Not Just Another Calendar Dump: These Events Deserve Your Attention – Nashville Scene
Unfortunately, they’re all happening the same night!
Life is full of difficult choices, and hoo boy, do y’all have some tough ones to make when it comes to where to go on Thursday, Oct. 17. I’ve already told you about the exciting pop-up at Redheaded Stranger featuring acclaimed New Orleans chef Mason Hereford of Turkey and the Wolf. That alone should be enough to get you excited, but there are no fewer than three other fantastic opportunities around town that very same evening that should get your tastebuds tingling.
The first is a return visit from another NOLA favorite, as self-described “writer, photographer and general ne’er-do-well” Pableaux Johnson brings his popular Red Beans Road Show for a repeat appearance at Karl and Sarah Worley’s Biscuit Love in Hillsboro Village. The party begins with drinks and noshes at 6:30 p.m. followed by a convivial dinner of Johnson’s iconic red-beans-and-rice recipe (with vegetarian or vegan options gleefully accommodated) along with cornbread, something sweet for dessert and wine/beer pairings. If you’re nice, Pableaux usually concludes the evening with some really good whiskey, so behave accordingly. Tickets to the dinner are available at the event website and will cost $50, with a portion of proceeds going to The Nashville Food Project.
The next event on Oct. 17 is a date that is set in stone, since it’s based on the day Pennington Distilling Co. laid down their first whiskey in barrels. They commemorate that event every year with their big Hardest Harvest party, and this year’s should be the biggest and best yet. As at previous editions of the party, they’ll be releasing two new editions of their aged whiskeys that evening, along with throwing one heckuva shindig.
The first of the two new products that will be available for the first time (on a first-come-first-served basis) at the distillery that evening is the latest edition of Pennington’s Genesis line of Tennessee whiskeys (small “w” whiskey since they don’t charcoal mellow it), which technically satisfies all the requirements to be called bourbon. Jeff Pennington and his crew have produced a bourbon that is still resting in barrels to age before release, so they prefer not to use that moniker for their Genesis recipe.
This is a new blend of three barrels from the original 25 barrels that Pennington laid down, and this release represents 5-year-old 100-proof whiskey. The plan is to continue to release three barrels a year until they get down to nine of the original 25, which will then be put into a solera system so that all of their new whiskey will be able to mingle with the original molecules they produced way back when. This will allow the whiskey in the solera to actually continue to get older as they add to it each year. Last year’s Genesis won multiple gold medals in spirits competitions, so I can’t wait to discover how it tastes with an extra year in oak!
The second new release is the latest edition of Davidson Reserve 100 percent rye whiskey made with a novel addition of 10 percent malted rye instead of barley to provide even more of the spicy character that rye is known for. Jeff Pennington is a huge rye whiskey fan, and he says this is his favorite of all the whiskeys that his distillery has released heretofore. This bottling represents a six-barrel blend of 4-year old rye, and Pennington describes it as full of “big-time spice and dried fruits like apricots and plums.” Allspice and other holiday spices came to mind when I sipped on my sample, and I look forward to some spicy Manhattans and Old Fashioneds with my Thanksgiving turkey.
In addition to the opportunity to be the first to sample and purchase these spirits, Hardest Harvest will also offer free self-guided tours of the Pennington distillery operations, with stations where guests can taste each of the barrels that were blended to make the new Genesis as well as the final product. The free family-friendly event will also feature a kids’ zone with games and art projects, food for sale from Urban Grub and The Grilled Cheeserie and Smoke et Al food trucks, as well as beer and cocktails.
Hardest Harvest has always featured music, but this year the distillery has upped the entertainment with the inclusion of nationally known Rebirth Brass Band from New Orleans. (Maybe Mason and Pableaux can hitch a ride on their bus.) The iconic horn band will be supported by local favorite openers Roots of a Rebellion and Ladycouch, so this should be an amazing show, especially for free!
Hardest Harvest will run 5 to 9 p.m., and parking is well-nigh on impossible to find, so ridesharing is strongly encouraged.
Finally, if you follow beloved local chef Margot McCormack on social media, you may have noticed that she has recently returned from what looks like a magical culinary and cultural tour to Israel. Just following along via photos was inspiring, and she has clearly been affected by her visit. She is excited to share some of her memories and recipes that she has come up with since the trip at a special Israeli dinner at Margot Café from 5:30 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 17.
Margot shares her impressions and inspirations: “Israel was an unbelievable journey. Powerful, intense and beautiful. The land is home to a diverse array of essentially immigrant people, bringing their many cultures and histories together. It was a very sensual experience — the sights, sounds, smells and tastes. I am inspired by the unforgettable experience.”
If you’d like to learn more about her trip in person, make your reservation on Resy now or call 615-227-4668 to hold your table.
I have faith in you, Bitesters! Choose wisely.
