No plans for hump day? How about Whiskey Wednesday at Thirsty Monk? On Wednesday, Nov. 19, the regional brand ambassador for Rémy Cointreau, Larken Egleston, will be making his way to Asheville to host a showcase of Woodford Reserve’s finest bourbons at Top of the Monk, the speakeasy above Thirsty Monk.
Woodford, based in Versailles, Kentucky, is known for being the nation’s smallest bourbon distillery as well as it’s slowest. Most distilleries take only three days for the distillation process, but due to Woodford’s lengthy fermentation of its mash, the process becomes more intentional and nuanced. Beyond that, most bourbons see a double distillation, but Woodford’s whisky sees a triple distillation, passing through the distillery’s three beautiful and iconic copper stills — a process that the brand claims gives their product a clean and memorable flavor.
To highlight the distillery’s reserve and double oak bourbons, Top of the Monk’s Kala Brooks is serving up three different cocktails or, more aptly, a “cocktail course” every half hour. The rotation will begin at 6:30 p.m., the second will be served at 7 p.m. with the final course will arrive around 7:30 p.m..
The first round will be a classic Manhattan of Woodford Reserve, angostura bitters and Noilly Prat vermouth. Course number two takes a bit of a twist on that concept though, spotlighting the distillery’s double oak whiskey with the delightfully elegant Carpano Antica vermouth and a house-made, smoked barbecue bitters and house pipe tobacco bitters.
Lastly, for dessert, if you will, a cherry and chocolate Manhattan with Woodford, Cherry Heering liqueur and Fee Brother’s Aztec chocolate bitters with a splash of house Nutella bitters.
It is best to show up early, as the venue has limited capacity. The price has not yet been announced, but the brand ambassador has a reputation for offering hedonistic rounds for patrons. Needless to say, a Wednesday night could be spent in worse ways than learning from someone who drinks for a living and someone who makes drinks for a living a few variations on how to consume a damn good Manhattan.
The event happens 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, at Top of the Monk, upstairs at 92 Patton Ave.
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