It has become an annual pilgrimage. Fall is time for me to fly to London and join my friend for the Whisky Show weekend. This year we splurged and bought passes for both Saturday and Sunday. As we had manic work and travel leading up to the weekend, it was a bit last minute when we sat down with the whisky list to plan our priorities. We were clear this year would be fewer stalls, with more time spent in conversation wherever possible.  

Day 1 – September 7, 2024

From past experience, we knew after a wee warm-up, we should make a bee-line for our preferred Dream Dram before it was too late! Here is how our 1st day unfolded:

• Welcome with InverHouse featuring Old Pulteney and Balblair – Why these are whisky classics!


• Sweden’s Agitator – Checking out their ongoing evolution


• Dream Dram from SMWS – A meander into a 1977 Miltonduff 


• A wander through Watt whiskies – What colour does your whisky smell like?


• On to Macbeth! Cambus & Blair Athol


• Ichiro’s Malt with a focus on Chichibu – A clear reminder of why we were once so enamored with Japanese whiskies!


• Arran pit stop for a wee palate cleanser!


• Most enjoyable exploration of Compass Box


• A venerable 1968 Bowmore treat from Sukhinder


• Duncan Taylor with a stellar line-up from young to old – including a Black Bull 30, Glenrothes 43 and Macallan 1991!


• New entrant from New Zealand with Thomson


• Whisky Show festival bottles

Day 2 – September 8, 2024

Back for another day, we knew we wanted to have a mix of old and new plus I’d booked us a “Mainstage” session too – a real highlight. Here are a few stalls we visited on the last day:

• Glenfarclas 15 year – a perfect calibration dram!


• Whisky Auction – for our Dream Drams of Brora 1981 and Glen Grant 12 year from the 1970s


• Decadent Drinks – Farewell to Whisky Sponge, Solstice & Equinox, Notable Age Statements and more!


• Ichiro’s Malt blends – a nice wander through their collection


• Ardnahoe – Welcome to Hunter Laing’s Islay Distillery


• Hunter Laing – First Editions and Old Malt Casks from Auchroisk, Ardmore, Craigellachie to a Glen Grant 25!


• Mainstage with festival picks


• Introducing a new English distillery with Wire Works 


• Woven Blends – What a fabulous experience with a special blend made just for my tasting companion and me!


• Cardrona – A couple whiskies and the most wonderful Vodka – The Reid!

And KI-One from South Korea

Don’t laugh, but one of the “hits” of the Whisky Show was the Cardrona vodka! A fest tasting tip I’m glad we received!

In the coming months, I will take my time to slowly share a few impressions of specific experiences. As always, it is worth the trip – both for the company and the curation of a wide array of whiskies!

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