Rome Whisky Festival 2025
On March 1st and 2nd, the Rome Whisky Festival took place at Salone delle Fontane, marking its 13th edition. For whisky enthusiasts, industry professionals, and bartenders, this annual event is nothing short of a grand celebration.
This year’s festival was as vibrant as ever, attracting over 4,300 attendees and featuring more than 200 brands from around the world, offering an astounding selection of over 1,000 different whiskies.
Masterclasses - Unlocking the Depths of Whisky Knowledge
What sets this event apart is that it’s not just about tasting whisky, it’s about learning and experiencing its depth. The beginner-friendly “ABC Whisky Course” drew 130 participants over the two days, offering them a solid foundation in whisky appreciation. Meanwhile, industry professionals and whisky makers led 16 masterclasses, diving deep into whisky production, tasting techniques, and aging methods.
The festival featured a range of fascinating masterclasses, some of which are covered in more detail in separate articles:
・Halewood Artisanal Spirits – Round Trip
→Halewood Artisanal Spirits - A Round Trip Through British Whisky
・Generazione whisky: in Giappone con Akashi & Yamazakura
→Akashi & Yamazakura - The Art of Shokunin in Japanese Whisky
・Kurayoshi Distillery – Alla scoperta dei whisky giapponesi di Tottori
→Kurayoshi Distillery - Exploring the Japanese Whiskies of Tottori
・NIKKA WHISKY: passato e presente del whisky giapponese
→Samuel Cesana: The Legacy of Nikka Whisky
・Stephen Beam. 1 distilleria, 7 generazioni, 150 anni di whiskey
→Stephen Beam - 1 distillery, 7 generation, 150 years of whiskey
・Ross&Squibb Distillery: i Maestri del Rye
→MGP Ingredients' Exclusive Tasting at Oro Whisky Bar
・JAMESON EMOTIONAL TASTING
・HEAVEN HILL - la più grande distilleria indipendente d’America
・Whisky PINTAIL - The Home of the sweet cask finish
・Duncan Taylor, Imbottigliatore Indipendente e l’arte dei suoi Mastri bottai
・Nc’Nean - Made by Nature, Not by Rules
・GLENFIDDICH - il whisky diventato icona
Whisky Cocktails - A Way to Enjoy Whisky
Beyond the deep dive into whisky knowledge, the festival also showcased whisky’s versatility in cocktails. At the Oro Whisky Bar booth, attendees had the chance to experience expertly crafted whisky-based cocktails.
One of the festival’s standout moments was the whisky cocktail competition hosted by Daniele Gentili in collaboration with ORGANICS by Red Bull.
The competition featured teams from different bars, including Lorenzo Politano’s team from Aleph Rome Hotel and the team from Städlin, a well-known street bar.
These two teams, representing contrasting visions of the bar industry, went head-to-head in a cocktail showdown, with Gentili introducing them like a referee at a boxing match.
The Vintage Whisky Area - A Collector’s Paradise
One of the most talked-about sections this year was the Vintage Whisky Area, where rare and highly sought-after bottles were on display.
Collectors and longtime whisky lovers indulged in some truly exceptional drams. Additionally, a dedicated Brown Spirits section, focusing on aged spirits beyond whisky, continued to grow in popularity, drawing more interest each year.
Whisky & Lode Awards 2025 - The Best of the Best
One of the festival’s biggest highlights was the Whisky & Lode Awards, celebrating the finest whiskies of the year. The judging was conducted through blind tastings, ensuring that only the purest quality and flavor determined the winners.
This year's awards saw the winners in the Scotch Whisky category go to "Caol Ila 2011 Berry Bros. & Rudd 11YO", in the World Whisky category go to "Erètico 7YO" from Italy, and in the Cask Strength category go to "Wolfburn Cask Strength".
Best Scotch Whisky
- Caol Ila 2011 (Berry Bros. & Rudd) – 11 Years, Single Cask, 54.6% (Pallini Spa)
- Benrinnes 11YO (The Whisky Cellar) – Pauillac Red Wine Finish, 56.2% (Spirits & Colori Srl)
- Meikle Tòir 5YO (The Chinquapin One) – Peated Speyside, 48% (Lost Dram Selection Srl)
Best World Whisky
- Erètico 7YO – Italian Single Malt (Grappa & Gewürztraminer Cask), 47% (L. Psenner Srl)
- Goalong Single Malt Whisky – Chinese Single Cask (STR Wine Cask), 56% (D&C Spa)
- Erètico 7YO – Italian Single Malt (Grappa & Amarone Cask), 47% (L. Psenner Srl)
Best Cask Strength Whisky
- Wolfburn Cask Strength – Single Malt (Sherry & Bourbon Cask), 56.9% (Spirits & Colori Srl)
- Teeling Blackpitts – Peated Irish Whisky, 56.5% (Rinaldi 1957 Spa)
- Kilchoman Batch Strength – Islay Single Malt, 57% (Fine Spirits Srl)
The Expanding Whisky Market
Festival founder Andrea Fofi shared his insights on the evolving whisky landscape, stating,
“The whisky market is undeniably expanding. Not only are devoted whisky fans growing in numbers, but more and more newcomers are getting their first taste of whisky.”
This year, the festival put a strong emphasis on making whisky accessible to beginners, successfully broadening its audience.
Over the two-day event, more than 400 whisky cocktails were served, proving that whisky’s appeal extends beyond neat pours and on-the-rocks servings.
The cocktail bar area was buzzing with activity, showcasing innovative ways to enjoy whisky in a mixological context.
A Celebration Fueled by Passion
The Rome Whisky Festival’s success wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of its event organizers and staff. Fofi gave special thanks to Laura Tancredi for her invaluable contribution in managing the event’s production.
With each passing year, the Rome Whisky Festival continues to evolve, bringing new experiences and surprises.
What will 2026 have in store?
We can’t wait to find out! One thing is certain, if you love whisky, this is an event you won’t want to miss.
Roma Whisky Festival
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