South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival: Craft Beer & Spirits Jam

As part of the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival, April 26 – 29, the Craft Beer & Spirits Jam will welcome some of the most recognized master distillers in the nation and celebrate the region’s diverse offering of craft beer. On Friday, April 27 from 6pm til 9pm, Grand Boulevard’s Town Center will be transformed into a festival and live music venue with samples of the most coveted spirits and brews. This year's musical headliner is Gurufish! Tickets are on sale: www.SoWalWine.com.

Highlights of this year’s lively evening event include celebrity guest appearances by some of the spirits industry’s most elite, including Master Distiller Rob Samuels of Maker’s Mark, Michael Reed of American Barrels, and Master Distiller David Pickerell of WhistlePig Farm Distillery and Hillrock Estate Distillery, to name a few. Samuels is the COO and grandson of the founders of Maker’s Mark and has grown up in the family business. He’ll be sharing stories of his family’s rich bourbon history while pouring samples of some of their most popular brands, including White Dog (unaged bourbon), Maker’s Mark, and Maker’s 46.  In addition, Master Distiller Dave Pickerell of WhistlePig is a luminary in the world of whiskey. Pickerell spent 14 years at Maker’s Mark before joining WhistlePig, where he’s distilling rye whiskey through a process he coined “triple terroir.” The result is a premium rye whiskey that is earning the praise of writers at Robb Report, Forbes, GQ and Whisky as well as whiskey enthusiasts nationwide.

Attendees who enjoy craft beer will delight in sampling some of the signature brews as well as seasonal and specialty beers. Local and regional breweries will be represented, including Abita Brewing Company, Sweetwater Brewing Company, New Belgian, Idyll Hounds, Grayton Beer Company, Destin Brewery, and Nivol, among many others.

Along EATS Street, guests will be able to nibble on a smorgasbord of savory small plate menu items prepared by a range of award-winning restaurants, eateries and food trucks. On the menu are small plates prepared by local favorites, including Roux 30A, Cantina Laredo Modern Mexican Food, Slick Lips Seafood & Oyster House, Cabana Café, Café Rico, Cuveé Kitchen & Wine Bar, Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer, Jackacuda’s Seafood & Sushi, The Bistro at the Courtyard Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard and The Craft Bar.

All the delicious samples will be complemented by a live performance from Gurufish. This wildly popular band is renowned for their funk/pop explosion with an extra touch of glam. Combining unforgettable melodies fused with galvanizing grooves, Gurufish creates songs that make audiences want to groove. Listed by PASTE Magazine as one of the “25 Georgia Bands You Should Listen to Now”, as well as honored with the distinction of being recognized by the GA Music Awards as the Georgia’s Best R’nB/Funk Band, Gurufish will provide the “jam” while attendees sample the diverse offering of beer, spirits and delectable bites.

Tickets are now on sale. Event details and tickets are available at www.sowalwine.com. To purchase tickets, visit https://sowal-wine.xorbia.com/.

South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival will be held April 26-29, 2018 throughout the Town Center of Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. The festival features a stunning showcase of more than 800 of the best wines in the world. Meet the celebrity wine producers and master distillers presenting their fine wine and spirits from around the world. The Savor South Walton Culinary Village offers a sumptuous array of foods to taste, wines to pair, as well as popular wine and food tasting seminars. Visit Spirits Row, Champagne Lane and Nosh Pavilions and enjoy entertainment throughout the weekend. The event is a major fundraiser for Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation which benefits children in need in Northwest Florida. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.SoWalWine.com.

In addition to two days of wine and food tastings and seminars, attendees will be treated to live entertainment and special features such as Champagne Lane Tasting, featuring floating bubbles and dozens of Champagnes and sparkling wines, and tastes of some of the best chefs in the region throughout the Savor South Walton Culinary Village and several Nosh Pavilions peppered along the Boulevard. To purchase tickets and view the full festival schedule visit www.SoWalWine.com.

Thursday Apr 26: Winemakers and Shakers 5-7pm at Wine World Destin
Friday Apr 27: VIP Wine Tasting Kickoff  4-6pm | Grand Boulevard
Friday Apr 27: Craft Beer & Spirits Jam 6-9pm | Grand Boulevard
Saturday Apr 28: Grand Wine Tasting 1-5pm | Grand Boulevard
Destin Charity Wine Auction 3pm | Grand Boulevard
Sunday Apr 29: Grand Wine Tasting 1-5pm | Grand Boulevard

The Destin Charity Wine Auction (DCWA) also takes place on Saturday during the festival with more than 500 patrons bidding on luxury travel packages, collectable wines and other fine living lots. Monies raised at the auction as well as proceeds from the festival go to support more than a dozen children’s charities in Northwest Florida.

South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival presents a weekend of great wines, fine foods, live music from national artists, culinary celebrities and more, April 26-29,2018 at Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. Proceeds from the festival benefit Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, which was named a Top 10 Wine Charity Auction by Wine Spectator magazine. 

Meet the celebrity wine producers and master distillers presenting their fine wine and spirits from around the world. The Savor South Walton Culinary Village offers a sumptuous array of foods to taste, wines to pair, as well as wine and food tasting seminars. Visit the new Rosé All Day Garden, Spirits Row and Nosh Pavilions and enjoy live entertainment throughout the weekend. The Craft Beer & Spirits Jam and Winemakers & Shakers events round out the extended festival weekend. The event is a major fundraiser for Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, which benefits children in need in Northwest Florida. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.SoWalWine.com.

The festival offers the ideal backdrop for a beach getaway. South Walton beaches are consistently named among the best beaches in the country. ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals is the Official Lodging Partner of the festival and many of their accommodations are beachfront, beachside or a short stroll to the beach. At this time, they are currently offering festival discounts on lodging. Visit Wyndham Vacation Rentals for details.

It’s that time of year where you can register to to become a South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival volunteer! Join the fun and sign up at South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival 2018.

Tickets and info at sowalwine.com.

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