2025 Food & Wine Classic highlights

Here’s a few featured pop-ups and events to help you navigate this festive weekend.

2025 Food & Wine Classic, June 20-22

The 2025 Food & Wine Classic, an annual Aspen tradition, is a great way to start the summer. This spectacular event takes place throughout the weekend. Three amazing days of cooking demonstrations, wine and spirit tastings, and a panel discussion conducted by top chefs and beverage experts. Passes are available for purchase at classic.foodandwine.com/experience/passes.

High-Altitude with Ford’s Gin at Hotel Jerome Friday, June 20, free event

High-Altitude with Ford’s Gin is a festive, free event for guests and locals at 6 p.m., Friday, June 20 at Hotel Jerome Garden. The spirited garden gathering on the stunning lawn is an opportunity for guests to enjoy a crafted cocktail from Ford’s Gin, including highballs like Jasmine Peach (with Jasmine, white peach, and lime), Shiso Lime (with Mediterranean tonic and fresh lime), and Watermelon Cucumber (with sparkling cucumber and lime) offer refreshing twists on classic summer sips. Locals can use EP25LOCAL for additional discounts.

A New York Night with Raf’s, Friday, June 20

A New York Night with Raf’s, a Michelen-recommended restaurant, is set for 6-8 p.m., Friday, June 20.

Raf’s brings its signature blend of French-Italian cuisine, wood-fired flavor, and downtown New York charm to the Rockies for one unforgettable evening. Led by acclaimed chef Mary Attea, Thomas Philal, and pastry chef Camari Mick, the dinner captures the warmth, style, and spontaneity that have made Raf’s one of Manhattan’s most coveted reservations. Hosted by Jennifer and Nicole Vitagliano, the evening promises a true taste of the city-layered, vibrant, and impossible to replicate. The admission price is $450, not inclusive of tax and gratuity, for tickets go to exploretock.com/hotel-jerome/event/550473/a-new-york-night-with-rafs. The event takes place at  330 E. Main Street.

Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Tasting Experience at Felix Roasting Co. Friday, June 20, and Saturday, June 21

Discover an exquisite tasting experience with La Grande Dame from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Friday, June 20, and Saturday, June 21, at Hotel Jerome. Guests will enjoy a curated flight featuring Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label and Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2015, finishing with a glass of either Veuve Clicquot Rich or Veuve Clicquot Rich Rosé. Each pour will be paired with thoughtfully-crafted bites from the Hotel Jerome culinary team, designed to complement the distinct profiles of each cuvée. Hosted in the artfully designed Felix Roasting Co., this elegant experience invites guests to sip and savor the spirit of Veuve Clicquot in one of Aspen’s most refined settings. Felix Roasting Co. is located at 330 E. Main St. Tickets are $125 per guest, plus processing fee. To purchase, please visit tickets. Locals can use EP25LOCAL for additional discounts.

Award-winning Sake High! debuts at the Food & Wine Classic, June 20-22, free event

Sake High!’s official Colorado launch and the debut of new sake-based hard teas at the renowned Aspen 2025 Food & Wine Classic, along with a sampling of Sake High’s signature sake collection, will take place all weekend in the Grand Tasting Pavilion. The rising brand is making waves in the sake and ready-to-drink space, with distribution powered by Eagle Rock Distributing Company. The launch aims to bring these options to restaurants, bars, and retailers across the state.

“We’re excited to introduce Colorado to Sake High! and our innovative sake teas,” co-Founder of Sake High! Brenna Turner said in a statement. “The Aspen Food & Wine Classic is the perfect stage for our official launch — where culinary discovery meets discerning taste.”

The team will be on hand to greet those guests at the Sake High! booth.

Afternoon with Waterford and Julie Macklowe, Saturday, June 21

Waterford is set to host an afternoon of American luxury whiskey and a rare appearance by Julie Macklowe, founder of The Macklowe, from 1-2 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, at the Hotel Jerome Garden. Julie will guide guests through a tasting of her celebrated collection, each pour served in Waterford, where form transforms flavor. Guests will have the opportunity to purchase select Waterford glassware, with complimentary on-site engraving available to make it their own. Tickets run from $75 per guest. For tickets, please visit exploretock.com/hotel-jerome/event/555559/an-afternoon-with-waterford-and-julie-macklowe.

Sky Terrace Caviar & Cocktails with Petrossian and LALO Tequila, Friday, June 21, and Saturday, June 22

Enjoy a sophisticated caviar, champagne and cocktail experience on the Sky Terrace from noon-7 p.m., Friday, June 21, and Saturday, June 22, during Epicurean Passport Weekend at Hotel Jerome. In partnership with Petrossian, LALO Tequila, and Champagne Telmont, this exclusive gathering invites guests to indulge in the world’s finest caviar paired with artfully-crafted cocktails and elegant pours of Telmont champagne. Set against the alpine backdrop of Aspen Mountain from Hotel Jerome’s fourth-story terrace, this is a high-altitude celebration of flavor and elegance. The event is at 330 E. Main St. Tickets for the special event are $75 per hour, plus a service fee for processing. For tickets, please visit exploretock.com/hotel-jerome/event/550493/sky-terrace. Locals can use EP25LOCAL for additional discounts.

Bad Harriet Cocktail event at Hotel Jerome, Friday and Saturday night

Bad Harriet Takeover with San Francisco’s Trick Dog Cocktail Bar and LALO’s Tequila team up at 8 p.m., Friday, June 20, and 8 p.m., Saturday, June 21, in Hotel Jerome’s subterranean cocktail lounge, Bad Harriet. Guests will have an opportunity to sip boundary-pushing cocktails in an intoxicating atmosphere. The event is located at 330 East Main Street. Tickets are $50 plus a $24 service fee per guest, granting inclusive entry and one complimentary cocktail. To purchase, please visit tickets. Locals can use EP25LOCAL for additional discounts.

Live Cheese Sculpting with ‘The Cheese Lady’ at Clark’s Market, Saturday, June 21, free event

Live Cheese Sculpting with “The Cheese Lady” at Clark’s Market from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, June 21. This standout event at Clark’s Market features a live cheese carving by the renowned “Cheese Lady” Sarah Kaufmann. Kaufmann will transform a 500-pound wheel of Henning’s cheddar into an edible masterpiece, offering a unique experience for locals and visitors during the weekend. Attendees can watch this creative process unfold and have the chance to sample a delicious selection of artisan, award-winning cheeses from Wisconsin Cheese at this free event.