Whiskey Guru Bill Thomas Firing the Potomac Poker Open
Bill Thomas, who is in action today, owns the biggest whiskey selection in the Western Hemisphere. It's housed at one of his restaurants — Jack Rose Dining Saloon in nearby Washington, D.C.
"I just love playing poker," Thomas previously told PokerNews, adding that he doesn't get to play very often. "It's the only thing that stops me from thinking about work because you're going from hand to hand to hand."
In that respect, Thomas is like countless recreational players. However, that daily grind differs quite a bit from what most people do for a living, as Thomas travels the country and the world in search of rare and valuable whiskey. Years ago before the 2015 WSOP Main Event, a tournament he tries to play every year, he took a trip to Scotland for a couple of weeks, then to Kentucky keeping a keen out for bottles to add to his collection.
"I bought bottles that were $5,000 a pop," Thomas said of that trip. "We're buying the rarest stuff we can get our hands on. I think that's a steal."
For more on Thomas, check out Mo Nuwwarah's article on him here.