When I first attended this event eight years ago in 2016, it was celebrated as the German spin-off of the Jura Tastival. Later, it changed it’s name to Borco Markenimport’s World of Whisky Festival. And this year – following Borco’s acquisition by the STOCK Spirits Group – it was held as the World of Whisky Festival presented by STOCK Spirits. From year to year, there’s always been a little variation in the line-up, depending on which brands and distilleries Borco respectively STOCK had on their roster at that time. In 2024, the served drams came from Glengoyne and Tamdhu in Scotland,  Evan Williams and Elijah Craig in the United States, J.P. Wiser’s and LOT No. 40 in Canada, and others. No matter what style and profile you prefered, I’m sure you would have gotten your money’s worth for the 22 Euro ticket price plus 2.50 to 5 Euro per drink!

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As in the years before, the 2024 edition of the World of Whisky Festival once again took place in a near-perfect location for such an event, namely on deck of an old crane ship anchored in the museum harbor of Hamburg-Oevelgönne. Sipping a fine drop while looking out onto the water with the cranes and containers far in the back, that’s something I will never ever grow tired of! This time, sadly, the weather wasn’t as awesome as it was for the installments before. But even the windy n’ cloudy Hamburg chill couldn’t take away any of the fun! And thus, the spirit flew aplenty and the hours ran extra-swiftly.

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Though the World of Whisky Festival is all about whisky and whiskey, the served drams and cocktails aren’t the only awesome thing about it. The colorful program also includes tasty street food, nice music, and even free tattoos and hair-cuts! If – like me – you get a ton of kicks outta a good pour, you will certainly have the best of times at the World of Whisky Festival. But even if you’re not a dedicated spirits afficionado, you’d still find lots to like about this helluva cool event.

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Dramming-wise, I’d like to point out two experiences that I found especially great this year: First, meeting the amazing Gordon Dallas again over a glass of well-aged Glengoyne. And second, doing an American whiskey tasting with Der Whisky-Guide’s editor-in-chief Heinfried Tacke on board of a vintage steam barge that’s almost a hundred years old (costing an additional 20 Euro). What made the latter all the more special: We didn’t just sip the three-piece rye n’ bourbon flight from Rittenhouse, Larceny, and Elijah Craig aboard the historic vessel – we sipped it while the ship took us every which way through the harbor! For as long as I can remember, that part of the city has always fascinated me a lot; and drinking top-class whiskey there with good-humored people … that’s really something that made my heart jump!

by Tobi

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STOCK Spirits: https://www.stockspirits.com/ (Organizer)
Museumshafen Oevelgönne: http://www.museumshafen-oevelgoenne.de/ (Location)

*** I attended the event as a regular visitor,
paying for all drinks and snacks myself (including
the tasting). ***