Set to run online over four consecutive Thursday evenings across April and May, the festival will welcome some of the world’s greatest whisky makers as they guide visitors through a curated selection of drams.
Beginning on the 3oth April and running until the 21st May, the four events - which will begin at 6 pm GMT on 30th April, 7th, 14th and 21st May- will see a pack containing five unmarked whisky samples sent to ticket holders (UK addresses only) alongside an invite to join a live-streamed tasting hosted on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
According to co-founder and Icons of Whisky Communicator of the Year 2020 Becky Paskin, the style, region and age of the whiskies be kept a secret until the tasting itself to add an extra element of fun to the individual tastings, she said: "We wanted to recreate the curiosity and excitement you get with real life whisky festival masterclasses.
While our guests won’t know the identity of their whiskies, or the personalities who will be introducing them until the tasting, we promise they’ll be in for an unforgettable experience.
Whisky expert Becky Paskin co-founded OurWhisky in 2018 to challenge existing perceptions around whisky. Picture: OurWhisky
“We’ve approached some of the biggest names in whisky, who will be joining us direct from their own living rooms to share some of the liquid they’ve created.
“This is a rare chance for whisky lovers to discover new bottles they may otherwise have overlooked, while connecting with the whisky makers themselves.”
Guests will also be given the chance to ask questions in a live Q& A compered by Becky.
Tickets will be available to purchase for £30 each from ourwhisky.com, with just 50 tasting packs available for each session.
Becky added that all proceeds from the festival, which is also being sponsored by the featured brands, will be donated to The Drinks Trust, a charity which supports bartenders and hospitality workers, she said: “The hospitality industry is on its knees. We wanted to find a way to support the bartenders and other professionals who are personally struggling during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This is also a way for whisky lovers to support the industry – by continuing to try new expressions, communicate with each other and buy bottles, they will be helping distillers and blenders navigate this period of uncertainty.”
Ross Carter, CEO of The Drinks Trust, said: “We have been so impressed by the diversity of the fundraising initiatives set up during this difficult time by all our supporters and this one emphasises exactly what The Drinks Trust is all about; championing education and community whilst raising money for the charity. We are very grateful to OurWhisky for setting it up and hope it is a great success.”
Becky explained that the festival also marks the start of a new phase for OurWhisky. Launched in 2018 as a social media movement to challenge the outdated perception that whisky is a ‘man’s drink’, OurWhisky will now be evolving into an educational platform.
While continuing to represent the face of the modern whisky drinker, OurWhisky’s new website and social channels will also be dedicated to helping curious consumers navigate the world of whisky in an accessible, easy-to-follow and fun way, providing all the tools and knowledge they need to find whiskies they’ll love.
The new website is set to launch later this year.
#OurWhisky launches in bid to illustrate the face of the modern whisky drinker
