St. Pat’s, Pi Day, and distillery events: your KC food and drink schedule for March 12-18

 Tuesday, March 13

Up north, Repeal 18th (1825 Buchanan) is hosting a Japanese whiskey tasting beginning at 5 p.m. Guests will learn about and sample a variety of premium Japanese spirits, including the Akashi, Iwai Tradition, Hibiki Harmony and Nikka Pure Malt labels. Tickets are $30; purchase them and find out more about the event via Eventbrite. 

Wednesday, March 14

Made a little closer to home, the J. Rieger and Company 2018 Monogram Whiskey release party kicks off tonight at The Rieger (1925 Main Street), with seatings at 5:30 and 7 p.m. Join cofounder Ryan Maybee and head distiller Nathan Perry for a guided tasting that includes cheese and charcuterie prepared by chef Howard Hanna, cocktails, and neat samples of the whiskey. Tickets are $60 a person and can be purchased via Tock. 

David Epstein, cofounder of Tom’s Town Distilling Company, is tonight’s featured guest at P.S. Speakeasy (106 West 12th Street). This installment of PS’s ongoing series, “Cocktails and Conversation,” provides guests an opportunity to learn from and interact with some of the city’s most successful businesspeople and entrepreneurs (Epstein, for example, has served as NBC Vice President of Digital Strategy, NBC Daytime and AccessHollywood.com, in addition to his role at Tom’s Town). The event runs from 7 to 8 p.m., and tickets (which include one cocktail) are $10, available via Eventbrite. 

Visit Ignite Wood Fire Grill (8721 Ryckert Street) tonight for a five-course menu built around Oregon and California wine labels Alexana and Corazon del Sol (Revanna Estate Vineyards). Courses include rabbit loin with crispy fried polenta and hangar steak with parmesan-crusted Yukon Gold potatoes, among others. The dinner is $85 a person, not including tax or gratuity; more information and tickets are available through Eventbrite. 

Wednesday is also National Pi Day. A couple of options: Michael Forbes (128 West 63rd Street) is serving Sour Cream Apple Pie for $3.14 a slice; and Ashleigh’s Bake Shop (115 Westport Road, inside of Pryde’s Kitchen), is selling some of the city’s best pies for $20 per pie or yes, individual slices for $3.14.  

Thursday, March 15

Arguably Kansas City’s most celebrated restaurant, Bluestem (900 Westport Road) celebrates 14 years in business tonight with an all-night happy hour in the lounge. For those looking to try the restaurant for the first time and not necessarily willing to commit to full service or the tasting menu, here’s your opportunity to get in past the normal 6 p.m. happy hour cut off. 

Saturday, March 17

We have a love-hate relationship with St. Patrick’s Day. On one hand, dodging drunk drivers and seeing someone barf up green foam on the street in Westport before 10 a.m. is not our idea of an awesome day. On the other hand, who are we to argue with a whole day basically just devoted to having fun? KC has a lot to offer on St. Pat’s, but a few of the more appealing options start with a brunch buffet with beer and whiskey specials and a performance by the KC Bear Fighters at Ollie’s Local (3044 Gillham Road) from 9 to 11 a.m. Chicken and Pickle (1761 Burlington) is serving up corned beef and green beer beginning at 9 a.m. Hopcat (401 Westport Road) is opening up its patio, from which you can watch the city parade; a $20 ticket to that includes a beer. And as is their longstanding tradition, Browne’s Irish Marketplace (3300 Pennsylvania Avenue) will be kicking things off with a traditional Irish breakfast beginning at 9 a.m., followed by a day filled with live music, dancing, more food, and of course, drinks.