Top international World Whisky Day events
Charge your glass and celebrate the “water of life” with our pick of the top international events for World Whisky Day on 21 May.
This is our pick of the top international events taking place this World Whisky DayThis Saturday dedicated whisky fans around the world will be raising a dram in recognition of their love for the amber liquid.
Whether Scotch or Bourbon, Irish or Australian; the spotlight will be shone on whiskies of all varieties this weekend.
Hosting an event is free for individuals, bars and brands, and range from distillery tours to tastings, festivals to food pairings – anything goes.
The concept was launched by Scottish graduate Blair Bowman in 2012, and later sold to luxury drinks title Hot Rum Cow in 2015.
Last year thousands of people attended 170 events in 48 countries, reaching 11.3 million people on Twitter.
Fraser Allen, publisher of Hot Rum Cow and organiser of World Whisky Day, said: “We’re building up to another spectacular celebration of the whisky world. Just as there’s a whisky out there for everyone, there’s an event out there for everyone too – from haunted tastings to scientific whisky experiments. Anyone can get involved, just raise a dram on the day!”
Take a look through the following pages to see our pick of the top international events for World Whisky Day.
Have we missed an event that you have been eager to attend? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Click here for a full list of registered World Whisky Day events.
Whisky Takeover at Kansas Smitty’s, London, UK
Craft whisky brand R&B Distillers are taking over Kansas Smitty’s for an evening of whisky tastings, juleps and a whisky-only cocktail menu, inspired by jazz and blues artists who loved the golden nectar. On arrival, guests will receive a Piney Brown Julep, featuring R&B Borders Single Grain Whisky, lavender, pine, salted heather honey, bergamot and lemon. They will then be invited to sample a dram of R&B Distiller’s two whiskies: While We Wait, and Borders, led by R&D brand ambassador Chris Hoban, before learning the tips and tricks behind the ‘perfect’ julep by Kansas Smitty’s bartender Victoria Charlton.
Tickets are £12 and are available to buy online here.
Underneath ‘Off Broadway’, 63 Broadway Market, London, UK
The Scotch Whisky Experience, Edinburgh, Scotland
The Scotch Whisky Experience plans to encourage a new wave of #WhiskyConverts this World Whisky Day with a Morning Masterclass. A “sensory perception test” prepares you for a comparative tasting of one blend, one single grain and two single malt whiskies, and the nosing of new-make spirit. In addition, every visitor will be given access to mobile app Whisky Adventure, which walks users around Edinburgh on a Scotch whisky history tour.
Usually priced at £40 per person, the class will be offered at two for the price of one. For more information, click here.
354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
The Whisky Show 2016, Sydney, Australia
Pipped as “the largest event in Australia on World Whisky Day”, The Whisky Show 2016 promises to be huge, with more than 20 exhibitors ranging Aberlour to Writer’s Tears, 150 whiskies, and 1,500 visitors. Choose from a selection of four masterclasses, which include the range of Kavalan single malts from Taiwan, and a selection of NAS whiskies from iconic Islay distillery Laphroaig. A snack bag, whisky glass, souvenir programme and water bottle will be given to all visitors to the show.
Tickets are AUS$75 and can be bought online. For more information, click here.
Stamford Plaza, Sydney Airport, 241 O’Riordan Street, Mascot, Sydney, Australia
World Whisky Celebration at Virginia Distilling Company, Virginia, US
To honour World Whisky Day, Virginia Distillery Company has announced a day-long celebration in its visitor centre. Sip a dram on the outdoor patio, enjoy a twist on a Mint Julep with the bar’s feature cocktail, The Virginia Julep, or enjoy a food from Code Fresh Food Truck. Gearharts Fine Chocolates will host a one-of-a-kind whisky and chocolate pairing demo.
Entry is free and no booking is required. For more information, click here.
299 Eades Lane, Lovingston, Virginia, US
Tiffany’s New York Bar, Hong Kong
As the nominal ‘capital of whisky in Hong Kong’, Tiffany’s is hosting an evening celebration in collaboration with Pernod Ricard. The bar will provide welcome drinks of Glenlivet 12 Year Old served neat or on the rocks “for gents”, and the Chivas Special Whisky Cocktail “for ladies”, before dispensing 100 different expressions of single malt whiskies available for purchase. Nibble on cheese, chocolate, oysters, sea urchins and whisky cake at Ice Bar, enjoy a Davidoff Cigar, or get down to Jazz, Motown and Soul.
Tickets are HK$120. For more information, click here.
70 Mody Road Tsimshatsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong
The Battle of the Independents, Singapore
Celebrate the true “water of life” with whisky organisation, The Single Cask, as its hosts The Battle of the Independents. Featuring six whiskies from various independent bottlers, both old and new, The Single Cask will be pitting brand against brand to select one victorious winner.
Tickets are SGD$88 and are available to buy online here.
01-25 Chijmes Caldwell House, 30 Victoria Street, Singapore
Lidkoeb Whisky Bar, Copenhagen, Denmark
To mark World Whisky Day, the esteemed Copenhagen-based bar will host a tasting in its cosy attic, featuring a small fireplace and a full-on whisky focus. The ‘Connoisseur Journey’ flight is made up of Balvenie 15 Year Old Single Barrel Sherry Cask, Springbank Local Barley 1999/2016, and Compass Box offering, This Is Not A Luxury Whisky. A complimentary cocktail will be served featuring Irish whiskey, dill aquavit, fresh lemon juice, apple juice and sugar.
Tickets are 375dkk, and reservations can be made online here.
Vesterbrogade 72B, 1620 KØBENHAVN V, Copenhagen, Denmark
Highland Roast at Delatite Hotel, Victoria, Australia
The Delatite Hotel in Victoria will be championing Scotch this World Whisky Day with its very own Highland-inspired roast dinner as part of the High Country Harvest Festival. The four course meal will be paired with a selection of single malt whiskies, and a touch of tartan is requested.
Tickets are AUS$69, and can be bought online here.
95 High Street, Mansfield, Victoria, Australia
