Rolling Social Events just keeps adding more top brands to the list for April’s Leeds Whisky Festival, with over 100 whiskies now in the line-up.
Guests will enjoy an afternoon or an evening of tasting, entertainment and learning at the iconic Corn Exchange.
Joining previously announced sponsors Nikka, Starward, Woodford Reserve, Slane and Port Askaig will be Rolling Social Events’ new mixer sponsor, Three Cents. Inspired by bartenders for bartenders, their range of premium mixers will be providing the ultimate accompaniment for your whisky on the day. As well as bringing their quality mixers to Leeds Whisky Fest, Three Cents will also be partnering with Rolling Social for all of their future events including Leeds Rum Festival and their popular sipalong evenings.
Other brands visiting Leeds on Saturday 9th April include Kavalan, Amrut, Benriach and Arbikie who will be bringing the world’s only rye scotch whisky to the festival.
Also joining the festival will be an array of international household names such as Jack Daniels, as well as homegrown brands including Filey Bay, which is brewed in Yorkshire, and The English Whisky Co.
Tickets to the Festival will not only allow entry, but will also include samples, tastings, talks and masterclasses. A Whisky Fest branded glass and guide are also yours to take away with you.
For those who like to punctuate their whisky with a craft beer, there’ll be an excellent choice at the bar, as well as some interesting cocktails.
Claire Morrow, Marketing Manager, Starward: “We are really looking forward to coming to Leeds Whisky Festival and sharing our Australian single malts. We will also be bringing several of our limited ‘Projects’ releases, including a Ginger Beer Cask finished whisky, so be sure to swing by our stand if you are interested to learn more about whisky done different!”
Starward will also be hosting a masterclass entitled ‘Starward Whisky: Whisky done different’. Attendees will learn that Starward whiskies are, like their hometown of Melbourne in Australia; versatile, and…different. Join the UK Brand Ambassador for a tasting through their single malts and learn more about the impact of wine casks on their expressions and how they are not bound by the rules of the old-world whisky club.
Other masterclasses on the day will include ‘A History of Japanese Whisky’ and Edrington UK’s Naked Malt blending session. Distributor Speciality, who are bringing their brands Nikka, Kavalan and Amrut to the festival, will take whisky fans on a crash course tasting into the world of Japanese whisky with ambassador Nathan Shearer. Attendees will learn the history and production methods whilst tasting incredible samples from the Nikka distillery.
And anyone who has ever wanted to try their hand at blending their own whisky will be in luck as Edrington UK’s Senior Whisky Specialist Mike Green will be hosting a hands-on session of whisky blending- participants will also be able to take their very own blended whisky away with them.
Nathan Shearer, Whisky Ambassador, Speciality Brands: “Here at Speciality Brands we’re absolutely thrilled to be taking part in the inaugural Leeds Whisky Fest. We’ve always worked very closely with bars, restaurants and retailers here and it’s great that there is now an event for us to come and talk to more people about our wonderful products. We’ll be bringing a host of whiskies from all over the world and introducing people to some of the fantastic producers that we’re lucky enough to work with.”
Food vendors on the day include Ooey Gooey Bakes and Mans Market. Ooey Gooey will be whipping up a host of sweet treats including bourbon brownies, in collaboration with Woodford Reserve, which you won’t be able to try anywhere else. Mans Market will be bringing their unique dining experience to the festival, a combination of theatre and authentic Chinese food.
Sophia Austen-Meek, Mans Market: “We’re thrilled to be part of the Leeds Whisky Festival and excited to bring our home grown brand of Chinese Street Food to the Whisky enthusiasts of Yorkshire. Mans Markets’ fun, street food vibe will let the drinkers feast in style whilst enjoying the quality brands on offer at the Festival.”
The Operational Team at Leeds Corn Exchange commented: “We are delighted to be welcoming Leeds Whisky Festival to Leeds Corn Exchange. Following our popular Christmas Market with Rolling Social last year, we know that the Festival will be a huge success. The Rum Festival is a firm favourite of Leeds, so we can’t wait to see how this new event is received from local whisky lovers.
Choose either the afternoon session (12-4pm) or the evening session (5-9pm), with tickets available for £40 at eventbrite.co.uk
Feature photograph RumFest 2021.
