| FNB Whisky Live Festival 2005 |
It's not just for the elite. It's not necessarily a Scottish thing. And it's far more diverse than you might initially think. It's whisky and it's becoming a firm favourite on South Africa 's cultural calendar thanks to the FNB Whisky Live Festival which once again hits Cape Town and Johannesburg from October. This year the festival, the largest of its kind in the world, has the added support of First National Bank who have come on board as the naming rights sponsor. It's an awesome partnership and can only mean that it's going to surpass the exceptional standards set in the past two years. So if you're a connoisseur, occasionally indulge yourself with a glass or are simply curious, then prepare yourself for a fascinating experience.
The world of whisky is an intriguing one, often shrouded by a sense of elitist mystery. In fact nothing could be further from the truth. A truly unique, accessible experience, the FNB Whisky Live Festival sets out to educate and entertain guests with a range of activities aimed at debunking the misconceptions that surround this marvellous drink.
It all began with a meeting of the like-minded when two dynamic females, Karen Chaloner and Sian Neubert of NC Connect, conceptualised the event having gained extensive experience in their respective jobs namely the whisky liquor business and the event management industry. They decided to pool their resources and combine their energies. By October 2002, after bringing advertising executive and all round whisky lover Mike Orrey on board, South Africa was treated to its first ever whisky festival.
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Since then the event has grown phenomenally and within two years has become the largest whisky festival in the world. Now with FNB on board it's only bound to grow. This mutually beneficial partnership will undoubtedly yield even bigger successes, as Vicky Trehaeven from FNB comments:
"The genuine pleasure of a fine whisky is an acquired thing, experienced and adopted at a phase in one's life when you know you have arrived, and are comfortable in your own skin. It is this very audience with which FNB wishes to associate, and our partnership with the Whisky Live Festivals provides a wonderful opportunity to do so".
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More of a lifestyle experience than just a whisky showcase, the FNB Whisky Live Festival is an interactive event that will expose patrons to over 160 top brands from all corners of the globe. For the first time since inception all the major distributors have committed themselves to the event, giving guests a massive range of choices as well as an introduction to eight new whiskies that will use the festival as a launch pad into the South African market. It's a brilliant opportunity to explore a world packed with a myriad of surprises. The focus is on having fun and discovering new delights. The programme is full of workshops hosted by a combination of the who's who of local and international whisky experts including internationally acclaimed writers Charles Maclean and Dave Broom. At the end of the day it's all about making whisky more accessible and spreading its charm. It's about sharing a passion. It's about developing a taste for the fine life. Ask some of the guests who attended last year. 7 000 people can't be wrong.
Whisky is a hit around the world. Currently there's an international trend on the go with Whisky Festivals being held in London , Paris , New York and Tokyo . South Africa is leading the way with the FNB Whisky Live Festival being the world's largest consumer whisky show. It's partially due to this phenomenal interest that the festival has been moved to a larger venue in Cape Town . Now the Tasting Hall and the Whisky Workshops can be held under the same roof. It also makes for some really good business. The South African whisky market is now worth about R2 billion with growth expected over the next few years. The brands are taking it very seriously and some of the top international whisky houses are flying their brand executives, master distillers and blenders especially over for the festival. It's an opportunity for interaction - the patrons get to meet the people behind the brand and the whisky representatives get to understand a little more about what the consumer wants.
The relaxed atmosphere opens up the opportunity for guests to enjoy themselves whilst they learn from the experts. It's not a stuffy men's club. Far from it. It's an opportunity to enjoy all aspects of the wonderful world of whisky, be it understanding the difference between a Scotch, Irish, Rye and Bourbon whisky, getting to grips with the distilling processes or understanding why the word is sometimes spelt with an 'e'. |
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Tickets are available at the door, through Computicket or they can be booked online at www.whiskylivefestival.co.za from the 1 st August.
By booking via the FNB Whisky Live Festival website, guests can register to be included in a competition that sees the lucky winners winning a host of fabulous whisky-related prizes. Patrons can also make use of the chauffer driven service if they feel they've tasted one too many; however, the FNB Whisky Live Festival does encourage people to enjoy themselves responsibly. No persons under the age of 18 years allowed.
So book the dates below and make sure you're at the FNB Whisky Live Festival to experience first hand the unique allure of this drink. It's not what you think it is. It's so much more.
Cape Town
Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre
Date:26 - 28 October, 2005
Tasting Hall Entry Charge: R100.00 [Includes the 3 rd edition of the SA Whisky Handbook, a tasting glass and book of fifteen tasting coupons]
Workshops Entry Charge: R65.00 per workshop
Johannesburg
Venue: Sandton Convention Centre
Date: 02 - 04 November, 2005
Tasting Hall Entry Charge: R100.00
[Includes the 3 rd edition of the SA Whisky Handbook, a tasting glass and book of fifteen tasting coupons]
Workshops Entry Charge: R65.00 per workshop |
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