The South East Whiskey Festival is one of Ireland’s fastest-growing whiskey events, celebrating the diversity, craftsmanship, and innovation of Irish whiskey. The festival brings together distillers, bonders, blenders, and enthusiasts for tastings, masterclasses, dinners, and bar takeovers across Wexford Town and Kilkenny City from 26 to 28 February 2026.
About the Festival
Founded in 2023, the festival was created to showcase Irish whiskey outside the major cities, focusing on accessibility, high-quality experiences, and direct engagement with producers. Over the years, it has become a key event for both seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers.
What to Expect
The festival programme includes ticketed masterclasses, informal tastings, bar takeovers, and curated dinners. Participants gain insight into production methods, maturation techniques, and tasting notes while experiencing Irish whiskey in social and educational settings. Venues include historic pubs, hotels, and dedicated whiskey bars.
Participating Whiskeys and Producers
The festival features a wide range of producers, from established distilleries to independent craft makers. Attendees can sample single pot still, single malt, blended whiskey, and experimental cask-finished expressions, often with guidance from the distillers themselves.
- Method and Madness
- Ballykeefe Distillery
- Teeling Whiskey
- Liberator Whiskey
- Ardara Distillery
- Redbreast
- Dingle Distillery
- Clonakilty Distillery
- West Cork Distillers
- Copeland Distillery
- Micil Distillery
- Bushmills
- Dunville’s Irish Whiskey
Summary Table
| Producer | Whiskey Style | Learn More |
|---|---|---|
| Method and Madness | Experimental / Limited Editions | Learn more |
| Ballykeefe Distillery | Single Malt / Pot Still | Learn more |
| Teeling Whiskey | Single Malt / Blend | Learn more |
| Liberator Whiskey | Independent Bottlings | Learn more |
| Ardara Distillery | Single Malt | Learn more |
| Redbreast | Single Pot Still | Learn more |
| Dingle Distillery | Single Malt / Pot Still | Learn more |
| Clonakilty Distillery | Single Malt / Blend | Learn more |
| West Cork Distillers | Blend / Single Malt | Learn more |
| Copeland Distillery | Single Malt / Blend | Learn more |
| Micil Distillery | Single Malt / Grain | Learn more |
| Bushmills | Single Malt / Blend | Learn more |
| Dunville’s Irish Whiskey | Blend / Single Malt | Learn more |
The South East Whiskey Festival continues to grow, offering both enthusiasts and newcomers an immersive experience of Ireland’s vibrant whiskey scene.
