Iconic whisky event Maltstock will make its Australian debut in Tasmania from 15–17 May 2026, marking the first time in its 16-year history that it has been held outside Europe.

Originally founded in The Netherlands, Maltstock has earned a global reputation as a grassroots whisky gathering with a strong community ethos.

Attendees bring their own whiskies to share, participate in guided tastings and blind tasting sessions, attend informal presentations, visit distilleries, and spend evenings around a bonfire enjoying local food, live music, and conversation.

Unlike traditional whisky festivals, Maltstock is not a trade show. It operates on a not-for-profit basis, with ticket pricing set simply to cover accommodation, food, logistics, and event delivery, preserving the integrity and spirit of the experience.

Maltstock Down Under will stay true to this philosophy while showcasing Tasmanian, New Zealand and international whisky.

Participating partner brands and distilleries include Ardnamurchan, Belgrove Distillery, Black Emerald Irish Whiskey, Callington Mill, Captain Bligh’s Brewery, Clyde Mill Distillery, Defiance Whisky, Derwent Distillery, Hunter Island Distillery, Killara Distillery, Lawrenny Distillery, New Zealand Whisky Collection, Old Kempton Distillery, Overeem Distillery, Remnant Whisky Co., Spring Bay Distillery, Sullivans Cove Distillery, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), The Whisky Club, Thomson Whisky and Waubs Harbour Distillery, with more brands and distilleries to be announced.

The three-day program will include:

• On-site accommodation at Ratho Farm
• Distillery visits across Tasmania
• Guided tastings and blind tasting sessions
• Informal presentations from distillers and whisky figures
• Shared meals, BBQs, and local Tasmanian produce
• Bonfire evenings, live music and after-hours drams

Attendance is capped at just 100 people, preserving the intimate atmosphere and communal spirit that Maltstock is known for internationally.

Maltstock Down Under founder David Ligoff said: “Maltstock has always been about people first and whisky second. Keeping it not-for-profit ensures the focus stays on sharing, learning and bringing whisky lovers together in a meaningful way. Tasmania felt like the perfect place to introduce that ethos to Australia.”

Ligoff is a long-standing figure in the Australian whisky scene and the founder of The Whisky Show, Australia’s longest-running whisky festival. Over the past 15 years, he has delivered more than 50 whisky and spirits shows nationwide, welcoming more 60,000 attendees. Widely regarded as one of the leading voices in Australian whisky, Ligoff was awarded Whisky Communicator of the Year (Australia, 2021) by Whisky Magazine as part of its global Icons of Whisky Awards.

More information and registrations are available here.