Bucket Scene: Whisky & Gin Live Celebration 2019

The ever popular Whisky Live returns to the shores of Durban this winter and this time has a new partner with it, Gin! While Whisky remains an acquired taste for many, for some it doesn't quite suite their palate, hence the introduction of Gin to make everyone happy! The organisers say it is "Whisky Live with a whole new flavour! That's the all new gin flavours!". For the first time at Whisky Live, Gin will be making an appearance, it's a brand new look, layout and offering that will appeal to the whisky connoisseur, the new emerging whisky drinker and to the gin lover. There will also be live entertainment from various performers, trendy food trucks, social areas and with the event being helf at the new Suncoast Globe, it's a much more open layout that makes this new event refreshed and a must-experience for many.

Tickets are available from R250 and can be purchased from Ticket Pro or at the door for R290. Whisky & Gin Live kicks off on Thursday the 13th of June and runs till the 15th of June, running times are between 5pm and 9pm.

Whisky Live Durban 2018 - Competition!

Whisky Live returns to Durban in June! The much loved whisky festival by whisky aficionados all over the country touches down at the Sibaya Casino Sun Park from the 21st till the 23rd of June. There will be wide range of whiskies available from local to abroad, taking ones tasting palate on an unforgettable journey. Some of the whiskies on offer are Bin's Cape Mountain Whisky, Paul John, Dewa's, The Macallan, Bunnahabhin, Jack Daniel's and the full list can be found below. 

A general access ticket gets you a tasting glass, 16 tasting vouchers and a bottle of Consol Still Water. Vouchers will be exchanged for tasting, with prices ranging from 1-4 vouchers, depending on the type of whisky you opt for. There will also be a competition being run during the duration of the celebration. Patrons stand the chance to win a whisky prize by entering the #Selfie competition by taking a selfie with the iconic #WhiskyLiveBottle. There will be a deli serving ready to eat meals, soft drinks and coffee to keep you fueled throughout the celebration.

Whether you're a whisky novice or a connoisseur, you can look forward to a wide range of whiskies and knowledge from each stand to get a better understanding of what you're drinking. Doors to the festival open at 6pm on the 21st and closes at 10pm every night. Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketpros as well as at the door. 

We at the Bucket are giving you and a partner a chance to win a set of double tickets for the opening day of the festival, simply visit our Instagram page theBucketza and comment on our post, tagging Whisky Live and the person you would like to take along. Competition closes on the 15th and winners will be announced on our page. 

Whisky Live Celebration - Gateway with Three Ships Whisky

It's one of the events I look forward to the most on the calendar, Whisky Live is back in KZN and has a new home, the Wavehouse at Gateway Theatre of Shopping. The event runs from the 1st of  June till the 3rd and see's a host of distilleries showcasing their finest single malts and blends, one of which will be Three Ships Whisky, whom will have something special on their stand for visitors to savor. 

When Three Ships launched its 15-Year Old Pinotage Cask Finish whisky end last year, consumers from around the world desperately tried to add this world's first whisky to their collection. Only a few bottles remain and those visiting the Whisky Live Celebrations at the Wavehouse in Gateway, Durban during the Whisky Live even will have the final chance to taste this extraordinary whisky. 

The whisky is the oldest released to date from the Three Ships and is the first in the world to have been finished in a cask previously used to mature uniquely South African wine cultivar, Pinotage. The grain and malt components of the whisky were first matured separately in American casks before being finished for different periods in eight casks previously used for Pinotage. The win casks imparted the typical Pinotage varietal character of the red berry fruit and a slight earthiness to the whisky which softens the malt component and complements the sweetness of the grain. 

At the Whisky Live Celebrations you can meet master distiller Andy Watts and join him in a tasting of the range of Three Ships Whisky, including the recently released Three Ships 10-Year Old Single Malt with a 2005 vintage statement. 

Tickets are available at www.ticketpros.co.za starting from R180 each and include a tasting glass, 16 tasting vouchers and a bottle of Consol Still Water. The events start at 18:00 until 22:00 and with than 100 whiskies to taste its an absolute treat for any whisky-lover. For more information, visit www.whiskylive.co.za, email info@whiskylive.co,za or Follow the accounts on twitter @whiskyliveSA @ThreeShipsWhisky @TheWhiskyMaker

Whisky Live Showroom: Durban

The organisers of the popular Whisky Live Festivals that have been taking place across the country for the past few years with great success have announced that they will be hosting Whisky Live Showrooms in 3 cities around the country. Durban and Cape Town remain on the list whilst Pretoria is added on for the first time. The showrooms in essence will be a much intimate experience for the visitor as each event is purposely handcrafted for the cities and displays some of the best that the whisky world has to offer. 

The showroom kicks off this weekend, the 24th and 25th of April in Durban at the Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World with the exclusive tasting areas designated at the Suncoast Sun Zone.  Visitors to the showrooms can expect the best in whisky from local to international distilleries with experts at hand to answer any question , some of the familiar names include the House of Walker,  Chivas Regal, Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie and Bunnahabhain and new comers Tomatin and Smokehead. For the more curious folk, Innis and Gunn a craft beer made in whisky barrels will be present as an intriguing interlude to the norm. 

Visitors to the event can also look forward to products that enhance the whisky lifestyle and that will add to the experiences, these include high-end fragrances from the likes of - Issey Muyake, Jean Paul Gaultier, Bulgari and Burberry. Premium cigars from The Cigar Club and selection of Twisp's flavoured filters. The showroom in its sophisticated and luxury setup is the perfect place for friends to mingle, business associates to network and connoisseur's to chat and discuss the variety of products displayed. 

Tickets for the event cost R170 each and are available via the website www.whiskylivefestival.co.za or via www.ticketpro.co.za, visitors who register for the Whisky Live Festival Club at the event will receive R20 cash back or an additional 5 tasting vouchers. All tickets include a complimentary tasting glass, a 500ml bottle of Spring Water and 15 tasting vouchers. First 500 visitors through the doors in Durban each night will receive a free copy of the iconic whisky guide, the 2015 SA Whisky Handbook.

Tickets are limited for this event and its best for you to book tickets online to avoid disappointment. If you are a fan of fine whisky, you wouldn't want to miss out on this as it is the premier event to sample some of the finest and get to know more about this drink. 

For more info on the event, you can visit the website, follow them on twitter @WhiskyLiveSA or 'Like; the Whisky Live Festival on Facebook.

For those of you on Twitter, tonight we bring you a unique experience as myself along with other other whisky enthusiasts bring you a Live Whisky tasting with our host @JezzTheDJ, we will be sampling some of the great single malts from the Glenfiddich distilleries between 7pm and 8pm tonight, so be sure to join in on the conversation by following the hashtags #WhiskyLiveOnTwitter and #GlenfiddichLive