Comments on: Whisky Festival Gent 2010

By: Rannoch Moor

Rannoch Moor — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:13:41 +0000

Hi All,
I’ve won a ticket through this site (thanks Ruben) and attended both festivals last weekend, SPA friday, Gent saturday. I agree with Ruben’s comments on Gent. It has become expensive as was Leiden. Basic drams, a few small highligths but too much money lost for not that fantastic drams, still had a good time meeting people. SPA surpised me on a positive note. I attended last year on friday, few people then, but quite busy this year. Lost only 20 euro’s and tasted many and splendid drams, Luc Timmermans was a people magnet, but then again he had some fine drams. Stunner of SPA, the Whisky Live Ardbeg bottling, don’t come to many sherry Arbegs around and it was on the spot.

By: Maie

Maie — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:27:41 +0000

Sorry, but this is way to easy and way to naive! Black and White is the name of a blend, not the way it works in our ‘whiskywonderland”

By: Dirk

Dirk — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:29:47 +0000

Without judging any of this weekend’s festivals there are in my humble opinion two kinds of “whiskyfestivals”. Those with a high commercial profile, where at the end of the day the goal for the organisers is to have made a big profit. On the other side you have the whiskyevents organised by whiskyaficionados who target different audiences. Their goal is not to make a profit (nor a loss)but to offer people, sharing the passion for the water of life, a great day amongst friends and some unique experiences.

Food for thought…

By: Ruben

Ruben — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:54:26 +0000

Let’s do that some other time. See you in Kortrijk

By: Maie

Maie — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:42:58 +0000

Hi Ruben

there is no work out possible, with none of the 2 organizers! We had several (very good) reasons of not attending Gent, and they have NOTHING to do with Spirits in the Sky (6th-7th of november)! As an importer we have to target the total market and not only one festival.
That’s why we will be in Kortrijk with a big stand.

For the rest, it would be to much to discuss here

By: Ruben

Ruben — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:03:13 +0000

Hi Mario, thanks for your reaction. I don’t want to blaim Gent for this of course. They can probably work out a solution for next year. Too bad you weren’t there with The Nectar, I guess you are focusing on Spirits in the Sky?

By: Maie

Maie — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:50:55 +0000

Hi Ruben,

Just a word regarding the two festivals :WL Spa has been planed on the same date then Gent, not the other way round! WL was always held 3rd in march!

And for the rest : the organization wants to make as much money as possible, that’s why there are no extra drams.

By: Johan

Johan — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:44:08 +0000

Ruben, I had that feeling already the previous years. Gent is a nice festival but no longer on my ‘must-do’ list. That it is planned on the same weekend as Whisky Live is painfull indeed.

By: Rob B

Rob B — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:31:55 +0000

Ruben,

I totally agree with your comment on the ticket price (no extra drams) and the available “free” drams. Also these kind of festivals should think of the BOB people and introduce a special entrance ticket for them. Now they had to pay a lot for nothing

rgds
Rob B

By: Charlie

Charlie — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:29:27 +0000

Glad to hear that you also enjoyed Yamazaki Sherry Cask 48%. It was quite popular here in Taiwan after the first release in May last year.

By: Dennis Mulder

Dennis Mulder — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:20:19 +0000

Hi Ruben,
Besides that, it was a wonderful festival. (we helped at the Classic Malts stand)
My Dutch collegue and I are happy to notice that we were allowed to integrate more (as Dutchies). Thank you for that.

Gent is a Beautiful town!

Kind regards, Dennis