Aberdeen is set to launch its inaugural Whisky Week festival in September, and put the city’s bars and whisky distilleries across Scotland in the spotlight.
Organised by well-known whisky specialist Charlie Bain of whisky merchandising firm Slanjj and Gregor Sey of Cocktail Events UK, who set up the successful Aberdeen Cocktail Week, the aim is to create a walkable city-wide distillery tour with each venue partnering with a distillery to allow attendees to experience the whiskies without having to travel to visit the distillery itself.
With more than 20 venues already signed up, including The Grill, CASC, St Machar Bar, Under the Hammer and The Howff, Orchid, and The Firepit by Smoke and Soul, each venue will be teamed with a distillery, offering at least one dram for £3, along with the option to include up to three additional drams, whisky flights, cocktails, or signature serves crafted with whiskies from their partner distillery. The aim is to offer drinks not typically available to the public, to create a truly exclusive experience.
Julie Marples, general manager of The Grill, a Union Street pub which boasts more than 500 whiskies on its shelves, is looking forward to the event. She said, “Aberdeen Whisky Week is a welcome addition to the city’s events calendar. Whisky lovers adore The Grill and we are equally excited to showcase some new additions to our 500-plus-strong whisky collection.
“We’ve got a few things up our sleeve and Whisky Week will be an ideal opportunity to reveal some exciting plans.”
Charlie Bain, Whisky Week organiser, added, “I’ve been fortunate to attend dozens of whisky festivals, but none I’ve visited have this format that encourages attendees to explore a city. I think Aberdeen really punches above its weight when it comes to the range of bars and pubs on offer, and I hope that Whisky Week can showcase that to locals and tourists alike.”