International Day of the Doughnut? Not interested. World Sandwich Day? Meh. International Scotch Day? Where do we sign up?

Tomorrow, Friday February 10, 2017, will be the first annual International Scotch Day.

It’s billed as a new global celebration in honour of Scotland’s gift to the world.

People around the world are invited to raise a glass of Scotch and celebrate a drink that’s made to be enjoyed with good company.

Canny Diageo

It’s a canny move by the drinks giant Diageo.

For their part, they will be celebrating International Scotch Day by offering free tours at their distillery visitor centres throughout the day.

The company has a network of twelve visitor centres at Scotch whisky distilleries. Blair Athol, Caol Ila, Cardhu, Clynelish, Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie, Glen Ord, Lagavulin, Oban, Royal Lochnagar and Talisker are all Diageo-owned.

If you live on mainland Scotland, we reckon that there is almost certainly one within a two hour drive.

Between them, they attract over 400,000 visitors each year. Anyone booking a visit to these distilleries for Friday 10th February or turning up on the day for a visit will be welcomed for a free tour.

Diageo chose 10th February as it is the birth date of Alexander Walker, the man behind Scotch whisky brand Johnnie Walker.

Share the love with International Scotch Day

The event has been introduced following the success of #LoveScotch, a global social movement from Diageo, inviting people to share their love of Scotch whisky.

International Scotch Day is not linked to World Whisky Day which takes place on 20th May.

Ronan Beirne, global marketing director for Diageo, said: ‘We have launched International Scotch Day to shine a light on the Scotch whisky category and to help raise awareness and deepen knowledge of Scotch around the world.

‘Scotch has been built on its integrity, quality and authenticity and no other spirit can offer the same range of tastes, textures and flavours. Trends come and go but Scotch has been cool since forever and we feel it’s time to properly celebrate that.’

Cheers! We’ll have a Caol Ila, thanks.