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Is it because we're a harbour city? or because we make such great wine? Perhaps it's the vibey nightlife. Whatever the reason, Cape Town definitely knows its way around a drink.Wine? There are plenty of inner-city wine bars to choose from. Craft beer? Take your pick of taproom experiences. Cocktail bars? But of course! Here are 14 of our favourites.
But when it comes to uisge beatha – the old Gaelic term for the ‘water of life’ we now know as whisky – beyond one or two specialist bars – hello Bascule Bar! – the Mother City has never had quite the same to offer. WhiskyLive and the Wade Bales festivals were hugely popular, but haven’t run for a few years now, leaving whisky-lovers weeping into their pour of Ardbeg.
That changes this month with the launch of the inaugural Mothercity Whisky Festival, taking place at The Woodstock Exchange on Friday, 29 May and Saturday, 30 May 2026.
Hosted by Mothercity Liquor, the two-day festival will bring together more than 20 participating brands and over 100 whiskies to taste, from familiar favourites to rare and limited pours.
“Cape Town has such a strong culture around wine, food, and discovery, but whisky has never had the same kind of dedicated platform in the city,’ says Tiana Pena, Director of Mothercity Liquor. “With the Mothercity Whisky Festival, we want to create a space where collectors, curious drinkers, and global brands can come together to taste, learn, and celebrate whisky in a way that feels premium, welcoming, and distinctly Cape Town.”
The festival is designed as a walk-around tasting experience, with brand ambassadors on hand to guide guests through the drams on offer. Each general admission ticket includes an official tasting glass, access to all brand stands and three Golden Dram tokens, which unlock access to rare and special pours.
For those keen to dig a little deeper, four expert-led masterclasses will explore whisky production, distillery heritage and tasting techniques. These are available as add-on tickets for festival ticket holders.
There will also be live entertainment, food vendors, a beer garden and a pop-up cocktail bar, turning the festival from an afternoon tasting into a proper night out.
For a more elevated experience, the limited VIP ticket includes early entry, access to the VIP lounge at Solera – Mothercity Liquor’s tasting bar inside The Woodstock Exchange – hidden drams not available to general guests, five Golden Dram tokens, a R250 Uber voucher and two complimentary drinks.
How to enjoy a dram at the Mothercity Whisky Festival
- When: Friday, 29 May (6pm-11pm) and Saturday, 30 May 2026 (1pm-8pm)
- Where: The Woodstock Exchange, Cape Town
- Tickets: R750 for general admission, R2000 for the VIP experience, and R150 per masterclass. VIP tickets are limited to 30 guests per day.
- Buy online: Book your ticket now at solerabymothercityliquor.co.za.
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