The whisky industry is preparing for the 2018 World Whisky Forum, with the programme of speakers and topics now announced.
The theme for the 2018 forum is Whisky 2020 with speakers from all areas of the industry considering the shape of future whisky production and consumption. The Forum will be moderated by Dave Broom.
Speakers include Ian Chang, Master Blender at Kavalan Distillery, who will discuss how grappling with the challenging climate in Yilan forced Kavalan to embrace innovation and turned it into a model for the distillery of the future.
The forum will also feature a panel discussion lead by Becky Paskin and Georgie Bell, founders of the recently launched #OurWhisky movement, on the changing face of whisky consumption and the importance for the future of the industry, of accurate representation of the diversity of whisky drinkers and producers.
Ingvar Ronde, one of the Forum’s organisers and author of the Malt Whisky Yearbook said: ‘The World Whisky Forum is about sharing experiences and the exchange of ideas. I expect the same open and curious atmosphere that characterized the first meeting at BOX last year. I’m especially happy to see this great mix of speakers, representing small entrepreneurial companies such as Kyrö from Finland as well as international giants like Hiram Walker and Kirin Brewery. I truly believe that gatherings like this are essential when it comes to shaping the future of whisky and it’s really fascinating to be a part of it when it happens.’
The Forum, now in its second year, will be hosted by the Cotswolds Distillery. The distillery was recently named Craft Producer of the Year (Worldwide) in Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky Awards and Head Distiller, Nickolas Franchino, will be speaking on how small producers can carve out a place for themselves despite sharing a market with much bigger, more established players. Places at the Forum are open only to members of the industry and are extremely limited – for more information on securing a place visit www.worldwhiskyforum.org
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The WORLD WHISKY FORUM was founded in 2017 by Jan Groth of Box/High Coast Distillery in Sweden. It is a stage for the new wave of distillers and whisky stakeholders around the world who put innovation, rethinking and, of course, craftsmanship first. It is a recurring event that takes place every eighteen months.
The COTSWOLDS DISTILLERY was founded in 2014 and is the first full-scale distillery in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It was recently named Craft Producer of the Year in the Icons of Whisky Awards, and in the UK category of the Icons of Gin Awards.
For more information, please visit www.worldwhiskyforum.org and www.cotswoldsdistillery.com, or contact Jan Groth, Head of the World Whisky Forum +46 (0)70-494 18 01 jan.groth@worldwhiskyform.org or Zoe Rutherford, Communications Manager at the Cotswolds Distillery zrutherford@cotswoldsdistillery.com +44 1608 238 533.
Press releases are generated outside of Spirited magazine and the information contained does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Spirited or its parent company, Sonoma Media Investments.
