From Saturday 28th to Monday 30th September, Whisky Live Paris will be turning 20 years old! Bolstered by its growing success since 2004, the world’s largest whisky and spirits tasting event is going even bigger once again and will take over more than 15,000 m 2 of La Grande Halle de la Villette.
With more than 40 countries represented, 300 distilleries and brands from 5 continents, from Europe to Asia, Oceania and America, Whisky Live Paris 2024 is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary with 2,000 bottlings available to taste, including 350 new releases unveiled in world exclusives.
Over the years, Whisky Live Paris has become the event of the year for the spirits industry: each edition has showcased the developments and changes at play in the sector, setting and highlighting trends, promoting rising stars and uncovering consumer habits.
The 2024 edition of Whisky Live Paris will also play host to the French edition of the prestigious World Drinks Awards.
First introduced in 2007, the World Drinks Awards recognises the best products in every style of drink based on blind tastings conducted by a panel of independent and international experts. Held throughout the world, the competition brings international attention to the winning products and brands.
Under the aegis of Whisky Live Paris and Whisky Magazine, the World Drinks Awards will make its debut in France in 2024 in the first edition of the World Drinks Awards France. The French version of the event will shine a spotlight on French gin and whisky, highlighting the creativity of the country’s producers.
French whisky is being honoured in four sub-categories: single malts, single grains, single casks and blends. First produced at a French distillery in Brittany some forty years ago, French whisky production has since spread across the country, becoming a pillar of the industry. The category’s presence at the World Drinks Awards reflects the key role French whisky plays in the global scene.
French gin, second spirit in the spotlight, will be represented by the two sub-categories: classic gin and contemporary style gin. First appearing in France in 1930, gin enjoyed a renaissance in the early 21st century and is today one of the leading spirits on the market.
As a global trend-setter, Whisky Live Paris is a clear reflection of the industry’s current developments. Each new edition brings new spaces and offers insights into emerging categories, all while highlighting the incredible variety of the world’s finest products. Attesting to the health of the spirits industry on a worldwide scale and the strategic position held by the French market, the event draws an ever-increasing number of passionate visitors and showcases the creation of new structures dedicated to this market.
The 20th edition will see the show’s historic spaces, the Tasting Hall and Rhum Gallery, develop and grow once again.
Some sixty Scottish distilleries and more than twenty American brands will unveil their latest releases this year.
New whisky regions will also be promoted, with eight distilleries from Japan, one from Australia, two from New Zealand and a dozen from Europe. France and its regional categories, whisky, cognac, armagnac and calvados will be represented by several dozen brands in a space spanning some 3,000 m2.
Visitors with a passion for rum will be able to taste products from a vast variety of origins, including the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, Latin America, Africa and Asia. Cane spirits, rhum agricole and traditional rum will be represented by fifty distilleries in a space spanning 2,000 m2 .
The Agave Patio—the new addition to the 2024 show—will pay tribute to the growing interest in the booming tequila and mezcal market. Mexico comes to France to show off the incredible diversity of its agave spirits represented by a large number of producers.
Launched in 2023, the Gin Lane is also back for its second year, enjoying its own special staging at the Tasting Hall. Gin will be available to taste neat from many varied horizons, featuring a dozen brands from France, Scotland, England, Japan and India.
This year, the Sake District will play host to some truly outstanding sake producers, offering visitors the chance to discover and rediscover this traditional Japanese beverage.
The Carré Collectors will showcase dozens of collectable rums and whiskies and host Fine Spirits Auction, a world leader in online wine and spirits auctions. To mark the event, Fine Spirits Auction will be holding its annual charity auction, with all proceeds donated to projects led by the Good Planet Foundation.
The Masterclass Forum is also back with a programme of some forty masterclasses from the industry’s leading names.
Spanning almost 900 m2 , the VIP Area will unveil exceptional whiskies and rums, prestigious new releases bottled specially for the event and available on the French market.
Finally, at the Pop-up Store, visitors will be able to get their hands on more than 700 different products.
Alongside Whisky Live, Cocktail Street returns for its 8th edition held in its own 4,500 m2 area. The best of the French and international cocktails scene will be represented by more than 60 pop-up bars and a collection of street food vendors specially selected by the Food Market, all brought to life by music from Radio Nova.
This leading mixology event of the year offers a festive, cutting-edge programme open to all members of the public. Since its first edition in 2016, Cocktail Street has been committed to making spirits accessible to all and promoting a mixology scene that has gradually grown to become a culinary art. Today, Cocktail Street attracts the world’s leading brands and internationally renowned bartenders.
First launched at the Palais Brogniart in 2004 by La Maison du Whisky, Whisky Live Paris has developed and grown over two decades, integrating the international scene of events dedicated to spirits.
Receiving 2,000 visitors in 2004, Whisky Live Paris welcomed over 10,000 visitors in 2017 and today attracts some 20,000 enthusiasts from all over the world. The now-iconic show has enjoyed dazzling growth, developing from 58 exhibitors in 2004 to 250 in 2023. Many brands have been part of the event since the start, including Gordon & MacPhail, Douglas Laing, Balvenie, Glenfiddich, Bruichladdich, Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Nikka Whisky, Blanton’s and Maison Ferrand.
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