The fourth annual Cork Whiskey Fest will return to Cork City from 27-29 March 2026 with an expanded program and new venues for its key events. The festival’s Brand Expo & Socials will move to Cork City Hall to accommodate more exhibitors, while all masterclasses will be hosted along Oliver Plunkett Street.
The relocation of the Brand Expo & Socials to Cork City Hall will allow the event to feature more than 60 distilleries, breweries, and spirits brands under one roof. Attendees will receive a specially crafted festival glass for complimentary tastings of new and rare whiskeys, beers, gins, rums, and poitíns.
Designed for both enthusiasts and newcomers, the festival aims to connect attendees directly with the producers behind established and emerging Irish spirits brands.
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READ THE STORYAcross the weekend, Oliver Plunkett Street will serve as a hub for more than 15 intimate events, including masterclasses, historical deep-dives, and exclusive tastings led by producers and whiskey historians.
Highlights from the program include ‘A Pint & A Drop’, featuring head brewers from Rising Sons Brewery, Blarney Brewing Co, and Original 7 Brewery.
Another session, ‘Silent Irish Distilleries’, will be led by industry expert Ger Garland, who will sample liquids from Ireland’s lost whiskey distilleries.
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Mark Lonergan will host ‘The Renegades – Scotch/ Irish Blends’, a tasting of cross-border bottlings. Other events will delve into vintage whiskey crocks, peated pot still Irish whiskeys from Killowen Distillery, and a rare Midleton warehouse tasting at the Imperial Hotel Ballroom.
One of the festival’s key draws is the Distillery Day at Midleton Distillery on Saturday, 28 March, which offers access to the distillery, its warehouses, and its master craftspeople.
The festival’s expansion reflects the ongoing resurgence of the Irish whiskey category, which has become one of the world’s fastest-growing spirits sectors. According to the Irish Whiskey Association, global sales surpassed 15 million nine-liter cases in 2022, driven by significant innovation and an increase in new producers.
Organizer Laurie O’Dwyer said: “We’re thrilled to bring Cork Whiskey Fest back for its fourth year. Our growth has allowed us to expand into incredible new spaces, with Cork City Hall becoming the home of our biggest-ever Brand Expo & Socials, and Oliver Plunkett Street buzzing with whiskey events all weekend. We have a fantastic few days planned with great liquids and plenty of craic.”
John O’Donovan of sponsor IrishMalts.com remarked: “We’re delighted to again support Cork Whiskey Fest for the fourth year. It’s not only a celebration of Irish whiskey, but a community-driven event that connects people through shared experiences, storytelling and a passion for great spirits.”
The festival is organized by Laurie O’Dwyer, host of the Whiskey Chats Podcast, and Sonya O’Dwyer. It is sponsored by Irish Distillers and IrishMalts.com.
Organizers noted that all events sold out last year and recommend advance booking.
