Belfast Whiskey Week returns… bigger and better
Belfast Whiskey Week is back for a fourth instalment, bigger and better than ever before.
The brains behind the event, Paul Kane, told LCN the focus for this year’s event, which takes place from July 22-30, was “identifying brands we really wanted to work with” and expanding the offering.
“We stuck with the nine-day format of seven days of events and either side of it a trade dinner in The Europa and an exposition of whiskey distilleries and brands, again in The Europa,” he explained.
“I want it to be something that gets the people of Belfast involved but also attracts people to Belfast who recognise it as one of the world’s largest whiskey festivals, tapping into the wider tourist market.”
Paul who, kicked off the festival in 2019, admitted that as a Scotsman he’s never tasted Irish whiskey before moving here his wife.
“The first one I tasted was a Redbreast 15-year-old, a pot still, so not a single malt and not a blend. I then began exploring and found the Redbreast 12-year-old was far better and then there was a huge opening up for me.
“The best Irish pot still whiskeys are not available in bars in Scotland and people need to come here and see what is available, the blends too, and taste it and fall in love with it as much as I have.”
After going fully online in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic when he sent out “send out 3,000 packs, 19,000 miniatures” around the world, last year’s event was a hybrid model with 2022 the biggest in-person festival to date.
“We’ve a hundred events including cooking with whiskey, making chocolate, speed dating sessions with whiskey as a conduit, cocktail making and even a solely Irish language session,” he told LCN.
“They are geared to try and encourage the non-whiskey drinker to get involved as well and there are very relaxed settings with parties, cocktail parties and DJ nights to cover a lot of demographics and expand the festival. There is music, food, entertainment, hands-on experiences.
“I enjoy spreading the word about whiskey and pushing the industry here and getting people involved.”
Read more in the upcoming edition of LCN and keep up to date with all the festival events by clicking HERE.
