][1]These are great days to be alive if you like whisky.
Malmaison in Glasgow is hosting an islands’ whisky tasting on Thursday 14th April. The Spirits of the Mal event features whisky from Orkney, Skye, Mull, Jura, Islay and Arran; a cracking selection that should have you singing Speed Bonny Boat before the evening is out. Tickets cost £25 which includes traditional canapés, gift bags and raffle prizes as well as the tutored tastings. You can buy tickets here.
If that sounds a long time to wait, then the first Inverness Whisky Festival pops its cork this weekend. Loads of live music, late night ceilidhs, master classes, a rare malt auction and, of course, lochs and lochs of whisky are promised. It all takes place at Bogbain Farm, three miles south of Inverness. From their website, it looks as though it will be a hoot.
At the end of the month, the grandaddy of ’em all, the Speyside Whisky Festival gets underway for the twelfth time. Food and drink matching events; hundreds of tastings; distillery open days and, I loved this, whisky-themed walks, or ‘drambles’, are all in the mix over the five days. It kicks off on Thursday 28 April. Apparently, tickets are selling fast for many of the events so you might want to get a shift on or face being drouthy.