A major whisky festival is heading to The Woodstock Exchange on Friday, May 29, and Saturday, May 30, marking Cape Town’s first large-scale event dedicated exclusively to whisky.
The Mothercity Whisky Festival arrives as Cape Town’s premium drinks market continues to expand beyond its traditional wine and craft beer roots.
For the Woodstock community and CBD commuters alike, the event signals a shift in how the local “experience economy” is targeting spirit enthusiasts, moving away from standard bar nights toward structured, educational tastings.
What to expect at the Exchange
The festival is structured as a walk-around tasting rather than a seated event. Mothercity Liquor, the retail group behind the event, has confirmed several features:
- Tastings: More than 20 brands will showcase over 100 different whiskies.
- The Golden Dram: Tickets include “Golden Dram” tokens, which are required to access three pours of rare or limited-edition whiskies.
- Masterclasses: Four masterclasses will be held for an additional fee, led by industry distillers and experts.
- VIP Lounge: Hosted at Solera, the permanent tasting bar located within the venue
- Safety: A beer garden, food vendors, and a R250 Uber voucher for VIP guests, encouraging responsible transport.
While Cape Town is a global hub for wine and dining, whisky has lacked a central platform in the city until now. Mothercity Liquor aims to bridge the gap between casual drinkers and serious collectors.
“Cape Town has such a strong culture around wine, food, and discovery, but whisky has never had the same kind of dedicated platform in the city,” pointed out Tiana, Director of Mothercity Liquor.
She noted the goal is to create a space for global brands and local drinkers to “taste, learn, and celebrate” in a way that fits the city’s premium market.
Ticket costs and logistics
Tickets are available in two main tiers, with a heavy emphasis on responsible transport:
- General admission costs R750 and includes entry, a glass, and three tokens for rare pours.
- VIP experience costs R2000 and is limited to 30 people per day. This includes early entry, extra tokens, and a R250 Uber voucher.
- Masterclasses are R150 per session for existing ticket holders.
With the event taking place in the busy Woodstock corridor, organisers are urging attendees to use e-hailing services.
No one under the age of 18 will be permitted.
Tickets are now on sale via the Solera website.