19th April 2023 – (Hong Kong) The Hong Kong Whisky Festival is back by popular demand, organised by InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong, and will take place on 29th and 30th April, 2023. This event is the only whisky festival in Hong Kong that spans across four storeys, featuring the largest number of brands ever, with over 1,000 different whisky expressions available. Additionally, there will be more than 40 exciting master classes hosted by diverse brand ambassadors. The festival offers whisky enthusiasts at all levels an opportunity to mingle with world-renowned whisky experts and rare distilleries that can hardly be found elsewhere.
Mr Lars Ruecker, Director of Food & Beverage at InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong, expressed his excitement in bringing back the Hong Kong Whisky Festival after a three-year hiatus. He noted that this year’s event is well-rounded, featuring exhibitors of well-known brands, old and rare independent bottles, brand ambassadors, and master classes with diverse pricings and tasting ranges, including some of Hong Kong’s first-ever releases and exclusive bottles. Ruecker reassured everyone that this year’s Hong Kong Whisky Festival will definitely appeal to all whisky lovers and educate everyone from novice to experience through numerous master classes.
Key highlights of the event include:
A Two-day Event with more than Four Storeys: This year’s event will span over two days in four different floors and will feature over 1,000 whisky expressions. With a strong focus on whisky education, more than 40 master classes are hosted to explain the world of whiskies to participants. Participants will be able to mingle with producers, distillers, independent bottlers, and brand ambassadors. The sheer range of whiskies shown on the day will appeal to beginners in the same way as they will challenge serious whisky connoisseurs.
World Whiskies: Besides the well-known Scottish and Japanese whiskies, the Hong Kong Whisky Festival will also showcase whiskies from Taiwan, France, Germany, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Israel, England, India, USA, Netherlands, and more.
Master Classes: There will be more than 40 master classes hosted by renowned whisky ambassadors that focus on various topics such as The Macallan – Exceptional Single Cask, The Macallan Home Collection, Blind Tasting with Johnny Walker Blue Label, Pairing Classes with coffee, caviar, cigars, and chocolate, Springbank Master Class, several master classes focusing on new Japanese distilleries like Kanosuke, Sakurao, Akkeshi, Sherry Master Class, and Rum Master Class.
Distillery Representatives, Brand Ambassadors and Experts: The festival will feature representatives from various distilleries, brand ambassadors, and experts like Mr Scott Adamson from Tomatin, Mr Ethan Chai from Michter’s, Mr John Hung from Douglas Laing, Mr Leo Jockovic from Ardbeg, and many others.
Alfresco Cigar Lounge at Tiffany’s New York Bar: The alfresco garden of Tiffany’s New York Bar will be the ideal place to relax with a cigar and match it with a whisky or cocktail. The cigar collection is curated by Cigraal, better known as Bertie’s Hong Kong.
Special Bottling/New Releases/Old & Rare/Exclusive Bottles: Old & Rare bottles will be available to try at numerous exhibitors. Whiskies from the 70s and 80s and whiskies with a high age statement can be tried and compared to recent releases. In addition, many newly released whiskies will be presented during the Hong Kong Whisky Festival for the first time in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Whisky Festival Exclusive Bottle – Secret Speyside 2007, 15 years old: Specially bottled for Hong Kong Whisky Festival & Tiffany’s New York Bar, a beautiful 15 years old Secret Speyside, distilled from a very famous distillery, will be exclusively available for sale at Tiffany’s New York Bar. The whisky was distilled in 2007 and matured for 15 years in a Hogshead. This whisky is limited to 120 bottles.
The World of Gin at Tiffany’s New York Bar with “Steve The Bartender”: Tiffany’s New York Bar will transform into a cocktail heaven led by “Steve The Bartender,” a renowned Mixologist from Australia known for his YouTube channel and cocktail books. A selection of 70+ Gins, presented by Hong Kong Liquor Store, will show the variety and diversity of the World of Gins. “Steve The Bartender” will create delicious cocktails and share tricks and tips to any cocktail enthusiast.
The Hong Kong Whisky Festival is a must-attend event for whisky lovers in Hong Kong. Entry tickets are priced at HK$250 each, which includes a Hong Kong Whisky Festival Glencairn whisky glass, a lanyard, and a water bottle. Tokens cost HK$30 each, and master class tickets range from $250 to $3,250 each.
The festival will take place at the InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong, 70 Mody Road, TST East, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Tickets can be purchased online by clicking HERE for entry tickets and for master class tickets, please click HERE.