Anyone can sip a Speyside single-malt and wax poetic about peat. But for credible booze criticism, look to the Ultimate Beverage Challenge. Earlier this year, spirits guru F. Paul Pacult and a squad of pro palates put more than 1,000 spirits and wines through their paces to establish a definitive compendium of the world’s finest tipples. Now you can get taste of the top scorers—more than 250 liquors and 75 types of vino, to be exact—at the Ultimate Cocktails, Spirits and Wine Blast. In addition to snagging rare sips like a Mount Gay Rum 1703 Cask Selection, try 60-plus cocktails—including Negronis and whiskey sours—made by a crack bartending team featuring local stars Jim Meehan (PDT) and Ryan McGrale (Flatiron Lounge). Plus, don’t miss book signings with scribes such as Pacult and David Wondrich (Imbibe!), as well as guided tasting seminars on topics like “The Spirits and Wines of China.” Drink well, and let the adjectives flow freely—these quaffs are well worth breaking out the thesaurus for.—Chris Schonberger
