World Whisky Day

World Whisky Day is a global day of whisky "which invites everyone to try a dram and celebrate the water of life." First held in 2012, World Whisky Day was founded by Blair Bowman, who was at that time a student at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. The first observance started strong, with 20,000 people taking part in over 180 events worldwide, and with support from several Scottish institutions, including the Scottish Government.

On World Whisky Day, tastings, events, and gatherings are held around the world. Individuals get together with friends or go to parties to drink whisky. They may have a dram of it or imbibe it in a common whisky cocktail such as a Whiskey Sour, Manhattan, or Old Fashioned. Whisky shops host whisky tasting events. Distilleries host tours, offer exclusive discounts and tastings and launch new whiskies. Bars and restaurants host tastings and set up special whisky rooms. Restaurants and hotels organize whisky-themed dinners with multiple courses. But all that is needed for someone to celebrate is any type of whisky.

Whisky is a distilled spirit made from the fermented mash of cereal grains. It is aged in wooden containers, usually of white oak. The earliest record of whisky being made is in 1494 in Scotland. There are distinctive whiskies made in different countries, which are produced in different ways, using different cereal grains and different water. "Whisky" is usually spelled without an "e" in Scotland and Canada, but with the "e" in Ireland and the United States.

Scotch is whisky made in Scotland. It has a smoky flavor and is made primarily with barley. Canadian whisky is light in flavor and body and is made from mashes that are a combination of rye, wheat, corn, and barley. It is usually aged for at least six years and is then reduced with water until it is 45 percent alcohol by volume. Irish whiskey is similar to Scotch but doesn't have a smoky flavor.

Whiskey production in the United States began in the early eighteenth century; the whiskey is made with malt and other grains, usually corn and rye. Bourbon whiskey, which has the flavor of corn, was first made in Bourbon County, Kentucky, but the name now applies to similar whiskeys made with corn mash. A mash of at least 51 percent corn is straight bourbon whiskey, and a mash of at least 80 percent corn is straight corn whiskey. Similarly, a mash of at least 51 percent barley malt is straight malt whiskey, and a mash of at least 51 percent rye malt is straight rye whiskey.

How to Observe World Whisky Day

• Take part in a World Whisky Day event near you or organize your own event.
• Check the official World Whisky Day Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram pages for events, quizzes, competitions, livestreams, and more.
• Get together with a few friends or host a party. You can celebrate with any type of whisky. Have a dram of it or enjoy it in a cocktail such as a Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Rusty Nail, or Whiskey Sour.
• Post on social media with the hashtag #WorldWhiskyDay. Share what type of whisky you are enjoying, who you are enjoying it with, and how you are having it: neat, on the rocks, with water, or in a mixed drink.
• If you have a whisky shop, host a whisky tasting event. Examples of events are chocolate or cheese whisky pairing events or the sampling of regional whiskies. You could also offer discounts specific to the day.
• If you have a distillery, host special World Whisky Day tours, offer exclusive tastings or discounts, or debut a new whisky today.
• Explore more information on the day's official website.

Exclusive Content

Enjoying Checkiday? It takes a lot of support from fans like you to run a free website. For exclusive content and other perks, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Thank you!

Sponsor

This event does not currently have a sponsor. If you'd like to increase visibility for this event while gaining exposure for yourself or your brand, you can learn more here!

Something Wrong or Missing?

We would love to hear from you! Please contact us using this form.

Observation Notifications

Would you like to be notified before the next observation? Add this event directly to your calendar with this link. You may also sign up here to be told when other notifications are available!