On a recent November evening, the Crystal Tea Room in the Wanamaker Building was host to the Philadelphia Whiskey Festival. Lucky guests to the sold-out Philadelphia Magazine event were able to sample over 200 spirits, from ryes to bourbons to scotches and even non-brown liquors like tequila, vodka, gin and absinthe.

As attendees were tasting and sipping, area bartenders competed in a Woodford Reserve Manhattan cocktail contest, the winner of which moved on to national finals that will take place in NYC. We checked in with Colin Shearn (general manager of The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co.) for some whiskey wisdom, as well as other folks around the floor. Check it out in the video above.