Savour a wee dram

Savour a wee dram
THERE are more than 180 brews to taste at the FNB Whisky Live Festival, with several workshops and zones lined up to teach you more about the water of life.Read More

There are more than 180 brews to taste at the FNB Whisky Live Festival, with several workshops and zones lined up to teach you more about the water of life.
THERE is more to taste, see and do at this year's Whisky Live Festival, after the organisers promised a bigger and better event.

More than 180 whiskies will be available for tastingMore than 180 whiskies will be available for tastingThe ninth FNB Whisky Live Festival at the Sandton Convention Centre opens today and ends on 11 November. On show – and for tasting – are more than 180 whiskies, including new releases and some of the world’s oldest brews. But it's not just about tasting some of the world’s finest whiskies; patrons can also meet the experts behind the drinks.

Distilleries from Wales, the United States, South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden and Australia are represented. South Africa is the world’s seventh biggest Scotch whisky market by value, rising by 24 percent in the first half of this year.

The festival is divided into two main categories – the tasting hall and the whisky workshops. An array of beverages is available at the former, while the latter are for those who want to know what goes into creating whisky. Global experts are in attendance.

The hour-long workshops take place in private rooms away from the crowd. Participants can taste special malts that are not available in the tasting hall, or even in South Africa.

Sian Neubert, the co-organiser of the festival, says it has something for everyone over the age or 18 who is slightly curious about whisky. “Whether you are a first-time taster, a passionate connoisseur or an everyman enthusiast keen to learn, see, taste more, the FNB Whisky Live Festival has something for you."

There are several zones in the tasting hall. At the Macallan Aroma Zone, participants can learn to identify and describe key aromas in the Macallan range. At the Schweppes Art of Whisky Cocktail Making Zone, people are taught to make their own whisky cocktail creations. And at the Pick n Pay Canapé and Whisky Pairing Zone, they find out how to pair the drinks with finger foods.

There is planty to drink at this year's Whisky FestivalThere is plenty to see and drink at this year's Whisky FestivalThe Volvo Whisky Lifestyle Lounge is a luxury lounge for networking and entertainment. Special whiskies that are not at the tasting hall can be found here. The Volvo Connoisseur’s Experience is the ultimate guided whisky tour. There are two tours per night and the numbers are limited, so book as soon as possible.

Women are increasingly entering previously male-dominated industries; the story is the same in the world of whisky. The festival attracts thousands of visitors each year and, according to the festival’s website more than 36 percent of visitors last year were women.

“This year we continue to salute women in whisky by serving up a host of female presenters who know more than a thing or two about the dram and know just how to get you talking about it,” says the website.

To help patrons get the most out of the festival, the organisers have compiled a helpful to-do list. For more information, visit the festival website.

Tickets prices vary: tickets to the tasting hall are R190 each and to the workshops they are R100 each. Group booking is available for 10 or more people, and they get 20 percent discount.