May 2026 in NYC Whisky: 22 Events, Mostly Free

May brings 22 whisky events to the calendar, and 18 of them cost nothing beyond showing up. The month is heavy on retail store tastings, with Brooklyn's Breuckelen Distilling making four separate appearances across four different shops.

Week One: May 1–2

The month opens with Breuckelen Whiskey & Glorious Gin Tasting at Gotham Wines & Spirits on May 1, 5:00–8:00 pm, free. The following evening, BQE Wine & Liquors pours Maker's Mark & Maker's 46 side by side, 5:00–8:00 pm, also free.

Week Two: May 5–9

Foolproof Whiskey Bar runs Tasting Tuesdays: King's County Distillery on May 5, 6:00–8:00 pm, free. May 8 is the busiest single day of the month, with three separate free tastings: Angel's Envy Bourbon & Rye (Angel's Envy, Angel's Envy Rye) at BQE Wine & Liquors, 4:00–7:00 pm; Fettercairn 12 Year & 16 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch at 21st & Vine Wines & Spirits, 4:00–7:00 pm; and Kings County Distillery (Kings County Bourbon) at Court Square Wines, 6:00–8:00 pm. Windsor Wine Merchants follows on May 9 with Breuckelen Local Rye and Corn Whiskey & Glorious Gin Tasting , 4:00–7:00 pm, free.

Week Three: May 13 and 15

This stretch is where the ticketed events cluster. An Evening with Robin Robinson runs at Peck Slip Social on May 13, 7:00–9:00 pm, for $55. Two days later, The Flatiron Room Murray Hill hosts its Luxury Whiskey Class at 6:30 pm for $165, the priciest event on the calendar. If you'd rather keep it free, Last Call Wine & Spirits runs Kings County - Local Whiskey Tasting that same night, 9:00 pm–midnight.

Week Four: May 21–23

Breuckelen returns twice more, first at Ambassador Wines & Spirits on May 21 with Breuckelen whiskey & Glorious Gin Tasting at Ambassador (pouring Breuckelen Distilling 77 Local Rye & Corn), 5:00–8:00 pm, free. Same evening, Union Square Wines pours Michter's US 1 Whiskey (Michter's US1 Bourbon), 5:00–8:00 pm, free. May 22 brings Lagavulin & Oban at BQE Wine & Liquors (Lagavulin Single Malt 16 Year Old, Oban 14 Year), 5:00–8:00 pm, and Breuckelen Bonded Rye at Greene Grape W & S , 5:00–7:00 pm, both free. Breuckelen's fourth stop of the month is Breuckelen Whiskey & Glorious Gin at Gotham W & S on May 23, 5:00–8:00 pm, free.

Closing Out the Month: May 26–30

Travel Bar hosts Knob Creek Blenders Lab NYC (Knob Creek Blenders Edition) on May 26 at 4:00 pm, free. Foolproof Whiskey Bar runs a second Tasting Tuesdays: King's County Distillery that same day, 6:00–8:00 pm, this one ticketed. On May 28, Great Jones Distilling Co. offers its Great Jones Tour + DIY Bottle Customizing for $135, while Astor Wines pours Kings County Bourbon for free, 5:00–8:00 pm. May 29 splits between Slope Cellars' Cocktail Hour with Tenmile Distillery (Little Rest American Single Malt Whisky), 5:30–7:30 pm, and Russell's Reserve Tasting Experience at Gary's Wines in Wayne, NJ, 8:00–11:00 pm, both free. The month closes on May 30 with Four Roses Bourbon at Astor Wines (Four Roses Yellow Label Straight Bourbon, Four Roses Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey), 3:00–6:00 pm, free.