Whisky Live Paris Celebrates 20 Years from September 28 to 30, 2024!

Whisky Live Paris was inaugurated in 2004 at the Palais Brongniart by La Maison du Whisky. Since then, the event has experienced impressive growth, attracting thousands of visitors from around the world. From its beginnings with 58 exhibitors in 2004, the fair now hosts over 250 exhibitors and nearly 20,000 visitors. This independent fair has become iconic and a must-attend event for industry professionals and spirits enthusiasts.

Whisky Live Paris offers a unique opportunity to taste all categories of spirits—whiskies, rums, gins, sakes, tequilas, mezcals, and more—and to discover world-renowned or emerging distilleries, as well as the latest trends and innovations in the industry. Some brands have been loyal since the first edition, such as Gordon & MacPhail, Douglas Laing, Balvenie, Glenfiddich, Bruichladdich, Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Nikka Whisky, Blanton’s, and Maison Ferrand.

An Unforgettable Whisky Live 2024

From Saturday, September 28, to Monday, September 30, 2024, Whisky Live Paris will celebrate its 20th anniversary at La Grande Halle de la Villette, extending its influence over more than 15,000 m². With over 40 countries represented, 300 distilleries and brands spread across five continents—from Europe to Asia, Oceania, and America—Whisky Live Paris 2024 promises an exceptional edition for its 20th anniversary. Nearly 2,000 references will be available for tasting, including 350 new releases unveiled exclusively at the event.

The World Drinks Awards in France

A major new feature of the 2024 edition, Whisky Live Paris will host the French edition of the prestigious World Drinks Awards. Launched in 2007, these international awards recognize the best products through blind tastings conducted by a jury of independent international experts. In 2024, for the first time, France, under the aegis of Whisky Live Paris and Whisky Magazine, will be the venue for this world-renowned competition. In its French version, the event will highlight French whiskies and gins, showcasing the creativity of their producers.

French Whisky in the Spotlight

French whisky will be highlighted in four subcategories: single malt, single grain, single cask, and blends. Since the first distilleries in Brittany 40 years ago, French whisky has managed to develop and gain international recognition. Its presence at the World Drinks Awards underscores the undeniable place of French production among whisky producers.

French Gin on the Rise

The second featured spirit is French gin, represented by two subcategories: classic gin and contemporary style gin. Introduced in France in 1930, gin is now one of the most dynamic spirits, thanks to innovation and the quality of French producers. The World Drinks Awards France will serve as a platform for these producers to shine on the international stage.

WHISKY LIVE PARIS 2024: A Dazzling Program to Celebrate 20 Years in Style!

As a trendsetter, Whisky Live Paris offers a clear reflection of the sector’s evolution. Each edition has unveiled new spaces and highlighted rising categories while revealing an immense variety of exceptional products. Whisky Live Paris 2024 is not just about celebrating its anniversary; it promises a unique experience with diverse spaces and activities.

Here’s a glimpse of the highlights:

• Tasting Area: Over 9,000 m² dedicated to whiskies from around the world, nearly sixty Scottish distilleries, and over twenty American brands will present their new offerings this year. New whisky territories will also be represented with eight expected Japanese distilleries, one from Australia, two from New Zealand, and nearly ten from Europe. France and its regional categories—whisky, cognac, armagnac, and calvados—will be represented by several dozen brands.

• The Rum Gallery: A 2,000 m² space dedicated to the discovery and tasting of rums from around the world, ranging from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, as well as Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Cane spirits, agricultural rums, and traditional rums will be showcased by 50 distilleries.

• The Agave Patio: A new feature for this edition, the Agave Patio will focus on Mexico to explore the diversity of agave spirits with the presence of many producers.

• The Gin Lane: Returning for the second year, this area will offer a specific setup for tasting various gins, including brands from France, Scotland, England, Japan, and India.

• The Sake District: A space dedicated to the finest sake houses to discover or rediscover this traditional Japanese beverage.

• The Collectors’ Square: It will present several dozen references of collector whiskies and rums and host Fine Spirits Auction, one of the world’s leaders in online wine and spirits auctions. On the occasion of Whisky Live Paris, Fine Spirits Auction will organize its annual charity auction, with proceeds fully allocated to support projects developed by the Good Planet Foundation.

• The Masterclass Forum: This year it returns with around forty meetings featuring major figures from the spirits industry.

• The VIP Area: 900 m² of exceptional whiskies and rums, featuring prestigious new releases specially bottled and available in the French market.

• The Pop-Up Shop will also return to offer a selection of over 700 references for sale.

Cocktail Street: The Mixology Event of the Year!

Adjacent to Whisky Live, Cocktail Street returns for its 8th edition with over 4,500 m² dedicated to it. The best of the French and international cocktail scene will be present through more than 60 invited pop-up bars and a selection of street food addresses curated by the Food Market. This year, there will be a focus on explosive musical programming provided by Radio Nova to create a festive atmosphere. Discover the trends in mixology.

La Maison du Whisky: A Major Player in the Premium Spirits Market in France and Internationally.
Specializing in whiskies and fine spirits since 1956, La Maison du Whisky is a major player in the premium spirits market in France and internationally. As an importer, distributor, exporter, as well as a retailer, bottler, and producer, La Maison du Whisky explores all categories of spirits—whisky, rum, cognac, armagnac, calvados, tequila, mezcal—but also beer, sake, wine, etc. Its portfolio includes more than 240 exclusive high-end brands. La Maison du Whisky relies on a team of enthusiasts to accompany the sector’s excitement, anticipate trends, and inform the choices of enthusiasts, professionals, and individuals. La Maison du Whisky also offers training in collaboration with WiSP .

Whisky Live Paris 2024 promises to be an exceptional edition, marking two decades of discoveries and innovations.

For more information about our spirits training, click https://wisp-campus.com/spirits-qualifications?lang=en