These are fine times to be a whisky lover and the next few months are looking especially tasty.
At the beginning of May, the Spirit of Speyside Festival will get underway again in… well, the clue is in the name.
Then, on the 25/26 May, the Edinburgh Whisky Stramash returns to the Surgeon’s Hall for more leftfield shenanigans and we’ll cover that in good time as well.
Twang your taste buds
However, the taste bud-twanging event on the immediate horizon is the Edinburgh Whisky Fest 2013.
Taking place on Saturday 27th of April, the Edinburgh Whisky Fest 2013 is a joint initiative from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society and events specialists, The Whisky Lounge. The idea is to transform Edinburgh from the capital of Scotland to the capital of the whisky world.
The new festival will be held at The Hub, the historic, Grade A-listed building close to Edinburgh Castle, and will feature a stonking array of whisky brands from Scotland and around the world exhibiting their drams.
Scotch and global whiskies
Festival-goers will be able to sample malts from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary, alongside well-known Scottish names such as Laphroaig, Highland Park and Bowmore. Amrut, from India, and Balcones Distilling, from the USA, are among the international whisky brands in attendance.
The festival will also include a series of masterclasses, including ‘The importance of science behind gastronomy and whisky’, a special session looking at how to match food and whisky, hosted by highly innovative chef Mark Greenaway and Bowmore Master Distiller Rachel Barrie.
Tickets are £35 a head and there is a lot more info here.