Heading off to this year’s Whisky Live Festival expecting to taste a couple of whiskies and leave, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the festival offered loads more than just tasting stands to keep the connoisseurs happy.

The tasting hall offers a complete sensual feast with lavish décor and low lighting that sets the tone just right for a relaxed yet educational evening. Eager, but less knowledgeable, whisky-tasting novices like me can be sure to feel right at home.

With whisky glass in hand, you can walk around, browsing the stands and enjoying the entertainment particular to the vast history behind the drink. Music from the bagpipes and drums band, The Cape Town Highlanders, as well as a gorgeous and sultry rock and roll band, complete with an elegant diva crooning into the microphone are two such acts I experienced.

Whisky workshops

For the more knowledgeable whisky drinker, there are lectures and workshops given by top whisky experts, as well as some comfortable lounges for those who’d prefer to stay put and savour their spirit in comfort.

Whisky is enjoyed across the world in many different cultures but it is Scotch, Irish and American whiskies which have made their mark globally. Traditionally, whiskies are drunk neat, with a dash of water or a few blocks of ice to ‘open up’ the nuanced flavours and tones. Yet, whisky can be enjoyed blended into cocktails and with mixers. A few stands at the festival even offered cocktail tutorials, while others offered unique tours of both the history and the tastes particular to the brand.

Don’t drink and drive

The question did come into my mind about how all these people were intending to get home. Driving home after tasting a few whiskies will place you way above the official drinking limit, so is not recommended. Fortunately, organisers have taken this into consideration too, offering a ‘Designated Driver’ ticket at a reduced cost (R 110 as opposed to the R180 for a full tasting ticket). This ‘dry’ ticket allows you access to the festival but does not include the tasting vouchers, glass and Whisky Handbook.

In the midst of all the fire water, there is a taxi stand called Roadtrip which offers a convenient and safe way for revelers to get themselves and their cars home safely. Started by ex-Rhodes University student, Matthew Slater, the service is available at both the Cape Town and Johannesburg festivals. And while the evening is about tasting as many whiskies as your book of vouchers can get you, food vouchers are also included in the voucher book to ensure that you get something a little more nutritional than alcohol into your system.

Though you are entitled to buy more voucher booklets, these have a generous amount of vouchers in them, ensuring about four to five good tastings. It’s great idea to move on to find some food and a comfortable seat after a visit to the festival and to ensure that you don’t spend the rest of the next day with a throbbing whisky-induced headache. Yet, risking that headache, the festival’s vibe warrants a visit from whisky lovers as well as those just interested in having a good time.

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