As I type this, it’s early April, the sky is blue, the sun is shining, and it is currently expected to be the warmest day of 2026 so far. Not only does this weather always get me in the mood for a lovely wee dram or two (as if I’m ever NOT in the mood for that) but it also gets me in the mood for the upcoming whisky festival season. 

At the end of the month, leading into May, we of course have the Spirit of Speyside festival to look forward to. A few weeks later, beginning Friday May 22nd, you have the prestigious 10-day Feis Ile festival on the rugged isle of Islay. 

Those are two I’m particularly looking forward to, but in all honesty, there are so many more I can’t wait for either. With many taking place over the course of several days, whisky festival season is not for the weak (don’t ask me how I know). It requires an iron will, an iron gut, grit, determination, and more than a little know-how. Thankfully, you’ve got me to guide you through it, every step of the way. 

To help you get the most from your whisky festival experience, and to ensure you don’t go home several days early, regretting your life choices, here is your ultimate GreatDrams survival guide for whisky festival season 2026. 

Book in Advance

While some whisky festivals take place in one venue, on just one day or one weekend, several of the bigger celebrations of whisky are held over the course of several days, in multiple regions. Because of this, it’s always worth planning in advance.

If you plan on visiting Feis Ile for example, you can’t just hop in an Uber, or take the car. Feis Ile is held on Islay, which means you’re going to have to get the ferry. Make sure you book your tickets in advance, plan your route, and check the weather (trust me, you don’t want to be on choppy seas the morning after one too many drams). 

As well as travel arrangements, you’re also going to need to sort accommodation. Remember, whisky’s a popular dram, and considering most festivals are held in Scotland’s most gorgeous locations, accommodation can sell out fast. The earlier you can book, the better. 

Research, Research, Research

Another handy tip when it comes to whisky festival season is to do your research before your trip. Whether you’re there for a day, a weekend, a week, or longer, the more prepared you are, the smoother your visit will be, just like your whisky. 

Festivals such as the Spirit of Speyside for example, take place all over the stunning region of Speyside. Not only are you going to want to visit different distilleries, pubs, bars, and shops, but you’re also going to need food and drink, and take in the sights. 

Once your tickets are booked, I recommend planning your itinerary, so you know which distilleries you’re visiting, and which experiences you’ll be enjoying, on which days. If you anticipate a day of particularly heavy, erm, dram sampling, you might want to keep the following day free so you can recover and be nice and fresh for your next distillery visit. 

If there are any towns, villages, or tourist attractions you want to see while you’re there, make sure you pencil those in too. As awesome as the whisky is, getting to experience the different whisky regions is equally as impressive, and really adds to the whole experience. 

It doesn’t matter whether you’re in Scotland, Ireland, America, or anywhere else for that matter, it’s always worth researching places to visit and things to do. 

Pace Yourself

This is perhaps one of the most important tips I’ll be sharing with you today, largely because I don’t want you to make the same mistakes that I did, many moons ago when I was a whisky festival newbie. 

I remember the first festival I attended. It was held over a weekend, in just one venue. As soon as I paid the admission fee and strolled in, my eyes lit up. I was in awe. I felt like one of those annoying bratty kids from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory except, you know, I wasn’t bratty, a kid, or in a chocolate factory. No, I was actually in a large field, surrounded by whisky stalls and vendors, who weren’t shy with their samples. 

Now, this may come as a shock, but I am partial to a dram or two, so when I was offered the chance to sample a whisky or two, I leaped at the chance. We went from stall to stall. I tried smoky samples from Islay, sherry monsters from Speyside, bourbons, Irish whiskies, blends, ryes, single malts, liquors, and who knows what else. I won’t go into too much detail, but by late afternoon my head was down the toilet, and by 7pm I was back in my room fast asleep. Needless to say, I spent the whole of Sunday in bed, and missed several workshops I’d wanted to attend. I’ve not made the same mistake since. 

By all means enjoy a few drams, but pace yourself, get plenty of food, drink plenty of water, and don’t drink too much, too quickly. Whisky festivals are about experiencing whisky, not just drinking it because it’s there. 

Start With Your Favs First

Another top tip when it comes to a whisky festival, is to try to start with your favourites first, or a dram you’ve been particularly looking forward to trying. 

I’ve seen a lot of people saying to save the best for last, and while I can see where they’re coming from, with whisky I don’t necessarily agree. The more different drams you sample, the more exhausted your palate will become. Plus, you may also be tipsy, so you won’t get the full effect. 

If there’s a whisky/whiskies you’ve been wanting to try for some time, I recommend getting to those first, whilst your palate is fresh and you’ve got all your faculties about you. 

Save the Stronger Flavours for Last

If you want to sample a wide range of different expressions and cask types, from different regions, and different countries, I recommend saving the stronger flavours for last. By this, I largely mean the smoke bombs from Islay. 

I love a smoky dram as much as the next whisky aficionado, but I also know how strong and overpowering an Islay expression can be. The smokiness from the peat, combined with the medicinal and briny notes can really dominate your palate, making it harder to taste other flavours and pick up other notes (trust me, if you try Octomore first, you’ll be tasting smoke for days to come, let alone hours). 

Begin sampling drams with milder notes, and save the stronger flavours for last, so as to not overwhelm your palate.

Get the Full Whisky Experience and Have Fun

While whisky festivals are great excuses to try different expressions, and add delicious drams to your collection, there’s so much more to them than just the liquid gold itself. 

No matter which festival you visit, try to get the full whisky experience and learn as much about Uisge Beatha as you possibly can. Visit the different distilleries, learn about their history, find out more about different cask types and finishes, and speak to the workers. Ask questions, and get to know other visitors. The whisky community is one of the friendliest, most welcoming communities you could wish for, and what better way to meet several like-minded individuals? 

Above all else, the most important thing to remember when visiting a whisky festival is to stay safe, and to have fun. 

If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at the diverse selection of unique whiskies we currently have in stock.

With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning drams, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.