Denmark’s largest cocktail & spirits festival: Coming to Aalborg

If you enjoy whisky, rum, gin, tequila, cognac, or cocktails, there is every reason to mark your calendar this autumn.

After 17 years in smaller premises, North Jutland’s Spirits Festival is moving from the sports hall at Skipper Clement School to Aalborg Stadium. At the same time, the event is expanding with a large cocktail lounge, where acclaimed cocktail bars Gedulgt and St. Pauls Apothek will be serving drinks.

The move will quadruple the size of the festival, which this year will also feature major international distilleries including The Macallan, Highland Park, and Bowmore.

“In terms of spirits festivals, I don’t think there’s anything larger in Denmark. Not when you look at the number of suppliers, distilleries, and open bottles gathered under one roof,” says organiser Troels Kamstrup, store manager at Vin & Vin Aalborg.

Where the festival previously featured just a single supplier, this year’s edition will bring together more than 30 suppliers and distilleries.

Some of Denmark’s most respected distilleries will also be represented, including Thy Whisky, Stauning Whisky, Sall Whisky, Spirit of Njord, and many more.

“That gives visitors the opportunity to taste their way through the full spectrum of premium spirits,” he says.

The Macallan to create its own lounge

The festival will also welcome some of the biggest names in the spirits industry.

Scottish whisky brand The Macallan will build its own exclusive lounge at the stadium, while Highland Park and Bowmore are also among the headline exhibitors.

According to Troels Kamstrup, this level of investment is unusual for a Danish spirits festival.

However, the festival is not intended solely for seasoned whisky enthusiasts.

On the contrary, the organisers hope to attract both newcomers and experienced spirits lovers.

“We also want to appeal to cocktail enthusiasts and younger visitors. A great cocktail starts with great spirits—that’s what we want to highlight,” says Troels.

To support that ambition, a large cocktail lounge will showcase how premium cocktails are crafted using many of the same spirits featured throughout the festival.

Among those behind the bars will be the renowned cocktail venues Gedulgt and St. Pauls Apothek from Aarhus, alongside the French liqueur and syrup producer Marie Brizard.

Taste your way around the world

The festival is designed for everyone—from dedicated connoisseurs to those who are just beginning to explore the world of spirits.

“Some people come to taste a whisky worth DKK 20,000 a bottle. Others simply want to discover a new rum, an exciting liqueur, or perhaps find a new favourite gin.”

According to the organisers, that broad appeal is one of the festival’s greatest strengths.

Visitors will be able to sample everything from whisky, rum, and gin to tequila, vodka, cognac, and a wide selection of liqueurs.

“That’s what makes a spirits festival so exciting. It’s not just about one type of spirit—it’s about the entire range,” says Troels Kamstrup.

Room for thousands of visitors

The move to Aalborg Stadium also gives the festival room to continue growing.

Previously, the venue could accommodate around 300 guests per session at the hall by Skipper Clement School.

The new location will allow up to 2,000 visitors at a time across two admission sessions, with further expansion possible if ticket demand exceeds expectations.

“We’ve also rented the adjoining stadium halls, so if demand really takes off, we can expand even further.”

The long-term ambition is for the festival to become a permanent annual event in Aalborg and continue growing year after year.

Tickets cost DKK 225 and include a welcome dram, five tasting tokens, and a Glencairn whisky glass that guests can take home.

Visitors will also receive a 20% discount on all bottles of spirits purchased at the festival.

Ticket sales have been underway since January, and according to the organisers, visitors are already travelling from across Denmark to attend.

“It’s going to be a truly high-end event. We can already see that interest is strong, and people are willing to travel a long way to be part of it,” they say.

More information about the festival, including tickets, is available on the event’s website.