2024 Whisky Festival: A Whisky Lovers Fantasy!

A couple of weekends ago, my wife and I attended the 2024 Whisky Festival in the ATC building located near Cosmosquare, in Osaka. It was an interesting and amazing experience. There were around 94 different stalls offering a wide variety of different Whisky tastings. The tickets cost, ¥4,400 per person, ($27.53US), for admission. However, certain experiences within the event cost additional money to partake.

Each person was given a cardboard tray in order to carry their alcohol samples more easily.

The event took place over two days, June 29th and 30th, with four different time periods to choose from. There was a morning until early afternoon session, (10:00-13:30) and an afternoon until early evening session, (14:30-18:00). My wife and I chose the 14:30-18:00 session because 10:00 is still pretty early to get started drinking on a Saturday, even for me! During the three-and-a-half hours of the event, you can try as much Whisky as you would

Suntory Whisky was in the house! However, none of their offerings were free. Yamazaki or Hakushu both would cost around ¥400, ($2.50US) if you wanted to try it!

Most of the major Whisky brands were represented at the event.

One of the advantages of attending an event like this, other than the obvious, is the chance to try different brands that you might not normally get a chance to taste. A bottle of Whisky can be quite expensive and in Japan, it’s rare that you get to taste it before you buy, but this event allowed me to taste many different brands, without having to buy the whole bottle.

Whisky wasn’t the only alcohol available for tasting at this event. There were several Japanese Gin distilleries with offerings as well as different brands of bourbon.

Evan Williams was one of the Bourbons on offer, which was smooth and robust. A nice change of pace from the Scotch Whisky’s which were more abundant.

Whistle Pig Rye Whiskey was also an interesting and complex whiskey, with a unique bottle. The representative was well-informed and made the experience more pleasurable.

There was even Moon Shine, available to try! It was surprisingly delicious!

They get my prize for the most interesting and ‘original’? label.

Overall, it was an amazing and interesting event. A must-try for any Whisky enthusiast! I didn’t stay till the end and I was feeling very good by the time I left! Until next time, Cheers everyone!