The 5th Kempen Whisk(e)y Conference, one of the most important whiskey fairs in the Lower Rhine region, will take place on the second weekend of April at the Konferenzloft in Kempen. This year, the event is celebrating its fifth anniversary and offers whiskey enthusiasts the opportunity to discover, taste, and purchase exceptional spirits. ​

A special focus of this year’s trade show is on Scandinavia, an emerging whiskey region. In this context, we are pleased to present the Kyrö Distillery from Finland. Kyrö has made a name for itself internationally with its innovative rye whiskeys and has received multiple awards at the prestigious Meininger’s International Spirits Award (ISW) 2024. Of particular note is the Kyrö Malt Oloroso, which was named “Whiskey (International) of the Year 2024.” ​

A highlight of the fair is the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Scotch Single Malt Circle (SSMC), Germany’s oldest whiskey club, with about 800 members in Germany and 200 in Austria. Founder and whiskey icon Maggie Miller will be in attendance in person to present exceptional bottlings spanning four decades. ​

For collectors and connoisseurs, the fair offers a rare opportunity to taste rare spirits that are otherwise rarely opened. For example, visitors can sample a whiskey from the 1950s. ​

Another highlight is the so-called “Debatt(l)e Tastings,” in which whiskey-producing countries and their representatives compete against each other in a friendly spirit during tasting sessions. These tastings can be booked in the adjacent room in addition to the main fair program. In these tastings, two countries, each with three selected whiskies, go head-to-head. At the end, visitors decide which country has the edge in terms of aroma.