Founders Karen Somerville and Justine Hazlehurst first met over 80 whiskies. And the rest, as they say, is history!
Fife Whisky Festival organisers, Karen Somerville and Justine Hazlehurst, first met at the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge in 2015. The challenge was to blind taste and score over 80 whiskies for the Readers' Choice category.
A few years later, whilst enjoying a dram together, and discussing the renaissance of whisky making in Fife, they came up with the idea to host the Kingdom's first ever whisky festival.
Launching in 2018, the inaugural Fife Whisky Festival was a huge success. It is now an annual event and a fixture on every whisky enthusiast's calendar. Over the years, the festival has grown from a one day event to a weekend celebration, welcoming distillers and independent bottlers from Fife and beyond!
...our fantastic exhibitors! Since our first festival in 2018 we have welcomed many, many distillers, bottlers and educators to the Corn Exchange in Cupar; hailing not only from Fife but from across Scotland and beyond. Each year, with over 35 exhibitors showcasing their whisky wares, the Fife Whisky Festival is an opportunity no whisky enthusiast should miss!
Tickets to 2026's festival go on sale 6th September. Your ticket includes access to all tasting samples at exhibitors' stands on the day, a tasting glass (which is yours to keep) as well as plenty of water!
With 50 distilleries and independent bottlers from all over Scotland showcasing their whisky wares, this is an opportunity not to be missed! Join us for the Fife Whisky Festival and taste the very best that Scotland's whisky creators have to offer!
Taking place in both the upper and lower halls, the Corn Exchange in Cupar is the perfect venue for the annual Fife Whisky Festival. The entire venue is wheelchair accessible and we are proud to feature in Euan's Guide.
The Corn Exchange is a 10 minute walk from Cupar train station (on the East Coast Mainline). Coach and bus services run to Cupar from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, St Andrews, Stirling, Perth, Kirkcaldy, Leven and Glenrothes.
Karen is the co-founder and previously the Managing Director of glassware company - Angels' Share Glass. Now Karen is a highly sought after business consultant and is a qualified business mentor. She has been awarded Entrepreneur of the Year and is Vice Chair for The British Association of Women Entrepreneurs Scotland. Karen is also a business judge for the Scottish Whisky Awards. In her spare time, she likes to take off in her motorhome to visit Scotland’s distilleries.
Justine is the founder of Kask Whisky, a whisky events company based in Edinburgh. She is a judge on tasting panels for the Scottish Whisky Awards, World Whiskies Awards and the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards. Justine's written work has been published in The Keeper, Unfiltered and Whisky Magazine; she has recently published her first book - Opening The Case: The Affairs of Pattisons' Whisky.
info@fifewhiskyfestival.com
