorial staff as moderators  

Well, you get the idea. Visit our web site for more details , and check back often for updates. But first and foremost, buy your tickets today!

We’re offering Early Bird ticket pricing until January 30, 2012. But tickets have been going very quickly, and they may not last until then.

We’ve got some terrific seminars lined up for you (Heaven Hill, Redbreast Pot Still Whiskey, The Glenlivet, Bowmore, and more).

Outstanding whisky brands will be represented: The Glenrothes, Gordon & MacPhail, Van Winkle, and Longmorn, just to name a few.

There will be a number of new exhibitors at this year’s WhiskyFest Chicago, among them John B. Stetson Kentucky Straight Bourbon and St. George Spirits.

You don’t want to miss out, so buy your tickets today.