At The Whisky & Poetry Salon, we trade you whisky for words....
YOU bring a poem, original or not, to read in a candlelit circle of fellow aficionados.
No mics, no bright lights, no need to memorize.
WE offer fine whisky, add a Whisky Ambassador to provide tasting notes, history and education, and feature a dynamic poet for a grande finale to your evening.
Want to trade words for whisky?
Please email WhiskyforWords@gmail.com
"The Whisky and Poetry Salon...was fun, eclectic, emotional, educational, delicious, and joyful. we highly recommend the experience." Hometown Pasadena
HISTORY
In March of 2012, writer Kim Ohanneson attended a Whisky, Oyster & Poetry evening co-hosted by Johnnie “The Scot” Mundell of Morrison Bowmore, and Pedro Shanahan, Spirit Guide, at Seven Grand whisk(e)y bar in Downtown L.A. The whisky & oyster pairings were enthusiastically received but equally astonishing was the guests’ response to reading poetry. Those who were initially too timid to read were disappointed when the evening drew to a close and they had not yet read. Two additional rounds of poetry ensued.
The intimate, communal literary experience had struck a chord.
Ohanneson approached Mundell about starting a private salon, which had its beginnings in Co-Founder Emeritus Karolyn Kiisel's 1920's-era loft at B. Black & Sons Woolens building in downtown Los Angeles.
THE WHISKY AND POETRY SALON WAS LAUNCHED IN NOVEMBER 2012.
FEATURED POETS
Traci Akemi Kato-kiriyama, Jackie Bang, Iris Berry, Michelle Bitting, "Bradajo" (a.k.a. Jozuf Hadley), Jennifer Bradpiece, Derrick C. Brown, Billy Burgos, Chiwan Choi, Brendan Constantine, Annette Cruz, Dennis Cruz, Nicelle Davis, Peggy Dobreer, CLS Ferguson, Rich Ferguson, Annelyse Gelman, Rebecca Gonzalez, S.A. Griffin, Matthew "Cuban" Hernandez, Raul Herrera, Gordon Ip, Ryan Jafar, Tanya Ko Hong, Victoria Looseleaf, Suzanne Lummis, Maia Mayor, Neil McCarthy, Beth McIlvaine, Cece Peri, Luivette Resto, Alexis Rhone Fancher, Christopher Rivas, Poet Laureate Luis J. Rodriguez, Beau Sia, Mike “the Poet” Sonksen, Melora Walters, Conney Williams, Alyesha Wise, Gail Wronsky, Adrian Wyatt.
FEATURED WHISK(E)YS
Ardbeg / Ardbeg Corryvrecken / Ardbeg Uigeadail / Auchentoshan:Three Wood / Auchentoshan: American Oak /Auchentoshan: 12 year / Bowmore / Bowmore Small Batch / Bowmore 15 "Darkest"/ Bowmore "Mariner"/ Chita Grain / Glenfiddich 21 year old - Reserva Rum Cask Finish / Glen Garioch / Glen Garioch 1998 Wine Cask Matured / Glenmorangie "the Original" / Glen Moray 12 yo / Glen Moray 15 yo / Glen Moray 18 yo / Glen Moray Peated / Glenrothes Speyside Single Malt Vintage 1984 / Greenbar Distillery Organic White Whiskey / The Hakushu ~ Suntory / Hibiki ~ Suntory / John E. Fitzgerald Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon / Laphroaig 10 yr / Laphroaig 25 year / Lot 40 Single Copper Pot Still Canadian Rye Whisky / Okolehao - Hawaiian Moonshine / Teeling Carcavelos Barrel Aged Single Cask / Teeling Single Grain / Teeling Single Malt / Teeling Small Batch / Tyrconnell Single Malt Irish Whiskey / Tyrconnell Single Malt Port Finish / Tyrconnell Single Malt Sherry Finish / Toki - Suntory / Writers Tears Copper Pot Irish Whiskey / The Yamazaki ~ Suntory/ Yamazaki Sherry Cask