When you ask what some of the oldest professions in the world are, more than a few titles come to mind… ahem. But a little-known fact is that being a brewer of alcoholic spirits just happens to be one of them. And when it comes to the intake of these bountiful spirits, the more the merrier! This is why a number of drinking festivals have popped up the world over so that thirsty revelers can slake their tongues with the finest alcoholic beverages that humanity has to offer. With a range of events that cover all sorts of alcohols, for people from all ends of the economic spectrum, anyone can find that perfect glass or shot of their choice of divine nectar for that right moment.
So we’ve listed out 5 of the most popular global drinking festivals that you ought to start saving up for. Take a look:-
1. The Qingdao International Beer Festival
Where: Huangdo District, and Century Plaza in the Laoshan District, Qingdao, China.
When: Second week of August
Started in 1991 as part of the 100th year celebrations of Qingdao City, this drinking extravaganza lasts for a solid two weeks. Being big, as only China can, the beer flows like water as people party their way through entertainment galore, carnival events and endless drinking competitions. If you’re a foreigner, you will get enough free beer to last you the entire festival, leaving you with enough ‘moolah’ to buy even more beer at the largest beer festival in Asia! Fantastic! Ganbei!
2. The Spirit of Speyside Whiskey Festival
Where: Speyside, Scotland
When: 28th April – 2nd May
In a country that produces some of the finest liquors in the world, the region of Speyside boasts a delicious 50 distilleries that include the likes of Glenlivet and Glenfiddich. So what better way to celebrate this than have a five-day long festival that toasts to and with some of the best whiskeys in the world. Started in 1999, the festival is attracting an ever growing number of visitors every year and has become a platform for the local distilleries to strut their stuff in fine fashion. Partake in the ambrosia of the gods, with a hearty ‘Cheers’ at any of the numerous locations. Not confined to a singular location, the festival sprawls over the Speyside region in glorious languor, allowing patrons to pick and choose from the 400 or so events on offer.
3. The National Grape Harvest Festival
Where: Mendoza, Argentina
When: 4th – 8th March
For those who prefer wine as their choice of spirit, the National Grape Harvest Festival that is held on the last Sunday of February in the city of Mendoza in Argentina is not to be missed. Started in 1936, the path to enjoying this colorful bonanza is marked in glasses and glasses of scintillating wines. Now attracting more than 20,000 visitors annually, this festival is a treat for all the senses, with a multitude of dancers and performers entertaining the wine besotted populace under the bursting of a spectacular display of fireworks. Despite having religious overtones, it is a wild romp of a time that has become one of the hottest tourist attractions in the region.
4. Fete De L’Absinthe
Where: Boveresse, Switzerland
When: 18th June
After the ban on Absinthe was lifted in 2005, the picturesque little hamlet of Boveresse in the Swiss canton of Neuchâtel has become the global capital for aficionados of this mind-boggling drink. Lovers of the ‘Green Fairy’ flock to the city on this day to sample the wares of the numerous local brewers who kept collecting and preparing the numerous herbs that go into this lethal concoction. What better way to appreciate the hallucinogenic properties of the beauty of the Swiss Alps, we say. And don’t worry, even if you don’t remember anything of your experience, you can at least take back unique souvenirs that are created each year for the festival.
5. Oktoberfest
Where: Munich, Germany
When: 17th September – 2nd October
No list of drinking festivals would be complete without a mention of Oktoberfest. One of the most famous and oldest festivals, this year, 2016, marks the 183rd celebration of Oktoberfest. Held at the Theresienwiese fairground in Munich, it is simply a riot. With more than six million thirsty souls attending annually, an average of seven million liters of beer is consumed to the last drop. What began as a wedding celebration in 1810 has now turned into a must-go for drinkers from all over the world.
With all these amazing options to choose from, with all those gorgeously divine alcohols to try out, the only thing you should be worrying about is whether or not you can make it back to bed in one piece at the wee hours of the morning. Salud!
