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Spirit of Sin City came alive in Addison during whiskey fest

The 4th annual Whiskey and Fine Spirits Festival kicked off a night of drinking, dancing and gambling Nov. 14 at the Addison Airport's Status Jet Hangar.

Guests milled about, sipping on spirits in complimentary tasting glasses. Light bites were provided by Cantina Laredo and a photographer-run photo booth gave attendees a chance to personalize photo souvenirs.

The BMW i8 sits so low, guests had to climb down to get behind the wheel.
The BMW i8 sits so low, guests had to climb down to get behind the wheel.(Brooke Burchill)

Though many vendors offered small tastes of their spirits either neat or on the rocks, many had prepared mixed drinks or cocktails for the event. Bartenders Matt Orth from Lark on the Park and Stephen Halpin from Parliament worked the El Mayor Tequila booth and created one of the evening's more inventive cocktails -- an Aztec Old Fashioned made with creme de cocoa, chocolate bitters, El Mayor Añejo tequila and a twist of orange peel.

In keeping with the "Sin City of the 1960s" theme, poker tables were set up throughout the hangar (no real money was bet; guests received a coupon for $1,000 in fake chips to use at the tables). The smell of tobacco wafted through the air as smoke billowed from hand-rolled cigars made on-site by Cigar Art, an artisan cigar shop in Oak Cliff.

BMW added to the decadence of the scene by showing off some of its vehicles. No one seemed to mind that a sleek new BMW i8 didn't exactly fit the 1960s theme -- they were too busy admiring the sexy sports car.

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Hundreds of people showed up for the libation-driven event, but it was the live band, Ricki Derek and the Vegas Six, who stole the show. Nailing classic tunes like Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual" and Frank Sinatra's "The Way You Look Tonight," bandleader Ricki Derek was as entertaining to watch as he was to listen to; his erratic gyrations drew the crowd from the drinks to the dance floor and added some kick to an otherwise buzzing party.

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Ricki Derek and the Vegas Six livened up the party with classic covers by Nat King Cole,...
Ricki Derek and the Vegas Six livened up the party with classic covers by Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and more.(Brooke Burchill)