Whisky and Poetry Salon

The Whisky and Poetry Salon invites you to a Midsummer's Eve celebration with Feature Poet Neil McCarthy, four (or maybe more!) Irish Whiskeys, a sophisticated Irish whiskey punch, and a summer buffet on Saturday, June 27 at 6pm in a private garden oasis in Northeast Los Angeles!

***THE POET

"Neil McCarthy is an Irish poet currently living in Orange County. His work has been published in journals and anthologies around the world and translated into five different languages. His collection - Stopgap Grace - is published by Salmon Poetry Ireland, and was shortlisted for the Shine Strong Award. His second collection, Little Empires, is set to be published at the end of the year."

Neil -- a host-and-fan favorite and long-time friend of The Whisky & Poetry Salon -- will be moving to Lithuania for a new job so this is a farewell party as well!

***THE WHISKEYS (The current list -- subject to change/additions!)

Writers' Tears Whiskey: Grand Gold - ISW Meininger's International Spirits Award

Method and Madness: Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Finished in Chestnut Casks: Grand Gold - San Francisco World Spirits Competition (No longer available in the U.S.)

Lambay Irish Whiskey Single Malt Finished in Cognac Casks: Gold Outstanding - International Wine & Spirits Competition

Glendalough Distillery Double Barrel Irish Whiskey: Double Gold - World Spirits Competition

** Non-alcoholic options will be available!

We'll also enjoy a summer buffet as well as a sophisticated Irish Whiskey punch using the recipe from the legendary New York bar The Dead Rabbit!

***YOU: We trade you whiskey for your words!
Guests are encouraged to bring a poem to read...it doesn't have to be original and brevity is encouraged! No mics, no bright lights, no need to memorize.

** To welcome summer, please email [email protected]

We look forward to celebrating Midsummer's Eve with Neil, poetry, whiskey, and YOU at The Whisky & Poetry Salon!

**The location of the Salon will be emailed to guests on Thursday evening, June 25th.

Celebrate the start of summer at The Whisky & Poetry Salon's Midsummer's Eve Party on Friday, June 20 at 7:00 p.m. in a garden oasis in Mt Washington (Highland Park-adjacent/Northeast L.A.)

THE FEATURE POET: BETH MARQUEZ has recent publications in Lit Shark, Cathexis, October Hill, and Spillway. She is a Pushcart Prize nominee, a 2017 Pink Door Fellow, and holds three mathematics degrees. A freelance statistician, poet, and singer-songwriter, she lost her Altadena home in the Eaton Fire of 2025 and has since been living in Highland Park, Los Angeles.

THE LIBATIONS: We'll enjoy gorgeous cocktails from Gold Medal-awarded Empress 1908 Gin as well as pours of award-winning whisky from Macaloney's Island Distillery -- both from Victoria Island, B.C. Canada. We'll also enjoy a delicious grazing table!

YOU: Guests are encouraged to bring a poem to share under the trees! No mic, no bright lights, no need to memorize! It doesn't have to be original or long...brevity is welcome!

We can't wait to drink poetry with you!

For ticket inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

PLEASE NOTE:

-- NO Refunds/Credits but tickets are transferable with prior notice to: [email protected]

-- The address of The Whisky & Poetry Salon will be sent to ticket holders on Wednesday evening, June 18.

-- There are stairs down to the venue!

The Whisky & Poetry Salon invites you to an evening with fantastic feature poet Rebecca Gonzalez and Four Women-Founded Whisk(e)ys perfect for summer evening sipping on Saturday, June 29; 7-10:00 p.m. in a Highland Park-adjacent private, garden oasis***

We’ll also enjoy a cocktail and delicious bites!

Guests are asked to bring a poem, original or not, to read in an intimate circle of fellow aficionados. No mics, no bright lights, no need to memorize! Brevity is welcome!

We can’t wait to trade you whisky for your words at the next Whisky & Poetry Salon!

***Event location sent to ticketholders on Thursday evening, 6/27

For The Whisky & Poetry Salon ticket inquiries, please email [email protected]

**SALES END AT 5PM TONIGHT/Friday 3/15 for The Whisky & Poetry Salon w/ feature poet Alina Nguyễn (), four award-winning Method and Madness Irish Whiskies, gourmet Irish cheeses from Oh la Vache, Irish soda bread, and more, in a secret, historical location in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles! (Location sent upon ticket purchase.)

We can't wait to trade you whiskey for your words! You bring a poem, original or not, to read in an intimate circle of fellow aficionados. It doesn't have to be memorized or long; no bright lights or mics.

The beautiful 2nd edition of Alina's poetry chapbook "Before There Were No Ghosts" created by local bookstore .us features some new poems and will be available for sale. Cash, Charge or Venmo

Contact [email protected] for tickets

Happy International Women's Day!

The women-founded Whisky & Poetry Salon has featured many amazing female poets. We are honored to host fantastic feature poet and Highland Park native Alina Nguyễn in her first, hometown reading on FRIDAY, March 15 at 7:00 p.m. at a secret, historical location in Highland Park.

Alina's newly re-issued poetry chapbook "Before There Were More Ghosts" from local bookstore will be available for sale.

Peacocks Were Patient Enough to Paint on Their Feathers
Alina Nguyễn

I visited the arboretum
in Arcadia for a date.
A peacock honks as if it knows I should’ve stayed
home. The day before I got my shin tattooed
with a vase. I always end up with flowers
on new work because as a kid my mother would take me
to pick up potted, red chrysanthemum plants
for Lunar New Year & she would say: bông đẹp quá.
& I, too, want to be pretty
as flowers are pretty in my carpenter pants
with my screen-printed long sleeve tucked in.
This time the ink has a window
& within it, a girl with her hand, pressed against
my leg is trying to break free. Much like myself.
To be is hard work.
I play it real cool with my date as they are standing
next to me, while my shin is throbbing, uncontrollably.
Another peacock honks.
This is also hard work, these stairs
leading up to the wisteria trees, overseeing the city.
The light medium violets are kept by the branches,
surrounded by squashed darker petals on the ground.
I start to remember the archer, Hậu Nghệ,
my parents told me about who shot down
9 out of 10 suns, so the people then wouldn’t burn.
So that I can exist. So that you can, too.
The entire earth was red. The grass. Red.
(Published in Bellingham Review)

We trade you whiskey for your words! To create community, we ask our guests to each bring a poem to read in an intimate circle of fellow aficionados. It doesn't need to be original, memorized, or long and there are no mics or bright lights!

In addition to a grazing table, we will enjoy four unique and fabulous Method and Madness Irish whiskeys:

-- Method & Madness Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey: Grand Gold - San Francisco World Spirits Competition

-- Method & Madness Single Malt Irish Whiskey: Gold - International Spirits Challenge

-- Method & Madness Single Grain Irish Whiskey: Double Gold - International Spirits Challenge

-- Method & Madness Rye And Malt Irish Blended Whiskey: Gold Medal/Exceptional - Tastings.com

The address of the secret, historical location in Highland Park (Northeast Los Angeles) will be sent the evening of Wednesday, March 13.

--Rideshare is highly recommended. Street parking is available.

We can't wait to drink poetry with you!

Slàinte mhath!

For Whisky & Poetry Salon ticket inquiries, please email: [email protected]

On Fri, 3/15 at a secret, historical location in Highland Park, the Whisky & Poetry Salon with feature poet will also feature four unique and fabulous Method and Madness Irish whiskeys. This cutting-edge whisky brand is known for its bold approach to ageing whisky in casks like Hungarian oak and chestnut.

Each whisky is an adventure, with new tastes and unusual flavors, like the Method and Madness Single Pot Still Whiskey, which we will be tasting. This innovative whiskey is matured in sherry & American barrels, finished in French chestnut casks, and was awarded the extremely high 95/100 pts on Whisky Advocate magazine

In addition to a grazing table, we will also taste:

Method and Madness Single Malt Whiskey
Method and Madness Single Grain Whiskey
Method and Madness Rye and Malt Blended Whiskey

Alina’s poetry chapbook Before There Were More Ghosts, from Tomorrow Today, will be available for sale.

We trade you whiskey for your words! Guests are asked to bring a poem to read in an intimate circle of fellow aficionados; it doesn’t have to be original, memorized, or long. No mics or bright lists.

For information about tickets, please email [email protected]

So excited about The Whisky and Poetry Salon with feature poet and Method and Madness Irish Whisky on Friday, March 15 at a secret, historical location in Highland Park!

Alina was a finalist for the Kate Sommer Memorial Prize with this poem, which was first published in Chaparral.

Love Languages" by Alina Nguyen

With just a month before persimmons season,
I think about Gary Soto’s “Oranges,” while he carries
citrus, I’d carry persimmons in my pocket to surprise the girl
I love who doesn’t want gifts in the form of things, but she’s down
for food so I joke that I’d get her a bouquet of cucumbers
because she loves pickles. So, to find an in-between
where we both want to gift each other, I share my culture
in the form of these orange orbs, & teach her how to say it in Vietnamese:
trái hồng. So, language also becomes a gift.

We can't wait to trade you whisky for your words! YOU bring a poem to read in an intimate circle of fellow aficionados; it doesn't have to be original or memorized or long. No mics and no bright lights!

WE bring fine whiskey -- in this case, Method and Madness Irish Whisky to jumpstart your St. Patrick's Day weekend!

We will taste through:

-- Method & Madness Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
Grand Gold - San Francisco World Spirits Competition

-- Method & Madness Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Gold - International Spirits Challenge

-- Method & Madness Single Grain Irish Whiskey
Double Gold - International Spirits Challenge

-- Method & Madness Rye And Malt Irish Blended Whiskey
Gold Medal/Exceptional - Tastings.com

We will also enjoy a spread of delicious appetizers!

For ticket inquiries, please contact [email protected]
With just a month before persimmons season,
I think about Gary Soto’s “Oranges,” while he carries
citrus, I’d carry persimmons in my pocket to surprise the girl
I love who doesn’t want gifts in the form of things, but she’s down
for food so I joke that I’d get her a bouquet of cucumbers
because she loves pickles. So, to find an in-between
where we both want to gift each other, I share my culture
in the form of these orange orbs, & teach her how to say it in Vietnamese:
trái hồng. So, language also becomes a gift.

The Whisky & Poetry Salon is excited to welcome Alina Nguyễn as our fantastic feature poet on FRIDAY, March 15 at 7:00 p.m. at a secret, historical location in Highland Park. Alina's newly re-issued poetry chapbook "Before There Were More Ghosts" from Tomorrow Today will be available for sale.

THE POET - Alina Nguyễn

Growing up in Northeast Los Angeles, Alina Nguyễn spent most of her childhood in laundromats. She is the proud daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, and the author of the chapbook, Before There Were More Ghosts, from Tomorrow Today. She earned her M.F.A. from the California State University-Long Beach and is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

"Before There Were More Ghosts" is a journey through an East Los Angeles childhood, q***r affirmation and tender memories that move back and forth between Vietnamese and English. Before There Were More Ghosts examines the immigrant experience, gentrification and the liberation of the self through discovery and mutual care. With beautiful illustrations by Evie May Adams, Before There Were More Ghosts offers intimate story telling in rich details.

ATTENTION GUESTS!

We trade you whiskey for your words! Guests are asked to bring a poem to read to read in an intimate circle of fellow aficionados. It doesn't have to be original, memorized, or long. No mics, no bright lights!

THE WHISKEY - Method & Madness Irish Whiskey

Method & Madness Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey: Grand Gold - San Francisco World Spirits Competition
Method & Madness Single Malt Irish Whiskey: Gold - International Spirits Challenge
Method & Madness Single Grain Irish Whiskey: Double Gold - International Spirits Challenge
Method & Madness Rye And Malt Irish Blended Whiskey: Gold Medal/Exceptional - Tastings.com

THE DETAILS

-- We will also enjoy a grazing table!

-- The address of the secret, historical location in Highland Park (Northeast Los Angeles) will be sent the evening of Wednesday, March 13.
Rideshare is highly recommended. Street parking is available.

We can't wait to drink poetry with you!

Slàinte mhath!

For Whisky & Poetry Salon ticket inquiries, please email: [email protected]

Just a handful of tickets left for the annual Whisky and Poetry Salon / Robert Celebration on Saturday, January 27th at a secret, historical location in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Guests will receive location via email on Thursday evening, January 25th, via email.)

This will be the FINAL Los Angeles reading for our dynamic feature poet Eric Morago who is also the publisher of Moon Tide Press. Eric will be bringing books to sign and sell!

Federico Dubon, Single Malts Brand Ambassador for Southern California, will bring four expressions of the suberb Aberfeldy Single Malt Scotch Whisky, which is known as the "Golden Dram" because of its honeyed sweetness. We'll sip Aberfeldy 12 year old, Aberfeldy 16 year old, Aberfeldy 18 year old, and Aberfeldy 21 year old.

There will be a delicious grazing table and also, surprises!
We ask that all guests bring a poem to read! It doesn't have to be original, memorized, long, or Scottish!

For ticket inquiries, please contact [email protected].

21+
No refunds

Slàinte Mhath!

We are thrilled to welcome Eric Morago, dynamic performance poet, two time Pushcart Prize nominee, and publisher of the powerhouse Moon Tide Press, as the feature poet at The Whisky & Poetry Salon's Annual celebration with Aberfeldy Single Malt Scotch Whisky on Saturday, January 27 at 7pm at a secret, historical location in Highland Park.

This will be Eric's FINAL SHOW before he moves away from Los Angeles. Eric will be bringing books to sell and sign. Tickets are selling briskly -- you don't want to miss this!

Here's his official bio except, as mentioned, Eric will be moving away from Los Angeles soon after his appearance at The Whisky & Poetry Salon / celebration!

"Eric Morago is a multiple Pushcart Prize nominated poet who believes performance carries as much importance on the page as it does off. He is the author of What We Ache For and Feasting
on Sky. Currently Eric teaches writing workshops and is editor-in-chief and publisher of Moon Tide Press and Spillway Magazine. He has an MFA in Creative Writing from California State University, Long Beach, and lives in Los Angeles, CA. (