World’s Top Whiskey Festivals

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Corey Rozon

“Show me the way to the next whiskey [Festival]. Oh, don’t ask why, oh, don’t ask why. For if we don’t find the next whiskey [Festival], I tell you we must die, I tell you we must die…”

That’s right folks! We’ve already brought you the BarWhiz Blog’s Top Beer Festivals, as well as the Top Wine Festivals from all over the globe. Today we bring to you the Top Whiskey Festivals.

So without further adieu, here are the BarWhiz Blog Picks for the World’s Top Whiskey Festivals:

***Please note: Due to the overwhelming amount of amazing whiskey festivals out there we’ve decided to limit our selection to just a few of those on the list that will be happening this calendar year.***

Jura Distillery Whiskey Festival – Jura, Scotland (May 29th – 30th, 2013)

It’s not too late to join the Jura Distillery to celebrate their 50th year anniversary with, what some are saying, will be the greatest whisky festival ever! They will have four new bottlings to try, including a pre-release of their 40-year-old whisky. Not to mention interactive sessions held by some of the best whisky experts around. There will also be local food, music and distillery tours available. So what are you waiting for? Book your flight to Scotland today and experience this once in a lifetime whisky festival.

Bushmills Live – Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland (June 19th – 20th, 2013)

Okay, so this is not so much a whisky festival as it is a music festival, and even though whisky didn’t make our Most Popular Drinks At A Music Festival list, knowing that this festival is put on by Bushmills, there is certainly to be a lot of whisky flowing. This festival will provide 500 lucky whisky fans the chance to sip some handcrafted whisky while listening to some amazing musicians, all the while taking in the Old Bushmills Distillery. Sounds like a pretty amazing whisky festival to me!

Whiskey Rebellion Festival – Washington, PA (July 11th – 13th, 2013)

Back in the good ole days of America’s beginnings, when George Washington was commander and chief, a new tax was being placed on farmers who sold their grain in the form of whisky. Something they strongly resented. So much so that protesters violently opposed the new tax, going as so far as tarring and feathering tax collectors. Today things are much more peaceful, but for three days each year in Washington, PA the Rebellion holds true. The Whisky Rebellion Festival celebrates the historical significance of the protest, with re-enactments of the tarring and feathering of tax collectors, parades, live music, food, and of course good ole fashioned whiskey drinking. This is definitely not your whisky connoisseurs festival.

Little Woody Barrel Aged Brew and Whiskey Fest – Bend, OR (August 30th – 31st, 2013)

Originally starting out as a beer festival for craft brewers who understood the importance of aging their brews in oaken casks, this festival has recently open its palate to include those for the taste of a fine whiskey. Taking place next to the Des Chutes Historical Museum, Bend, OR will be transformed into a whiskey tasting paradise, and will include a wide selection of some of the finest small batch American bourbons and ryes.

Speyside Whisky Festival – Dufftown, Scotland (September 26th – 30th, 2013)

The Speyside Whisky Festival is unique in that the tastings are not centrally located. During this festival several distilleries, many who are not open to the public, throw open their doors and invite whisky connoisseurs of all walks of life to sample a wide selection of fine malts. Through the festival mini-bus trips are planned to allow festivalgoers the chance to experience what each distillery has to offer. The most notable tour is the Seven Stills Tour, which includes all of Dufftown’s distilleries on a single trip.

Whisky Live Festival – TBD, South Africa (October 2013)

As of the date of publication for this post the Whisky Live Festival had yet to release any details of the 11th annual festival, but if it is anything like 2012 you are sure to be in for the time of your life. Billed as the “the benchmark for spirit shows globally” by award-winning whisky writer Dave Broom, the Whisky Live Festival has built itself a reputation as being the largest, liveliest and most entertaining whisky festival, not only in South Africa, but also the world. This is definitely the must attend event of the year.

International Whisky Festival – The Hague, Netherlands (November 15th – 17th, 2013)

The Grote Kerk in The Hague, Netherlands hosts the International Whisky Festival each year, and with over a hundred brands of whiskies available for tasting, this makes for one of the most spectacular festivals of its kind. The festival also offers the opportunity to learn more about whisky with their selection of Master classes, hosted by both Dutch and English speaking whisky experts. If you don’t want to spend the entire festival in a dusty old church you can always hop aboard the Whisky Tram and see the sites of The Hague while enjoying some single Scottish malts.

About the Author
Corey Rozon is a freelance writer from Ottawa, Canada.

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Best Bar Apps

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Corey Rozon

Here at the BarWhiz Blog we love to provide you with information about the best bars, clubs, and party cities from all over the world.

We are so passionate about helping you to find a great night out that we even have our very own app – (see below for our shameless plug).

However, we know the internet is a big place. There are hundreds of websites that will help you to find a great hotel, an awesome restaurant, or anything in between. We just happen to specialize in bars and clubs, and in our modest opinion, we’re one of the best – (at least our Moms think so).

That being said, we have put together a list of 8 pretty amazing bar apps to help you when you are out on the town. So without further adieu here are the BarWhiz Blog picks for Best Bar Apps:

Elbatrop

One of the top 10 navigation apps in the UK, Elbatrop.com has a Find Pubs & Bars app. Using your phone’s GPS this app can tell you where the closest bar or pub is. And although it is billed as a UK app, they state that they can find you a place to knock back a few cold ones anywhere in the world. You can get it here for free.

UrbanDaddy

UrbanDaddy.com‘s, The Next Move is an app specifically designed for some of the more popular cities in the US. Currently the app works in Boston, Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, and the Hamptons. The idea behind this app is not only to find the best bar in the area, but it also helps you to find the best bar for specific occasions, such as grabbing a drink with the boys, going on a date, or even riding solo. If you find yourself in any of the cities listed above, you can download it here for free.

DrinkedIn

DrinkedIn.net‘s Bar Finder boasts over 150,000 bar and pub listings in and around the UK, Australia, US, Brazil, and Canada. The app will provide you with information about the bar including directions through Google Maps. If you want to give it a try you can find it here.

Happy Houred

AppsoluteMedia.com’s Happy Houred is all about finding the best drink specials. Although the app only works for cities in the US, it is quite extensive. Happy Houred currently boasts 22,000 entries located in over 2,000 cities. You can try it here for free.

UrbanDig

Currently UrbanDig.com‘s app only works for a few North American cities, namely Los Angeles, New York, Portland, San Francisco and Vancouver. However, due to its success there are plans to slowly add more destinations. What makes this app so great is that they have assigned specific ‘curators’ for each destination who truly know what the city has to offer. Urbandig’s specialty is uncovering the best local establishments that few travelers know about. If you want to feel like a local, you can download the app from itunes.

Findmytap

Available only in the US, Findmytap.com‘s draught beer app allows beer connoisseurs to find exactly which bar serves their favourite suds on tap. The app will provide directions to the closest bar from your location, contact information for the bar, and reviews from other users. It’s a pretty nifty app if you are looking for something specific to drink. Want to give it a try? You can find it here.

Find Craft Beer

Similar to the Findmytap app, FindCraftBeer.com‘s app will help you to find craft beers. What sets it apart form any other app is that it will not only points you to bars and brew pubs serving up your favourite craft brews, but it will also point you to the closest microbreweries, beer stores and homebrew shops that can cater to your needs. You can download their app for just $0.99.

BarWhiz App

**Shameless plug alert**
Of course no list of Best Bar Apps would be complete without the BarWhiz.com app. With our very own app you can literally find bars anywhere in the world. You can add and view reviews from other members, see pictures, and participate in discussions about your favourite venues. If you want to try it right now you can download it here for free.

About the Author
Corey Rozon is a freelance writer from Ottawa, Canada.

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The Best Backpacker Bars In Canada

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Corey Rozon

Last year we discussed the top 19 party cities in all of Canada, but as you may very well know, one person’s party city is another person’s snoozefest.

A city can mean different things to different people based on their experiences. Whether you live in that city, were raised in that city, are tourists to that city or a backpacker just passing through, your wants, needs and expectations of a party may be different from everyone else.

Today we are going to focus on one particular group: backpackers. With youth hostels located in over 85 cities across Canada, the great white north is one destination with the backpacker’s travel budget in mind.

Not only can you find a cheap room at one of the many hostels across the country, but some of these hostels also have their very own bars! Cheap beers and cheap beds equal a fun time in my books.

So without further adieu, here are the best Backpacker Bars across Canada:

British Columbia
The Cambie Pub – Vancouver

When it comes to hostels, cheap, quality, and clean rooms are what is most important to many backpackers, and that is exactly what the The Cambie offers. What makes a stay at the Cambie even better is their onsite pub. Rated as the “#1 place to get wasted on the cheap” the Cambie really knows how cater to the backpacker’s budget. For more ideas on how to party on the cheap, check out our Miser’s Guide To Clubbing.

Alberta
The Storm Cellar – Banff

Billed as a True Traveler’s Pub, the Storm Cellar is the in-house bar for the HI-Banff Alpine Centre, one of the best ski and snowboarding hostels in the Rockies. The pub is a cozy place to unwind after a long day of hitting the slopes. Sip a few pints, play some darts, or take part in one of the many daily events, from Karaoke and trivia to live music from some great Canadian artists. If skiing is your thing, check out our list of the Best Ski Resorts To Party At.

Ontario
Mugshots – Ottawa

One of the more unique hostels in Canada is found in its capital city, Ottawa. The HI-Ottawa Jail hostel is located in the old Nicholas Street Gaol, which was built in 1862. Hostelling International purchased the building after it’s closure in 1972 and converted it into a hostel leaving much of the structure intact. Yes, that means you can spend a night in jail without the embarrassment of a having to call a friend or family member to bail you out. The jail’s chapel, which is typically only used in winter months, has been converted into the hostels on-site bar Mugshots. During the summer months the bar moves out into the courtyard, which was once the gallows and the place of the last public execution in Canada.

Québec
Tiki Bar Barbu – Sainte-Anne-des-Monts

Located 8 hours east of Montreal, right near the mouth of the St. Lawrence River is The Sea Shack, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts festive hostel. Ideally located to take advantage of all the outdoors has to offer, the Sea Shack hosts visitors all year round. Other than the amazing activities this hostel has to offer, from skiing to kayaking, what keeps people coming back for more are the famous parties hosted at the Tiki Bar Barbu. With live music acts from virtually every genre as well as many themed party nights, at the Tiki Bar Barbu the party never stops.

About the Author
Corey Rozon is a freelance writer from Ottawa, Canada.

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Best Ski Resorts To Party At

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Corey Rozon

Whether you are a pro boarder, skier, or even experiencing your first time out, you probably already know that there is nothing better after a long day of sliding down the mountain through the powdery white stuff then hitting the chalet for a little après-ski. Some of the best ski resorts to party at are well aware of this and have catered their villages to the ultimate après-ski party.

Here are our top 5 picks of the best ski resorts to party at:

#5 – Mont Tremblant, Canada

Nestled in the Laurentians, just two hours north of Ottawa, and about a hour and a half north of Montreal, is the Mont Tremblant Ski Resort. At an elevation of 2,871 feet, Mont Tremblant is one of the tallest peaks in the Laurentians and the best ski resort in all of Eastern Canada – it has even been voted as best ski resort in all of eastern North America. Not only does the elevation and amazing runs make Tremblant one of the best ski resorts, but also its many après-ski party spots have helped to elevate it into our top 5 best ski resorts to party at. When taking a ski trip to Tremblant make sure you hit up the following party spots:

· Le P’tit Caribou
· Le Shack Resto Bar
· La Forge
· Cafe de l’Epoque

#4 – Val D’Isere, France

With over 300 kilometres of slopes, 2 glaciers, 94 lifts and 158 runs Val D’Isere has some of the best skiing around. It is also a great place to party at, and the reason that it is our #4 pick. Home of the original Dick’s Tea Bar, Val D’Isere pretty much invented the term après-ski, so when you are looking to warm up with a cold one, try out these favourite spots:

· Café Face
· Dick’s Tea Bar
· Saloon Bar
· Moris Pub

#3 – Zermatt, Switzerland

One of the nine largest ski resorts in the world, and the largest in Europe, Switzerland’s Zermatt boast an incredible 2,200 vertical metres of skiing terrain. After a busy day of top to bottom skiing we know you will definitely need to unwind in one of the many clubs and bars in the village. Here are our recommendations on where to party:

· Papperla Pub
· Hennu Stall
· Hotel Post
· GramPi’s Pub

#2 – Vail, US

Not to be outdone, the largest ski resort in the US boasts over 5000 acres of skiing terrain – 5,289 acres to be exact – featuring 193 runs, seven bowls, and some pretty stellar glades. Yes we are talking about Colorado’s very own Vail. And although the drinking age in the US is not as liberal as it is in the rest of the world, you can still find some pretty good places to party after a long day of hitting the slopes. Here are our picks:

· The Red Lion
· Tap Room
· Agave
· Garfinkel’s
·

#1 – St. Anton, Austria

With a vertical drop of 1,507 metres and some of the deepest snow bases in the Alps, this western Austrian ski resort is our pick as the #1 ski resort to party at. The challenging terrain attracts many of the best skiers and boarders to this party village each year, and it is regarded as one of the best après-ski resorts in the World, and not just by us. If you ever get a chance to ride St. Anton, then make sure you save some energy for some of our favourite après-ski bars that this resort has to offer:

· Mooserwirt
· Krazy Kanguruh
· Bobo’s
· Kandahar

About the Author
Corey Rozon is a freelance writer from Ottawa, Canada.

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Best Party Cities In Australia

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Corey Rozon

As you may already know, our winter (the northern hemisphere) is Australia’s summer, so there really is no time like the present to take a trip down under. Since we’ve already provided you with some of the best party cities all over the world, today we thought we would focus the land of Oz.

Don’t forget that you can also click on the city names to see listings and reviews of bars and clubs in that area. Feel free to stop by and review some venues yourself if you have the chance, or leave us your thoughts below.

#1 – Gold Coast

From Surfers Paradise to Broadbeach, Australia’s Gold Coast is bespeckled with high-rise buildings, theme parks and neon lights, giving it the feeling of a city that could very well be the offspring of a boozed fuelled hook-up between Miami and Las Vegas. The somewhat glitzy and glamorous overtones mix well with the brash and tacky undertones. The city makes it work however as more than 2 million partiers visit the area every year. So if you find yourself unsure of where to begin your Australian journey, Queensland’s Gold Coast is the best party city to begin your adventure.

#2 – Sydney

Although many people may assume that Sydney, Australia’s most populace city, is the country’s capital, they would be wrong – that honour is bestowed to Canberra, whose population by the way is just a little over 350 thousand inhabitants. Sydney with over 4.5 million people is the BarWhiz Blog’s 2nd spot for the best party city in Australia. If you are looking for some all night dance parties head over to Kings Cross. Or if the laid-back pub scene is more to our liking you can’t go wrong with The Rocks, and if live indie music is more your thing, Newtown and Surry Hills is the way to go.

#3 – Melbourne

Even though it is said that Melbournians know how to party harder than Sydneyites, Victoria’s capital city ranks in as our #3 pick. Packed with lounge bars and more live music that you can shake a drumstick at, Melbourne has many well-known party spots, such as St. Kilda. However it’s the not-so-well-known secret locations where you will really have the time of your life. Since the locals are a little more laid back here than in other cities in Australia you may get lucky and be invited to buy a round of beers at some of these secret party spots.

#4 – Brisbane

The big-little city of Brisbane is a perfect starter city for those partiers that come from smallish towns. It may have the big city look, but it is the small town community feel that really makes Brisbane a great spot to party. With trendy clubs and posh wine bars, not to mention a booming live music scene, Brisbane is home to some of the most down-to-earth partiers in all of Australia. Some of the best areas to visit include, Fortitude Valley, the West End and Kangaroo Point.

#5 – Cairns

Rounding out our top 5 is Cairns. This backpacker’s haven is not only a really good place to party – if you are young and don’t mind things a little down and dirty that is – but it is also cheap. How cheap you ask? Well if you’ve ever been backpacking you know how frugal you have to be with your budget and Cairns answers that need with such specials as 5 drinks for $12! Some of the great party stops in include, the Woolshed, PJ O’Brien’s, Shenanigans, and of course Gilligan’s.

BONUS – XXXX Island

Not really a city, or destination for that matter, but XXXX Island is a real beer drinkers’ paradise. Situated on the southern Great Barrier Reef, this beer oasis, or beerasis to coin a term, is the idea of one Beer Company’s perfect getaway. Queensland’s favourite beer, XXXX Gold, has created this getaway as a thank you to their loyal customers, and only about 1000 people get to visit the island each year. Since the only way to get there is to win, when you are partying it up in the BarWhiz Blog’s Top 5 Australian Party Cities, make sure to pick yourself up a case or two of XXXX Gold. You’re allowed to bring three mates with you, so if you win don’t forget to send us an invite.

About the Author
Corey Rozon is a freelance writer from Ottawa, Canada.

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Where To Go Out in Prague

Posted on September 20, 2012 by BarWhiz

Written by Steph Sheehan, destination expert for Prague with lowcostholidays.com.

Although Prague is famous for its extraordinary number of museums and historical attractions, it’s also home to 800 pubs and nightclubs – the perfect choice for a city break with an exciting nightlife.
Whether you’re someone who enjoys a well-made cocktail, a couple who want to see some live music in a local bar or a big group of friends who want to just dance the night away in a club, Prague has something to all tastes, styles and budgets.

Use this guide to choose the best places to visit on your city breaks in Prague. For more information on the city’s districts and where to stay in Prague, look here.

Prague Restaurants

The quality of the restaurants in Prague as drastically improved in the last ten years. Whether you want to sample the local cuisine or want something more familiar, you’ll find what you’re looking for in Prague’s exciting New Town. New Town is actually that new (it was created in the 1300s), however it’s the best place to find the unpretentious clubs in Prague. There’s also a great choice of restaurants to start the night off here.

U Ferdinanda is a relaxed Czech restaurant-come-pub that is popular with both tourists and locals for its tasty and reasonably priced food, wild décor and cheap beer.

One of the best Oriental restaurants in New Town can be found at the Hotel Yasmin Prague. Its ‘Noodles’ restaurant serves delicious noodle dishes, as well as some good Italian spaghetti dishes too(!).

Nightlife:

Prague Pubs

For the ultimate bar crawl head to the Old Town district of Prague. Here you’ll find everything from traditional Czech pubs to swanky cocktail bars, jazz clubs to underground grunge joints.

To get a taste of authentic Prague nightlife (and beer!) try The Tomcat pub in Mala Strana district, next to Old Town. It serves local beer with a citrusy flavour from the nearby Bernard brewery. It shuts at 11pm, so bet to get there early and move on to the bigger bars in Old Town later on.

The Golden Tiger pub has a great atmosphere on a weekday night. Find it near to Old Town Square and the Charles Bridge, it serves a fantastic pint of Pilsner and is always popular with locals and visitors.

Prague Bars

For a cool, urban bar in Old Town, head to the Agharta Jazz club. The red brick cellar with high vaulted ceiling is a great venue for live music – enjoy funk, jazz and fusion here with a local brew or refreshing cocktail.

For a night out in one of Prague’s swankier bars, head to Tretters Bar, also in Old Town. With lots of punters dressed in sharp suits and beautiful dresses, it’s one of the places to be seen in Prague. The 1930’s décor and elegant cocktail menu make it a special venue to visit on a night out.

Prague Nightclubs

New Town has some of the best nightclubs in Prague. If you’re on a big group night out, head to Duplex – a popular club with stag and hen parties. The club is in a glass cube on one of the higher levels that overlook Wenceslas Square. MTV has held parties here and Duplex like to play the best in trance and dance music in this fun venue.

Karlovey Lazne is closer to Old Town, near the river. It’s open till 5am every day and entry is roughly 150Czk per person, but you can get discounts for big groups. It’s the largest club of its kind in central Europe, spanning over five floors, each with their own theme. It’s the most popular club in the Czech Republic and definitely one of the best places to finish your night out in Prague.

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Category Archives: City Guide

World’s Top Whiskey Festivals

Best Ski Resorts To Party At

Best Party Cities In Australia

Where To Go Out in Prague

Nightlife Directory