An Evening with Author Robert Simonson

Join us for an evening with award-winning author Robert Simonson. In celebration of the release of his newest book, Bourbon & Rye Cocktails: The History of American Whiskey in 73 Recipes, Simonson will host an exclusive dinner with handcrafted cocktails in the James B. Beam Pennsylvania Whiskey Heritage Center at West Overton Village & Museums.

Bourbon and Rye Cocktails, a must-have for whiskey enthusiasts and cocktail aficionados, chronicles the rich, centuries-long history of American whiskey and offers a curated collection of expertly crafted cocktails. Using a timeline format with entries spanning the late eighteenth century to today, award-winning spirits writer Robert Simonson spotlights the key moments (Prohibition, the rise of modern craft distilleries), pioneering personalities (Elijah Craig, Abraham Overholt), and legendary brands (BuffaloTrace, Old Forester, Maker's Mark) in the history of American whiskey. Most timeline entries are accompanied by a related cocktail, for a total of 73 simple recipes contributed by some of the best bartenders in America. 

West Overton Village, as the site of a historic distillery that operated from the early 1800s to Prohibition in 1920, preserves the history of Pennsylvania whiskey. The Museum, located in the 1859 distillery / gristmill building, features award-winning exhibitions and the James B. Beam Pennsylvania Whiskey Heritage Center. West Overton is proud to be the “spiritual home” of Overholt™, a brand started at West Overton in 1810 and produced today by James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont, Kentucky. Overholt™ is the longest continually maintained American whiskey brand

After enjoying a cocktail in the Museum, guests will be welcomed in the Overholt Stateroom, a vintage-inspired bar and lounge where bartenders will serve two additional handcrafted cocktails throughout the evening. Guests can also explore exhibitions and the Sam Komlenic Gallery featuring 270+ historic Pennsylvania whiskey bottles.

During cocktail hour, guests can enjoy heirloom tomato bruschetta, goat cheese truffle, and prosciutto wrapped shrimp. For dinner, guests will have the option of a petite filet or a vegetarian cauliflower steak. Dessert will feature a figgy bread pudding with a whiskey caramel sauce. 

This exclusive experience is limited to just 20 guests.

Tickets are $125 and include:

• A specialty welcome cocktail served in the Museum

• Plated dinner from SunDawg Catering

• Two handcrafted whiskey cocktails served in the Overholt Stateroom

• Book talk by author Robert Simonson

• Signed copy of Bourbon & Rye Cocktails: The History of American Whiskey in 73 Recipes by Robert Simonson

• Complimentary pour of Overholt™ Extra Aged Cask Strength

• Admission to West Overton’s award-winning exhibitions and Pennsylvania Whiskey Heritage Center

The event is hosted at the Museum at West Overton Village, 109 W. Overton Road, Scottdale, PA, 15683.

Please note accessing the Heritage Center requires stairs as we fundraise for an elevator. Contact us to discuss accessibility concerns. 

Robert Simonson is the author of seven acclaimed books on cocktails and cocktail culture, including The Old-Fashioned, A Proper Drink, 3-Ingredient Cocktails, The Martini Cocktail, Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails, Modern Classic Cocktails, and The Encyclopedia of Cocktails. He has written about cocktails, spirits, and bars for The New York Times since 2009, publishing more words about cocktails than any writer in the history of the newspaper. As such, he was the primary contributor to The New York Times Essential Book of Cocktails. In 2022, he and his wife, Mary Kate Murray, co-founded the well-read Substack newsletter The Mix with Robert Simonson, which was nominated for a Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award in 2023 and won an IACP Award in 2024. Simonson began writing a cocktail column for The Wall Street Journal in 2024, and also contributes regularly to New York Magazine, Imbibe, Men’s Journal, Esquire, and Vinepair.