(Highlands, NC) In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, Old Edwards Inn and Spa invites the public to join in an authentic Irish Whiskey Tasting on March 16 from 4pm to 5pm, and March 18 from 6pm to 7pm in the Hummingbird Lounge & Library.

Participants will compare Whiskey from the three main distilleries of Ireland with some favorite American Whiskeys and comparable brands of Scotch. The price is $25 per person. Advance reservations are required.

The Whiskey Tasting is part of a unique “stepped up” version of the St. Patrick’s Day celebration that includes an Irish Feast and Party on March 17. An entertaining performance by the Celtic band “The McRibtips” and an Irish-clad service staff will set the stage for this one-of-a-kind dinner experience that begins with a hors d’oeuvre reception with a special Irish Cocktail and ends with “The Irish Coffee Making Experience.” Old Edwards’ Irish Laddie, Thomas Keenan, will guide guests through making their own authentic Irish Coffee after dinner, using ingredients placed at their individual place settings. Enjoy perfectly paired wine, Irish beer and a multi-course feast in the rustically intimate setting of The Farm. Advance reservations are required.

Old Edwards invites you to kick up your heels for St. Patrick’s Day, Old Edwards Style. For more information, call 828-787-2625 or visit www.oldedwardsinn.com.

About Old Edwards Inn and Spa: (www.oldedwardsinn.com) Recently honored with the 2010 TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award (top ten in the US) Old Edwards Inn and Spa welcomes visitors to North Carolina’s high country with its unique blend of relaxed luxury recognized worldwide. A spectacular outdoor heated mineral pool, world class spa, award-winning dining, and golfing at the private Old Edwards Club are signature experiences at this full-service mountain resort. Guests are surrounded by the warmth and character of Old-Europe architecture and authentic period antiques. Many rooms, cottages and suites offer private patios or terraces—some with captivating rooftop views of Main Street and downtown Highlands. All of the luxury accommodations include champagne arrival, twice-daily housekeeping, two 24-hour business centers and two 24-hour Butler’s pantries with Dove Bars, fresh fruit and soft beverages. European bedding, fine Italian linens, plush robes & slippers, rainfall showers, heated-tile bathroom floors, in-room safes and Wi-Fi enhance the in-room experience. Edwards Inn and Spa also boasts a state-of-the art fitness center with wellness classes that include guided hikes into the scenic surrounding mountains known as “waterfall country.”

Guests enjoy onsite shopping at the Spa Boutique, Acorn’s Boutique or Acorn’s Annex featuring fine antiques and home accessories. Dining venues include Madison ’s Restaurant and Wine Garden serving innovative New South Cuisine, The Rib Shack and Sports Corner, the Spa Café and the Poolside Bar and Bistro. Special events and weddings take place at The Farm—a lushly landscaped Old Edwards property located one mile from downtown Highlands featuring The Barn, the Farmhouse with luxury lodging, Bridal Pavilion, Bridal Bridge over a scenic pond and outdoor events pavilion. The Old Edwards Executive Conference Center provides a catered corporate retreat venue.

Also introduced in 2009 was Satulah, Old Edwards Private Residences, which includes 14 luxury mountain homes just two blocks of Main Street, Highlands. The Forbes Four-Star, AAA Four-Diamond resort is located at 445 Main Street in Highlands, NC. Madison’s Restaurant and Wine Garden has won the Wine Spectator “Award of Excellence” every year since 2005 and the “Best Of” award in 2008 and 2009.