What began as four friends sharing bottles around a table has matured into one of Singapore’s defining whisky festivals, and The Malt Affair Vol. X shows how far that love for whisky has come.
While Singapore’s whisky scene has no shortage of festivals today, few can claim to have grown quite as organically as The Malt Affair. What began in 2017 as an intimate bottle-sharing session among friends has steadily evolved into one of the country’s most anticipated annual whisky gatherings, driven not by brands or distributors, but by enthusiasts eager to share bottles, stories and knowledge with fellow drinkers. That grassroots spirit remains very much intact as The Malt Affair returns for its milestone tenth edition this year.
Happening on 5 September 2026 at Amara Singapore, The Malt Affair Vol. X is again set to bring together collectors, independent bottlers, specialist bars and renown whisky personalities — this time from 10 countries — for a record-breaking edition.
Indeed, the numbers reflect just how far the festival has come. Where the inaugural 2017 edition of The Malt Affair saw some 150 whiskies being poured, Vol. X will feature more than 400 whiskies, with drams starting from just S$5 and around 70% priced below S$50, making it approachable for newcomers while still offering plenty to tempt seasoned collectors.
Then there’s the debut of the Collectors’ Vault, where exhibitors will offer coveted bottles from their private collections through a special acquisition programme available only during the festival to add new shine to the festival.
While new experiences keep the festival evolving, its greatest strength remains the community it has cultivated. Rather than relying solely on commercial exhibitors, many participants are collectors or whisky-centric bars first, bringing bottles from their own cellars simply to share with others. Returning names such as The Auld Alliance, The Single Cask, The Swan Song, Happy Three Friends and Diageo Rare & Exceptional will be joined by first-time exhibitors including Belgium’s Oldies & Goodies, Tokyo’s Bar OMC, Osaka’s Bar Minmore, Whisky Bar Aiba and Bar Simon, Hong Kong’s OBE Whisky Bar, Vietnam’s PK Maltroom and Singapore’s Woodcask, illustrating how a homegrown Singapore festival has steadily attracted respect across the international whisky community.
That international appeal extends beyond exhibitors. Belgian collector Geert Bero — widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost Ardbeg authorities — will make his Singapore debut with two masterclasses exploring legendary Moncreiffe bottlings from the 1960s and 1970s as well as rare releases from his own independent bottlings. Joining him are Japanese whisky authority Hideo Yamaoka, who will lead a comparative tasting of Japanese and Scotch whiskies, and Italy’s Max Righi of Whisky Antique, whose sessions examine vintage bottlings and historic Scotch blends through decades of collecting experience. Masterclasses are priced from S$90, making them more accessible than in previous editions.
Perhaps more importantly, The Malt Affair demonstrates how enthusiast-led initiatives can help sustain a whisky culture beyond simple buying and selling. The festival founded by Billy Tham, Lucas Tan, Jacky Ye and Kris Chan with its emphasis on generosity, discovery and shared passion — and one which continues to champion a “by maltheads, for maltheads” philosophy — can be credited with growing Singapore’s appreciation for good whisky over the past decade.
That it continues to thrive even as its international reputation grows is worth celebrating with a dram or three.
Admission starts at S$15 online, while a new limited Explorer Pass (S$48) adds a curated flight of five exclusive pours alongside festival entry and a commemorative tasting glass.
To find out more about The Malt Affair Vol. X or to purchase tickets, visit: www.themaltaffair.com.
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