It’s not a secret among locals or with history buffs that George Washington (and the rest of the Founding Fathers) enjoyed imbibing. So, it’s fitting that Mount Vernon will soon be home to a new whiskey festival, launching this fall.
The George Washington Whiskey Festival, set for Nov. 9 from 6 to 9 p.m., will feature spirits from more than 11 Virginia distilleries. Guests will also be able to vote for their favorite beverage, and curated food will be available for purchase.
Expect Mount Vernon’s Director of Historic Trades, Steve Bashore, to discuss distilled products; 18th-century coopering demonstrations; samples of 18th-century baking, using flour ground at the gristmill; and music and live entertainment throughout the evening.
The festival will also celebrate the debut of a new batch of George Washington Straight Rye Whiskey ($225), already available at Mount Vernon for purchase. The whiskey was distilled on location at Mount Vernon’s’ reconstructed distillery, using George Washington’s original recipe. It was then aged in charred oak barrels for four years.
Tickets for the festival’s general admission are $85 per person, and can be bought at mountvernon.org/whiskeyfest.
A small amount of tickets are also available for an exclusive experience at George Washington’s Distillery prior to the event, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Participants will get the chance to set barrels with mash along the Mount Vernon historic trades team, and will witness distilling in action during a private tour of the site. The VIP experience ($225 per person) also includes chefs preparing food and tastings of Mount Vernon’s whiskey. // 3200 Mount Vernon Highway, Mount Vernon; $125-$225
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