Whiskey Out and About

Whiskey Tasting Dinner at The Auld Shebeen,  Thursday, 2 Oct 25

About a month ago, my friend Tim told me about an upcoming event at our favorite Irish pub, The Auld Shebeen. I rearranged my schedule so my wife and I could attend, and it turned out to be absolutely worth it.

Located in Fairfax City, The Auld Shebeen is easy to get to, with a parking garage conveniently located across the street. The pub has an excellent selection of Irish whiskies, beers, and classic Irish dishes. I usually go for the Shepherd’s Pie, while my wife swears by their Scotch eggs.

We arrived early and were seated in the Yeats Library, a cozy room at the front of the restaurant often used for events. Things started off with a sweet and delicious cocktail featuring Bushmills Black Bush Irish Whiskey - a hit with my wife. The staff hadn’t named it yet since it was a new creation, but it was a twist on their Butter Beer cocktail: Butter-schnapps, cream soda, and fresh whipped cream, with Bushmills replacing the vodka.

The first course was Smoked Salmon Bruschetta - salmon, avocado, smashed onion capers, and dill cream cheese with a balsamic drizzle. I’ll admit, some of those ingredients aren’t usually my thing, but it all came together beautifully.  I was surprised how good it was.  I’m no food critic, but the mixture of all those ingredients added up to something delicious. 

Next up were grilled pork chops with a Bushmills whiskey pineapple glaze, served alongside au gratin potatoes and sautéed kale in apple cider vinegar. I was definitely a fan of that course.

Dessert was a standout: banana and walnut bread pudding drizzled with whiskey caramel sauce and topped with vanilla ice cream.

Each course was paired with a different Bushmills expression:

• 10-Year-Old with the appetizer (ABC $50 / TW $37)

• 12-Year-Old with the main course ($60 / unavailable at TW)

• 16-Year-Old with dessert ($150 / $115)

As you can imagine, the whiskies got more enjoyable as the night went on.  

The event was hosted by the local Bushmills distributor, with Todd from Bushmills leading

us through the history and flavor profiles of each expression. Joey, the manager, and his staff kept everything running smoothly. We also had great company - two friendly women seated next to us who turned out to be part of The Auld Shebeen’s wait staff and fellow whiskey enthusiasts.

All in all, it was a fantastic night. If you didn’t make it, you definitely missed something special. You can check out their events calendar to stay in the loop, and I’ll post updates about the next Whiskey Dinner on the Facebook page. Hope to see you there!

ChatGPT was used to improve the first, original draft.