A STOURBRIDGE wine shop is gearing up to host its most dram-atic whisky festival yet.

The Midlands Whisky Festival, organised by historic Stourbridge wine merchants Nickolls and Perks, has become the largest event of its kind in Europe, outside London.

Such is its popularity - the event held at Stourbridge Town Hall has become a twice-yearly affair and now runs over two days, with the autumn gathering set to take place on Friday September 18 and Saturday September 19.

Tim Robbins, marketing and events manager at Nickolls and Perks, said: “We’ve seen a marked increase in interest in specialist and premium whiskies and spirits.

"The festival offers a great opportunity to everyone to explore the diversity of whiskies and spirits on taste from Ireland, the US, Japan, India as well as, of course, Scotland.

"We can promise a fun, passionate and informative experience - people will go away with a new perception of whisky and much more confidence about their whisky knowledge.”

Visitors to the festival will be able to taste a variety of rare and expensive whiskies at the event, including some from distilleries long closed down but whose historic stock has been acquired by other distilleries and collectors.

More than 40 exhibitors will be attending the event, which has been running since 2011, including artisan chocolatier Matthieu De Gottal, and the bash will also offer an array of additional masterclasses conducted by experts from the likes of award-winning Japanese distiller Nikka and 200-year-old Isle of Islay distillery Laphroaig.

Colin Dunn, from Diageo, a regular attendee and exhibitor at the festival, described the event as one of his "favourite whisky shows of the year" and added: "If I wasn’t exhibiting, I would be attending.”

Tickets range from £30 to £150 and can be booked online at www.whiskyfest.co.uk or for more information call 01384 394518.