Spirits high as WeHa Whiskey Fest set to return

The WeHa Whiskey Festival will return Sept. 25 with 250 whiskeys and spirits at more than 40 tasting tables.

The 9-year-old festival, which took a break last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, is returning with COVID19 protocols in mind: It will be in a tent outdoors and be capped at 300 people.

“We started in West Hartford Town Hall the first year with 160 people and maybe 20 tables,” said Brian Whitney, who co-founded the festival. “In 2019, we had over 500 people and 40 tables. But this year we have to do a smaller version because of the mask mandate in West Hartford.”

Whitney is president of Maximum Beverage, which has stores in West Hartford, Farmington and Tolland.

Admission to the festival is $100 per person. This includes food — hors d’oeuvres, tasting plates, carving stations, vegetarian options and desserts — a take-home glass and approximately quarter-ounce tastings of about 200 varieties of spirits.

“Over $25,000 worth of spirits will be opened for sampling,” Whitney said. These include varieties of whiskey, bourbon, rye, scotch, rum, tequila and gin.

A VIP ticket, for $225, entitles ticketholders to 10 additional top-shelf varieties. Whitney said he expects that lineup to include Laphroaig 25-Year-Old Cask Strength, Old Fitzgerald 14-Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon,

Canadian Club 43-Year-Old Whiskey, Michters Toasted Barrel, Pittyvaich 28-Year Single Malt Cask Strength, Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Bourbon, Red Breast 27-Year Irish Whiskey, Blood Oath Pact No. 7 Bourbon, Kentucky Owl Bourbon and Old Forester 150th Anniversary Batch 2.

“The people who come to this event are real whiskey people, not casual fans of these types of products [but] collectors and people who really immerse themselves in the products,” Whitney said.

Whitney said the VIP session will be limited to 25 people to keep distancing in mind. He said if the VIP session is oversold, he hopes to have two VIP sessions.

Tasters who like the products can order them at the event, to be picked up at Maximum

Beverage at a later date.

Designated drivers pay $50 for food and nonalcoholic beverages. There also is a cigar tent, live music and a raffle.

Three uniformed police officers will be present at the event, Whitney said.

The festival is from 6 to 9 p.m. at Hartford Golf Club, 134 Norwood Road in West Hartford.

Whitney said all net profits will benefit Friends of Feeney, a West Hartford-based nonprofit that helps children and families cope with tragedies.

Tickets can be purchased at wehawhiskeyfestival.com.