Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest Storms Cigar City

Cigar and whisky lovers descended upon the Sunshine State over the weekend for the fourth annual Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest, held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa. This marked the first time the event took place in Tampa (also known as Cigar City), where the historic Ybor City neighborhood—once hailed as the “Cigar Capital of the World”—is a hub for hand-rolled cigars, making it a fitting locale.

The evening’s grand tasting commenced at 5:30 p.m. with a packed VIP hour, where throngs of ticket holders were treated to an exclusive array of whiskies and cigars. VIP drams included limited American whiskeys, among them Bardstown Bourbon Co. Collaborative Series with Foursquare Rum, Green River Distilling Co. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Single Barrel, George Dickel x Leopold Brothers Collaboration Rye, and a selection of bourbons and ryes from Middle West Spirits, as well as import offerings such as Fuji Whisky 50th Anniversary Single Malt and Johnnie Walker Blue. Whisky Advocate has more on the festivities.

Tagged : Big Smoke, Hard Rock, WhiskyFest

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