][1]Glasses are being polished for the launch of The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival which gets underway on Thursday 1st May. Running for five days, the well established event will signal the start of Whisky Month, part of the Homecoming Scotland programme.
There are more than 300 events taking place in Speyside over the five days and they range from tastings of rare and esoteric whiskies to breakfasts which will try to solve the eternal puzzle of which malt goes best with a bacon roll.
Go on a dramble
While whisky is obviously at the heart of the festival, there is much more to it than drinking the amber nectar. As well as canoe tours between distilleries, there are ‘drambles’ or whisky-fuelled walks along old smugglers’ routes.
Alongside traditional whisky tastings and distillery tours, the festival will also explore some of the region’s best food – including venison, steak, haggis and chocolate – and local bakers will compete in Grantown’s Whisky Cake-Off.
Scotland Vs The World
The 5pm Dining blog was tickled by the idea of an event taking place at St James Hall, Dufftown, on the 4th of May. Called Whisky & Beer: Scotland Vs The Rest of the World, it is a tasting which pitches Scottish craft beers and whiskies against brews from elsewhere.
Tickets for all events in the 2014 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival programme can be bought via the website – www.spiritofspeyside.com