2020 Whisky Festivals in Europe

Photo by Dylan de Jonge

There’s nothing better than having a night out with friends in the pub. Hearing each other's life stories while sipping on a good old whisky is the best setting for a great night out. Perhaps this is why whisky is considered to be one of the premier drinks of choice with people from all walks of life.

It also has a reputation for being sailors' favourite beverage alongside rum. The golden drink helped during the cold and hardship of hard journeys at sea, where there were violent waves, unpredictable waters, and invisible demons to contend with. Perhaps because of this adventurous history, whisky is often associated with many superstitious stories. For example, many sailors used to have a second job as matchmakers since legend says that a smoker who lights their cigarette from a candle, instead of a match, will cause a sailor to drown. 

Today, the world of whisky has changed from myths to reality and is becoming more inclusive. In Europe, festivals with small and big distilleries and vendors are organised yearly to share and pass on the traditional ways of sharing, enjoying and making whisky. 

Here is a list of some of the major whisky festivals in Europe 2020.

The Old & Rare Whisky Show 

The European whisky tour starts in London from 29th February to 1st March with a degustation of the finest and most unique whisky: this is the Old & Rare Whisky Show. The festival celebrates the traditional and modern ways of making whisky and is proudly composed of independent exhibitors. This is a great opportunity to hear the vendors’ stories behind their business, and find out what makes whisky so special. 

The Whisky Live events

Whisky Live events celebrate 20 years of sharing a passion for whisky with the world. The first events were in Tokyo and London and their growing success has led to them spreading internationally. Open to connoisseurs and first-time tasters, these live events make the world of whisky more accessible to enthusiasts around the world. The next Whisky Live event in Europe is the London festival scheduled for 27-28 March 2020, Paris 26- 28 September 2020, and Warsaw 2 - 3 October 2020. 

The Whisky Show 

As a capital city, London is a major hub for festivals and will also host the Whisky Show on 2 -4 October 2020. The festival is themed around “the journey of the cask” and visitors will explore the craft behind the production and manufacturing of the golden beverage. The three-day exhibition will include workshops, masterclasses, conferences and networking opportunities for whisky-lovers to meet and share ideas. 

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2020

Located in the north-west of Scotland, Speyside is home to more than 50 distilleries. Compared to the other festivals, this one requires a car as visitors are invited to take a tour of all the Scottish distilleries whilst there. It’s a unique chance to discover the manufacturing of world-famous Scottish whiskys and a unique chance to explore the beautiful landscape of the country. The festival is from 29th April to Monday 4th May 2020. 

The Islay Whisky Festival (Feis Ile)

For those interested in moving back to the roots of whisky, the Islay Whisky Festival connects the craft of whisky with community-building. Working in distilleries is a tradition passed down from generation to generation and has been attracting tourists from all around the UK and the rest of the world. The festival also celebrates drama, dance, crafts and the English-Gaelic bilingualism of islanders. The Islay Whisky Festival lasts from 22nd May 2020 to 30th May 2020. 

The Limburg Whisky Fair

Limburg is a small city an hour away from Stuttgart in Germany. The city is home to one of the most popular whisky festivals in Europe and showcases the German craft of the golden beverage. The event attracts small vendors from Germany and Europe that will introduce you to their private collection of whiskys. This festival is the place to be for collectors and whisky enthusiasts looking to find rare bottles. The dates for 2020 are 25 - 26. April. 

I visited the Limburg Whisky Fair in 2015 and you can read all about that here.

Maltstock - the relaxed whisky festival

Maltstock is a gateway event for whisky lovers in the heartland of the Netherlands. From Friday evening to Sunday morning, the Maltstock team organises tours, masterclasses, and gatherings to share knowledge and news about whisky. It’s an amazing time to meet like-minded entrepreneurs and whisky enthusiasts and have a fun weekend together. In 2020, the weekend is scheduled for 11-13th September.

The Beer & Whisky Fair in Gothenburg

Every year, Gothenburg, Sweden, hosts one of the largest festivals in the world; it will run from April 3rd to 4th in 2020. Compared to the previous festivals, the Gothenburg festival gathers distilleries and breweries from all corners of the globe and will give access to many networking connections. Last year, Guinness World Records confirmed the 2019 edition had gathered the world's largest whisky tasting ever. It’s safe to say that this festival is a must-go for any whisky enthusiasts. 

Photo by Adam Wilson

Most of the events listed above are already selling their tickets and even their programmes. Check them out and decide which one(s) best fit with your interest in whisky.

I will try to follow-up with an article listing the Norwegian whisky festivals for 2020 shortly.

Sláinte!
- Thomas