The popular image of a wizard – arcane scholar, pointed hat, robe adorned with strange symbols, thick books in old languages, peculiar flasks of steamy potions – largely comes from a very real sort of person: the alchemist. From Hypatia of Alexandria to Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, these were the ancestors of modern research chemists, amassing knowledge of the natural world in a quest for what’s sometimes called “the philosopher’s stone,” which could turn base materials into something precious, and sometimes called “elixir vitae,” or “the medicine of life”. Partially early science and partially a spiritual exercise, alchemy was a way of making life better, and seeking a cure for whatever ails you.
For a certain sort of person, that kind of project became all-consuming – especially since creating that elixir vitae, the “medicine of life,” involved purifying the “water of life,” aqua vitae. That’s a magic potion better known today by its Gaelic name, “uisge beatha,” which we spell as either “whisky” or “whiskey,” depending on where it’s made. But whether it’s from the windswept Scottish Highlands or from the hinterlands of rural Kentucky, or, as mentioned here recently, right here in Miami-Dade, this is a spirit that celebrates the magic of mashed grains, soured by yeast, transformed through distillation and aging in hardwood barrels into something golden and precious.
The problem with talking about alchemists today is that the modern world doesn’t always appreciate allegory. A ring of gold, well, that’s a precious gift. Put it in a velvet box, then slide it on a finger. But a transformation into something “golden,” well, that’s a process. In the holiday season, that kind of thing is hard to put in a box and wrap up with a ribbon tied in an elegant bow.
(Courtesy a21)
Anthony Gordon is “a bourbon guy” and one of the folks behind the Whiskies of the World Tour.
Or is it?
Leave the literalists to enjoy their layaways for material goods; an intangibly inclined Biscayne tippler prefers the gift of a more transcendent nature.
THE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE
This month, Loews Miami Beach is the site of the Whiskies of the World Tour, otherwise known as W.O.W., a showcase for whiskey lovers or those curious about what the deal is with brown liquor anyway. For the connoisseur or the novice, this sampling could represent the gift of experience.
“What you'll find is roughly 35 to 40 different whiskey houses showcasing portfolios of over 250 whiskey expressions ranging from younger whiskies, an eight-year blend, up to as old as we can get them to bring,” says Anthony Gordon. “It’s everything from bourbon to rye to Irish whiskey to Scotch, single-malt and blends.”
Gordon is a fan of whiskies, and a vice president with a21, the Florida-based “experiential marketing company” that puts on events like the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, the San Francisco Art Fair, and the International Wine & Spirit Competition, as well as W.O.W.
Visitors can sample Japan’s Hayashi Whisky; or The Balvenie Single Malt, aged in Caribbean rum casks; or Keeper's Heart Whiskey, a “hybrid” Irish and American whiskey distilled in copper pots.
(Courtesy a21)
Whiskeys of the World showcases more than 250 kinds of Scotch, bourbon, rye, and whiskey.
“It gives me an opportunity to taste new brands that I may never have heard of,” Gordon said. “Without having to go into a store and spending $50 or $100 or even more on a bottle to try, you could spend $100, and you have the opportunity to try over 250 different types of whiskies. It's a really good way to try and figure out what you like or what you don't like … not just going for your favorites, but going for the universe we provide.”
The event takes place on December 12, and can include 45-minute professionally-led masterclasses in getting the most out of a wee dram, and VIP experiences which feature “more rare allocated expressions.” That is, the good stuff from the top of the topmost shelf.
This year, the masterclasses have a wider range than you might expect. One is led by Rums of Puerto Rico.
“You're like, ‘Why is a rum partner in a whiskey event?’” Gordon asked, then answered: “Because some of these aged rums from South America really drink like whiskies. You know, you could even see a mezcal pop up, or an aged tequila pop up.”
Beyond Scotch whisky and Irish whiskey, beyond the whiskies of Japan and Taiwan, there are honorary whiskies as well, it appears.
BEYOND THE WORLD
(Courtesy a21)
Learning the process gives you a greater appreciation for what pours into the glass.
There’s also a world of whiskies beyond the World of Whiskies. If you can’t make it on the 12th, it’s still possible to gift a more intimate experience. Several local bars boast their own whiskey libraries. The Taurus, covered in this column, springs to mind. The first Thursday of every month, Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beach hosts Whiskey, Wine and Warhol, a tasting event with art and live jazz. The Empire Social Lounge on Miami Avenue is an official venue of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Azabu, in the Stanton Hotel Miami Beach, has a special collection of 40 imported whiskies with a special emphasis on Japanese labels. And of course there’s the monthly Japanese whisky tastings at Nobu Miami, which we’ve covered in this space before. Wherever you go, talk to your bartender. The main thing is to be open to new discoveries.
“Truthfully, I think a commitment to just trying different whiskies is the goal of our event,” Gordon said. “Publications like Whisky Advocate are a great resource for people to understand the community. And there's all these wonderful events that showcase different varieties and different brands. But I think the best way to explore is when you walk into a retail store, literally just go try different brands. It's, I see something new, and I go buy it, and, you know, whether I like it, it doesn't really matter. It's about the journey. What's so interesting about whiskey is, you know, you have all these different expressions, right?”
For the 2025 tour, Gordon is hoping to have a much stronger presence of local makers. Enthusiasts always want to see the big brand names that they know, so finding a balance can be tricky. But the ambition is to become a showcase for a global whiskey community.
“I'm a bourbon guy,” said Gordon. “I'm a big fan of Old Forester. I'm a big fan of Buffalo Trace. I'm a big fan of Eagle Rare, when I can find it. Blanton's is another one. Knob Creek 15-Year-Old is a wonderful bourbon.”
But he says one of his most transformational whiskey experiences was sampling something that wasn’t a whiskey – yet.
“The most interesting way that I've tasted whiskey would be out at a Kentucky distillery,” said Gordon. “You can actually drink whiskey in its earlier form, before it's aged in a barrel. It's called white dog. It's actually a clear liquid – the aging process of whiskey is what imparts the coloring. So that's kind of cool. One of the most interesting and impactful moments that I've had is just learning, actually, how it's made.”
The appreciation for the process also extends to the process of understanding oneself.
“For some of our master classes, we've had whiskey experts just doing Whiskey 101, and it's just, like, how to smell it, how to properly drink it, what's the appropriate amount of water,” said Gordon. “But I did another tour at Buffalo Trace distillery, and they have this legacy gentleman there named Freddie. He's this iconic name in the whiskey industry, and he's been working, really, for 30, 40 years. And he answers the question, ‘What's the best way to drink whiskey?’ and is like, ‘However you enjoy it.’ And that – whether it's on ice, whether it's watered, whether it's neat or in a cocktail, it doesn't matter. It's really your own personal preference.
“I would encourage anybody that you know is either into it or nervous to get into it, just to sort of jump in with both feet and start,” Gordon said. “It's not as overwhelming once you start to go on that journey. Once you start tasting your way through it.”
The appreciation for the process also extends to the process of understanding oneself.
“For some of our master classes, we've had whiskey experts just doing Whiskey 101, and it's just, like, how to smell it, how to properly drink it, what's the appropriate amount of water,” says Gordon. “But you know … I did another tour at Buffalo Trace distillery, and they have this legacy gentleman there named Freddie. He's this iconic name in the whiskey industry, and he's been working, really, for 30, 40 years. And he answers the question, ‘What's the best way to drink whiskey?’ and is like, ‘However you enjoy it.’ And that – whether it's on ice, whether it's watered, whether it's neat or in a cocktail, it doesn't matter. It's really your own personal preference.
“I would encourage anybody that you know is either into it or nervous to get into it, just to sort of jump in with both feet and start,” Gordon says. “It's not as overwhelming once you start to go on that journey. Once you start tasting your way through it.”
IF YOU GO
“Whiskies of the World”
Thursday, December 12, 6 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Loews Miami Beach, 1601 Collins Ave, Miami Beach
Tickets: VIP, $175. General (starts at 6:45 p.m.), $125.
https://www.whiskiesoftheworld.com/tour/miami
Grant Balfour is a Miami Beach native, writer, editor, traveler, musician, bon vivant and our official Biscayne Tippler.
