Festival Journey – Swiss Whisky Festival, Baden
31 October 2026, 16:00 - 22:30
The Swiss Whisky Festival, Baden marks the beginning of a new chapter for Crispin's Selection ®.
This Festival Journey is designed for whisky enthusiasts who wish to experience the festival with structure, context, and shared discovery.
Rather than wandering from stand to stand guided only by familiarity or chance, we'll explore the festival together with intention: discovering how regions, cask maturation, age, style, independent bottlings, and distillery character gradually come together to tell a broader story.
Every festival is different.
While I'll draw on my experience as a Certified Scotch Professional to provide context, direction, and confidence throughout the day, some of the most memorable drams are often the ones none of us expected to discover.
Those moments of surprise are as much a part of the journey as the whiskies themselves.
Why join a Crispin's Selection Festival Journey?
Unlike a distillery ambassador, independent bottler, importer, or exhibitor, I don't represent a particular producer or portfolio.
That independence allows the journey to be shaped entirely by curiosity, comparison, and discovery.
Rather than promoting specific bottles, we'll compare whiskies across distilleries, regions, cask types, official bottlings, and independent bottlings alike, following whichever path tells the most interesting story.
The aim isn't simply to discover a new favourite whisky, but to gain a broader understanding of how different whiskies relate to one another and how they might contribute to your own whisky journey.
Whether you're completely new to whisky festivals or already an experienced enthusiast, the journey is designed to encourage conversation, comparison, and exploration together.
What to Expect
Throughout the festival I'll provide structure, direction and context around topics such as:
- Scotch whisky regions
- Peated and unpeated styles
- Cask influence and maturation
- Official bottlings and independent bottlers
- Distillery character and house style
- Building a balanced and diverse whisky collection
- Bottle-buying guidance based on your own preferences rather than current trends
- Participants will also receive a Crispin's Selection ® Flight Log; a compact tasting companion designed to help you notice characteristics that make each whisky unique.
- Following the festival, participants will receive a curated Festival Journey Log, documenting the whiskies explored throughout the day, together with photographs, bottle information, exhibitors, and reflections that help preserve the story of the journey long after the festival has ended.
About the Festival
Here are some practical information about the festival:
Official festival website - The Swiss Whisky Festival
Here you will find details including: location, opening hours, facilities, organizers, exhibitors, seminars, history, tickets and more.
(if you arrive in a Kilt, you get a free entry)
My Blog Article - Whisky Festivals in Switzerland - an Approach should help you to see a festival from a technical perspective.
The venue is a big spacious hall with high-ceiling, and is good for all weather conditions.
There is catering at the Festival, with some creative options in the menu. We will break midway for dinner.
Most exhibitors (Distillery, Independent Bottlers, Importers, Traders / Distributors, etc.) present a significantly big collection for tasting.
Typical tasting sample size is 1cl, for which you pay a few Jetons depending on the bottle price.
In order to stay hydrated, I always recommend having your own water bottle(s).
Participation
The Festival Journey is an independent Crispin's Selection ® experience that takes place during the Swiss Whisky Festival, Baden.
To take part, participants must purchase their own festival admission ticket directly from the festival organizers, either online, or at the Entrance. Tasting samples are also purchased individually from the exhibitors, allowing everyone complete freedom to explore according to their own interests and budget.
To participate in my Journey, there is no additional fee. But to keep the experience personal and encourage conversation, participation is limited to a small group.
If this sounds like the kind of whisky experience you're looking for, I'd be delighted to welcome you aboard.
Request Boarding by filling this form. I'll send further information as the event approaches and confirm your place once the passenger list has been finalized. You'll then receive your Boarding Pass with everything you need for the day.
A Few Practical Notes
This is an informal community experience organized through Crispin's Selection ®.
Each participant is responsible for their own festival ticket, tasting / bottle / food purchases, travel arrangements, and personal wellbeing throughout the event.
Please enjoy whisky responsibly, stay hydrated, and only participate if you are legally permitted to consume alcohol.
The purpose of the journey is to share knowledge, conversation, and discovery together in a relaxed and respectful atmosphere.