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Everything you need to know about the National Whisky Festival heading to Aberdeen

The National Whisky Festival is making a comeback to Aberdeen. Festivalgoers will get access to around 200 different drams.
The National Whisky Festival is making a comeback to Aberdeen. Festivalgoers will get access to around 200 different drams.

The National Whisky Festival is making its return to Aberdeen later this autumn as it arrives at the Music Hall.

Whisky fans will be able to get a taste of Scotland’s nectar at the event on Saturday September 10. The last event, which took place a year ago, sold out with around 800 festivalgoers heading to the venue across the day.

With two sessions taking place from noon to 3.30pm and 4.15pm to 7.45pm, there’s plenty for whisky lovers and drinks fans to taste.

The National Whisky Festival will take place in Aberdeen’s Music Hall.

What is the National Whisky Festival?

The festival will celebrate the country’s national drink in a responsible manner with various brand stalls there showcasing their wares.

Those in attendance will get the chance to sample an array of classic, unique and rare expressions, and there will also be a range of masterclasses for people to pop into and learn even more about specific brands or drams.

Brand representatives will be on-hand to let festivalgoers sample various drams.

How much are tickets?

Tickets are priced at £37.50 and include entry to one of the sessions, a branded Glencairn nosing glass, a festival programme and discount vouchers that can be used at the on-site festival bottle shop.

Festivalgoers will also be able to enjoy a bill of live entertainment and will also get access to an extensive range of different whiskies.

Try a dram you’ve never sampled before at the National Whisky Festival.

While entrants must be 18 years of age or older, it is likely that Challenge 25 will be in place at all of the bars so it is important for those coming along to bring identification with them.

What drinks exhibitors will be there?

With around 200 drams available to explore from 40 businesses, there will be more than enough to suit everyone’s different tastes.

From leading distillers to those who are new to the scene, not to mention bottlers who will bring their unique bottlings, The National Whisky Festival is guaranteed to be a good day out with its diverse offering.

There will be delicate and approachable drams to peat-powered favourites.

  • Ardgowan
  • Cardrona Distillery
  • GlenAllachie
  • Kilchoman
  • Balblair
  • Douglas Laing & Co
  • GlenWyvis Distillery
  • Lady of the Glen
  • Benromach
  • Duncan Taylor
  • Gordon & Macphail
  • Lindores Abbey
  • SPEY
  • Berry Bros & Rudd
  • Eight Lands
  • Isle of Arran
  • Liquid Oats
  • Birkentree
  • Elixir Distillers
  • Isle of Raasay Distillery
  • Lochlea Distillery
  • Whyte & Mackay
  • Brave New Spirits
  • Fanny Fougerat
  • JG Thomson & Co
  • Mackmyra
  • Wolfburn
Festivalgoers at a previous event by the company try out different whiskies.

There will also be the new Flavour & Experimental Zone which will introduce guests to flavours beyond the whisky map including liqueurs, rums, cognacs and more.

Will there be food?

While the food vendors haven’t been confirmed, the brand usually employs local food businesses to serve up a range of cuisines and dishes.

The only food company that has been confirmed to date is The Chocolate Tree who will be selling their artisan luxury chocolates.

What about entertainment?

The bands or artists haven’t been revealed but a variety of acts will be playing on the day, with a focus on local talent.

A busy National Whisky Festival event. The last time it was in Aberdeen tickets sold out.

Is there anything else happening?

As well as masterclasses there will be cocktails by mixologists, beer from breweries and other drinks for people to try out.

A fringe event masterclass will be taking place on Friday September 9 at the festival’s partner bar, The Old Workshop on Shiprow in Aberdeen, the night before the event.

It will feature a special panel tasting made up of multiple exhibitors who are in town for the event and will be a chance for whisky lovers to catch up ahead with some of the exhibitors ahead of the festival. The panel is still to be announced.

The Lindores Abbey Distillery team at a previous event showcasing their brand.

And there will be a Kilkerran single malt tasting at the festival. It will be a chance to sample liquid from the Campbeltown Distillery and will include sought after limited editions and an unreleased cask sample. Tickets are £15 and will are on sale from today (Friday August 26).

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society and Nicolson Whisky Maps will also be in attendance.

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