With some of the rarest malt whiskies costing tens of thousands of pounds, even a wee dram is likely to be out of reach for most connoisseur of fine spirits.
Not so at the twice yearly Midlands Whisky Festival, which takes place this September 18-19. Here, visitors will get to sample some of the finest whiskies money can buy, with several acquired by shrewd collectors from distilleries that have long since closed down.
How does Scottish whisky compare to those made in Ireland, India, Japan and the US? You'll be able to discover for yourself, with samples from many pricey bottles including Littlemill 26 Year Old, Brora 35 Year Old, Macallan 25 Year Old and more.
The two-day festival will also give the opportunity for both die-hard fans and newbies to brush up on their knowledge, courtesy of several masterclasses, hosted by experts from the 200-year-old Isle of Islay distillery, Laphroaig, and Nikka, the 2015 Distiller of the Year from Japan.
With around 40 exhibitors taking part in the event, there will also be a chance to enjoy artisan chocolates from Matthieu De Gottal (whisky filled, of course) and food from local bistro French Connection.
The largest even of its type outside London, the Midlands Whisky Festival was created by Nickolls and Perks in 2011. However, the independent wine and spirit merchants have occupied the same building in Stourbridge since 1945. Needless to say, the merchants have managed to accumulate an impressive inventory in that time, including some 2,000 whiskies priced from £17 to an eye-watering £43,000.
Midlands Whisky Festival, Saturday 18-19 Stourbridge Town Hall, Crown Centre, DY8 1YE. Tickets are available from the Midlands Whisky Festival website.
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