Barrel Thief Academy - Whiskey 101 Classes 2 & 3

Thu, Jan 21, 2021 at 7pm

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Kick-start your exploration of whiskey with this three-part series covering everything you need to know to start appreciating whiskey even more!

This series consists of 90-minute classes, offered every other week:

The World Tour of Whiskey (class completed)
Thursday, Jan 7, 2021 @ 7:00pm

An overview of whiskey...what it is, its history, major milestones, ups & downs, expression in different cultures, and the state of the industry at present.  We'll also discuss how to select, buy & enjoy whiskey.  This class sets the stage for the rest of the 101 series, and the 201 classes.

How Whiskey is Made: Distillation & Maturation
Thursday, Jan 21, 2021 @ 7:00pm

In this class, we'll delve into greater detail about how whiskey is made, including grain selection & processing, fermentation, distillation, aging in cask, post-aging production, and bottling.  What decisions are made along the way, and why?  After this class, you'll understand the entire life cycle of whiskey, from field to bottle.

Current Trends & Blind Tasting
Thursday, Feb 4, 2021 @ 7:00pm

A fun tour of the directions the whiskey industry is exploring in America, Scotland, and worldwide.  What distilleries are experimenting with, where the market is headed, and what this means for the whiskey enthusiast.  We'll accompany this with a blind tasting of whiskeys...test your senses, while learning about the evolution of global whiskey traditions.

Each class is accompanied by 5 tastes of whiskey (0.5 oz bottles), which you'll pick up at The Barrel Thief Wine & Whiskey Bar in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood, anytime the week before the class begins.  If you sign up for more than one Whiskey 101 class, you can pick up all of the tasting kits at once.

Classes are taught by Christopher Gronbeck, owner of The Barrel Thief and longtime whiskey educator, and moderated by Carolyn Sellar, proprietor of Adventures in Whisky.  Classes are held via Zoom Meeting, and include a presentation, guided tasting, and interactive Q&A session.

Students must be 21+.  Classes will be recorded so you can watch them later, if you can't attend live (students may elect to keep their video & audio off for privacy).


The Barrel Thief

3417 Evanston Ave. N #102
Seattle, WA 98103