THE VILLAGE History

With 16,000 visitors, the second event also yielded positive results and solidified THE VILLAGE's position as Europe's most popular whisky fair. Exhibitors were particularly pleased with the high level of interest and the purchasing power of visitors. THE VILLAGE also impressed with its unique atmosphere and attracted prominent guests from the whisky scene to Nuremberg.

THE VILLAGE continued to develop in the following years, maintaining this positive trend. The Nuremberg whisky fair continued to grow, steadily refining and expanding its offerings.

A particular highlight each year is THE VILLAGE Pre-Opening on the eve of the fair. The demand for this exclusive evening event is huge, and tickets are sometimes sold out even before the fair begins. Connoisseurs and enthusiasts take advantage of this opportunity to explore the offerings in advance and snag limited-edition rarities.

The first “Spirit of the Year” award was presented in 2015.

A special area showcased the trendy drink gin. Interest in the gin selection was high, and so the "Spirit of the Year" event evolved into its own small trade fair: the Nuremberg Ginmarket takes place every autumn.

In 2016, rum was featured as the "Spirit of the Year" at the "Plaza del Ron". Given the strong connections between whisky and rum, and the positive synergy between the two, a dedicated rum fair, PUEBLO DEL RON, was established alongside THE VILLAGE in 2017. Both fairs have been running concurrently ever since.

Visitors to THE VILLAGE sometimes travel long distances to attend the Nuremberg whisky fair; around 40 percent of visitors came from over 100 kilometers away. THE VILLAGE is now considered Europe's largest whisky fair. Importers and distilleries from Europe, the USA, and Asia present their new releases and rare whiskies there. The Master Classes are increasingly in demand, and this seminar offering has become an important part of the fair's program. In 2019, there were 45 Master Classes and Basic Seminars.

In addition to its extensive selection of whiskies, THE VILLAGE offers various lifestyle items, such as tweed clothing and home decor. In 2019, a quarter ton of haggis, 1,500 baked potatoes, 300 kg of Irish stew, 200 kg of whisky-infused roast ham, and 300 kg of salmon provided the perfect foundation for the whisky tastings.

In 2020, the USA was a special guest, and American whisk(e)ys were presented in the Bourbon Trail.

A particular highlight was the Master Class “Jim McEwan and Friends” on Sunday, March 1, 2020. Jim McEwan is one of the most well-known figures in the industry and was the Master Distiller at Bruichladdich. The atmosphere at THE VILLAGE 2020 was excellent, but there were already initial reports of the spread of the coronavirus in Europe. Just a few days after THE VILLAGE 2020, Europe was in lockdown.

The existing event bans have deprived AFAG, the trade fair organizers, of their business foundation; nevertheless, operations are largely continuing, and employees are working on preparations for a restart. However, the date for the restart of the trade fair industry remains unclear. In the meantime, AFAG is setting up vaccination centers at various locations, thus mitigating the impact of short-time work.

In 2021, THE VILLAGE faced several challenges due to the ongoing pandemic and the effects of Brexit. Unclear import regulations, very long and uncertain delivery times, and high customs duties caused bottlenecks in whisky deliveries from Great Britain to the EU, effectively derailing THE VILLAGE 2021 whisky fair.

The now legendary reputation of the Nuremberg whisky fair THE VILLAGE has been confirmed: Despite some COVID-19 safety measures still being in place, around 9,500 visitors came to Nuremberg for the whisky fair, creating an emotional reunion between exhibitors, visitors, and the big names in the industry. International guests also took advantage of THE VILLAGE as one of the few opportunities to meet in person again, gather information, sample whiskies, and, of course, make purchases.

For the first time, THE VILLAGE did not take place concurrently with the Freizeit Messe Nürnberg (Nuremberg Leisure Fair), but it clearly demonstrated its position as an independent trade fair.

New product ranges : Under the motto "From Field to Bottle," the various steps in the whisky production process were presented, from the barley to the still and finally to the cask for maturation. Under the name LA BODEGA, a small selection of sherry and port wines was offered for the first time in 2022. These play a particularly important role in the cask maturation of whisky.

In 2023, THE VILLAGE once again took place alongside the Nuremberg Leisure Fair, attracting 14,800 visitors from across Europe. 2,800 different whiskies from 22 countries were on offer, with a particular focus on Asian whiskies. For the first time, the BBQ VILLAGE event was held outdoors.

For THE VILLAGE's professional partner, Michael Gradl of whiskyfaessla.de, THE VILLAGE 2023 was "the most successful whisky fair of all time," according to Michael Gradl. "Demand was phenomenal and exceeded our expectations. The atmosphere was great as always, and after the pandemic-related reluctance last year, it was a joy to experience a carefree THE VILLAGE again."

Henning and Thilo Könicke, Managing Directors of AFAG Messen und Ausstellungen GmbH, the organizer of the Nuremberg Whisk(e)y Fair: “We are delighted to host the European whisk(e)y scene every year with THE VILLAGE. We were overwhelmed by the positive development of the whisk(e)y fair right from the start. We organize many trade fairs for a wide variety of industries and topics, but THE VILLAGE is a very special event for us as well. The scene is very well-connected and has a close-knit, family atmosphere, and the joy of seeing each other again is palpable every year. That's why we are already looking forward to THE VILLAGE 2024.”

Over 12,000 visitors attended THE VILLAGE whisky fair in Nuremberg in 2024, creating a fantastic atmosphere. For the first time, more than 200 exhibitors participated, and the range of whiskies on offer was greater than ever before, with 3,000 whiskies from 35 countries. The PUEBLO DEL RON rum fair brought together 32 exhibitors presenting around 300 different rums. Since the whisky fair was held as a separate event this year, not concurrently with the Nuremberg Leisure Fair, the proportion of visitors with a specific interest in whisky and rum was significantly higher. Not only the experienced THE VILLAGE exhibitors, but also the new exhibitors were satisfied with their participation and achieved good results. The number of Master Classes also surpassed previous years in 2024, with a total of 36 taking place alongside the fair. Overall, THE VILLAGE has defended its reputation as the European meeting place for the whisky scene and once again impressed with its wide range of whiskies and the unique THE VILLAGE ambience.

Michael Gradl, owner of whiskyfaessla.de, is a professional partner of the fair and draws a positive conclusion for THE VILLAGE 2024: “The whisky world is simply a fantastic community, and there’s nothing better than talking about whisky. Even though the fair whiskies sold out quickly, we can promise for next year: We will do everything we can to find the very best as limited editions. In doing so, we pay attention to origin, quality, taste, the story behind it, and the people who work there.”

The managing directors of the trade fair organizer AFAG, Henning and Thilo Könicke, are pleased with the 2024 whisky fair: “We are delighted to be able to offer the European whisky scene a home with THE VILLAGE and thank all exhibitors for their dedicated participation. Thanks to them, we were able to present a unique range of 3,000 whiskies at THE VILLAGE. Planning for the next edition of THE VILLAGE has already begun, and we are working to make the whisky fair an experience for whisky enthusiasts again in 2025.”

The Nuremberg whisky fair THE VILLAGE 2025 once again proved its position as Europe's leading trade fair. Around 13,000 visitors attended the pre-opening and the two days of the fair at THE VILLAGE. Over 3,000 different whiskies were on offer, ensuring a unique selection; some rare vintages sold out within the first few hours. The rum fair PUEBLO DEL RON also impressed with an expanded selection and around 500 different rums.

“Visitors love the flair of THE VILLAGE because it is not just a trade fair, but an event with a good atmosphere, live music, authentic food and a passionate community,” says Michael Gradl, professional partner of the whisky fair THE VILLAGE . “It was once again a unique atmosphere with beautifully designed stands and fantastic presentations. Among the exhibitors, alongside the major brands, were also small distilleries that not only brought exciting whiskies but also benefited from the network at THE VILLAGE. For the next whisky fair, I would be delighted if, firstly, even more young and small distilleries would participate, and secondly, if we could present even more expert offerings from across the whisky value chain, from malt to cooper. We are pleased that we were once again able to welcome whisky enthusiasts from all over Germany, Europe, and also international guests,” says Michael Gradl, owner of whiskyfaessla.de and a professional partner of the fair since its inception.

The new, exclusive THE VILLAGE glass was distributed for the first time to visitors at the pre-opening event the evening before. Feedback on the new glass with its unique shape was overwhelmingly positive; both exhibitors and visitors rated the new tasting glass highly.

The number of Master Classes was surpassed again in 2025, reaching a total of 50 (2024: 36), all held concurrently with the trade fair. Overall, THE VILLAGE maintained its reputation as the European meeting place for the whisky scene, once again impressing with its wide range of whiskies and the unique THE VILLAGE ambiance.