Butcher, baker, now candlestick maker. Whiskey-makers too, obviously. The line-up for this year’s Belfast Whiskey Week, the fifth iteration of the annual event, looks like being the best ever.
Clear your diaries for the end of July, with the ‘week’ stretching from Friday 21st to Saturday 29th, nine days set to be packed with tastings, tours, talks, and more.
Distillers are literally travelling from half the world way to be part of it, with organiser Paul Kane pointing out that there will be more brands from Tasmania than from Dublin.
Collaborations with bars and restaurants are expected, of course, but the innovation and ideas abound, including that candle-maker who uses old whiskey bottles and, hopefully, will allow participants to incorporate the scent of their favourite dram.
The worlds of theatre and dance will be involved too, with an Irish dancing set, and a theatrical experience, as Kane explains: “A company who are playing at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival are doing a couple of events for us. They’ll be deploying five different whiskies, talking about myths and legends, magical beasts, stories and songs in there. That’ll be something different in there.”
Many of the regular backers of Belfast Whiskey Week will be involved, as well as those aforementioned visitors from ‘down under’:
“We actually have four distillers/ owners from Australia flying over and another four brands being represented, so that’s interesting. We actually have more brands from Tasmania than we do from Dublin, which is pretty cool. Among the new ones from the south will be Lough Measc, from Mayo.”
As well as distillery days, the Whiskey Expo, and an awards dinner, there will be “three unique walking tours every day, working with three operators: Belfast Hidden Tours, Belfast Walking Tours, and Marty McAuley, Irish whiskey reviewer.”
A cocktail exposition, involving 10 different bars working with 10 different bars, will be taking over the Common Market venue, to showcase a cocktail which they’ll each put on their bar menu for the week as a special. Tickets will entitle bearers to five cocktails, with the option to buy tokens for more.
There will be lots of restaurant collaborations, including with Waterman House and A Peculiar Tea, and plenty more, with two food collaborations every day.
A cheese pairing, and a literary event, in conjunction with the Belfast Book Festival, add to the range of whiskey-related fun lined up.
Further information will be available on Belfast Whiskey Week’s Facebook page and via Twitter @BelWhiskeyWeek
k.archer@irishnews.com
@whiskennyarcher
