Whiskey aficionados visiting Belfast this summer won't want to miss the city's week-long celebration of Irish whiskey, known in the Irish language as “uisce beatha” (the water of life).
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From July 18-26, visitors can immerse themselves in the world of whiskey, with 100 events to choose from, many of them in partnership with venues across the city and with over 40 brands and distilleries.
The island of Ireland's largest whiskey festival is not just a celebration of Irish whiskey heritage, but also a nod to the craftsmanship, tradition, and innovation for a product that has been made in Ireland for over 700 years.
The 7th annual festival includes a range of experiences that will appeal to both whiskey enthusiasts and novices.
It includes whiskey tastings, cocktail events, comedy shows, live music, theatrical experiences, distillery tours, fine dining experiences, heritage walking tours, food pairing sessions, along with collaborations with some of Belfast’s oldest pubs, including The Duke of York, The John Hewitt and The Deer’s Head, as well as The Watson, The Dark Horse, Maddens, Common Market (street food market, function space, and bar in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter), and more.
Visitors to the festival can sign up for a Whiskey Sensorium and take part in a series of sensory experiments that will unlock their taste preferences.
A masterclass in whiskey cocktails will also be offered by Dublin distillers, the Teeling Distillery and the Dublin Liberties Distillery, both of which are mentioned in this article on Dublin's popular whiskey distilleries.
While Irish whiskey, and specifically the new range of Belfast whiskeys that have sprung up over the last decade, will feature strongly at festival events, there is also the chance to sample whiskeys from around the world, including Japanese and Tasmanian brands.
And there are also opportunities to tour Belfast distilleries such as the Titanic Distillers in the Titanic Quarter and McConnell’s, or go beyond the city to see others like the Copeland, Echlinville, Hinch or Killowen distilleries.
Read More: Take the Northern Ireland Spirits Trail
Tickets for Belfast Whiskey Week begin at £15. Follow Belfast Whiskey Week on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more updates as it gets closer to the festival.