Whisky Week to turn Aberdeen into a 10-day citywide festival

Look, this is exactly what the whisky scene needs – Whisky Week is coming back to Aberdeen from 21-31 August, and honestly, it’s one of the best ways to experience what Scotland’s whisky culture is really about.

The team behind this – Charlie Bain, Jenna Simpson, and Gregor Sey – have nailed something important here. They’ve turned Aberdeen into what’s essentially a walkable distillery tour, but without any of that intimidating nonsense you sometimes get at formal tastings. For six quid (early bird pricing), you get a wristband that’s your passport to 23 participating bars, each partnered with different distilleries and offering exclusive Whisky Week menus.

What I love about this setup is the accessibility factor. Every single bar is committed to offering at least one dram for £5 or less – we’re talking Cutty Sark Prohibition, Royal Brackla 12, and Port Askaig 8 all at £4.50. But here’s where it gets interesting for those of us who like to dig deeper: they’ve also got some seriously good stuff on these exclusive menus. Think Springbank 15, Glen Moray 2015 Peated Fino Sherry Cask, Balvenie French Oak 16, Bunnahabhain 17 Year Old 2007, and Glendronach 15.

The participating venues run the gamut from classic spots like The Globe Inn and Freedom An’ Whisky to newer players like Dusk Cocktail Bar and The Spiritualist. Twenty-three bars in total, each doing their own thing with partnerships spanning everyone from Arbikie and Kingsbarns to Balvenie and Bunnahabhain – plus some interesting indie bottlers like Gordon & MacPhail and Old Particular.

Charlie Bain sums it up perfectly: “We want to give people a great excuse to rediscover their local bars, support the high street, and get to know whisky in a relaxed, casual way.” That’s the spirit of it, really.

They’re rolling this out across three cities this year – Aberdeen kicks off 21-31 August, Glasgow follows 28 August-7 September, then Edinburgh wraps things up 4-14 September. Sub-event tickets for tastings and tours go live on 19 August, giving you time to plot your course through the city’s whisky landscape.

Find all the details and grab your wristband at whiskyweek.co.uk.