Alternative whiskey festivals 2025 – a month-by-month guide to small-and-edgy whisky festivals

Beyond the famous headline whiskey festivals, there’s a world of choice for whiskey fans who want to mix it up

For whiskey fans, there’s nothing quite like a festival – whether it’s a one-day event or a multiple-night experience, you will never forget a holiday or trip built around a whisky festival. The pack leaders remain the same – who doesn’t dream of getting to Islay during the Féis Íle or Speyside to experience the Spirit of Speyside unleashed. 

But beyond the big hitters, there is a whole world of choice, and often you’re offered a much more intimate affair where you can get to know the industry better. 

Here’s our month-by-month guide to the smaller whiskey festival circuit in Ireland, Scotland, Europe and beyond. It’s our wishlist of where we’d like to roll in this year.

In a few short years, the Belfast Whiskey Social has become a sell-out annual experience in the Europa Hotel opposite the Crown Liqour Saloon (pictured above) in Northern Ireland’s biggest city. 

A one-day event, it hosts up to 1,000 guests who get to sample the best of Ireland’s whiskey while meeting the people who make it. Belfast has a natural claim on the social sector, so if a great day out in this buzzing city captures your imagination, dive right in.    

This one-day event bills itself as Scotland’s best value whisky festival. Although Saturday is the official festival date, there is a kick-off opening event on the previous Friday night in Stirling Distillery. Experts from the Scottish Malt Whisky Society will guide guests through a select tasting of some very special drams. 

The next day, you can meet the SMWS team again at the official venue in the Highland Hotel in Stirling, as well as sample the hundreds of drams being poured by major whisky makers from all across Scotland and beyond. 

Kicking off with a marquee whisky dinner for White Stag members on Friday night, this music and whisky festival always draws an eclectic crowd. If you’re not a member of the White Stag fan community, you can also visit Lagg distillery on Friday for your very own opening event.

The next day’s festivities are based at Lochranza Distillery, where you’ll get to try some fantastic pours, experience expert masterclasses and meet the makers. The whole day’s programme finishes with a famously fun ceili in the marquee.

Belfast Whiskey Week is, by far, Ireland’s biggest whiskey festival. Running over eight days in Northern Ireland’s biggest and friendliest city, you can expect much more than you’ll find at a one- or two-day event. There are walking tours, distillery visits, themed dinners, pub tastings, workshops, cocktails, and so much more.

Don’t come if you like to be alone – this is an incredibly friendly and social festival where meeting people and making friends is the order of the day. The pubs are packed, the awards are flying, and everyone is there for a good time. Just like on Islay, book your accommodation early – Belfast is buzzing.

Back in Scotland, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival will be in full swing in August, and if you need a pause from drama and comedy on stage, then make sure to pop into the Whisky Fringe. This terrific festival, run by the good folk behind the Royal Mile Whiskies shop, is a surefire hit every year. 

You’ll find the very best of Scotland at this event, which is currently in its eighth year. But some of the best of the rest of the world will be there too, as well as a dedicated US whiskey zone. Don’t miss the halftime whistle at 4pm, when exhibitors pour their best special releases. All visitors get a halftime whistle token to cash in with their favourite producer when the whistle blows.

If one day just isn’t enough, head to the Netherlands for the Maltstock – this three-day camping and dorm-style accommodation festival is all about relaxing. There’s no three-hour window to complete all your drinking and no last orders: just a three-day fully catered, onsite festival. 

Food, drink, entertainment and basic accommodation are included in your ticket price, so come for the weekend, relax and enjoy the good vibes from these whisky-mad Dutch festival fans.

This international beer and whisky festival is one of Sweden’s last big blowouts before turning towards winter, a season the locals love. More than 2,500 people are expected this year, where they will be introduced to the very best global whisky and beer producers, and get to taste their wares. 

Operating for more than 30 years, the festival is hosted in the Nacka Strandsmässan, a former engine factory that opened in 1899.

The English whisky industry is a minnow compared to its Scottish cousins’ output, but this fourth edition of the English Whisky Festival is doing everything possible to catch up. This one-day event in Birmingham is jam-packed with tastings, masterclasses and gourmet food options. 

Billed as the only all-English whisky event in the UK, it sets out to celebrate everything the organisers consider great about the English whisky industry. Expect to meet producers from Northumberland to Cornwall, Cumbria to Kent and every other English whisky producer in between.

THE BIG HITTERS

From Islay to Speyside – the biggest and most popular whisky festivals 

Whisky Live London: 28th-29th March

Campbeltown Whisky Festival: May 19th-20th

Féis Íle 2025: May 23rd-31st

Spirit of Speyside: May 30th-3rd June

Whiskey Live Dublin: 16th-17th May

Scottish National Whisky Festival

Glasgow: April 5th

Inverness: July 5th

Aberdeen: September 13th 

Edinburgh: October 25th