Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival takes place from 27th April to 1st May this year and it has some unexpected events on the programme.
As the name suggests, the festival is held in Speyside, home to more than half of Scotland’s malt whisky distilleries.
However, it is not just Scotch which is on the menu.
Although Speyside distilleries would argue that their produce is the best in the world, Japanese whiskies have been making their mark.
Tatsuya Minagawa owns The Highlander Inn at Craigellachie. It is home to one of the world’s largest collections of Japanese whiskies outside South East Asia.
Chichibu comes to Speyside
On Friday 28 April, Global Brand Ambassador Yumi Yashikawa will be at the Inn to discuss Everything about Chichibu Distillery.
This will give fans of Japanese whisky an opportunity try brand new bottlings and new cask samples of whiskies not yet available in the UK.
And whisky, whether it be Scotch or Japanese, is not the only spirit being explored.
As regular readers of the 5pm Dining blog are aware, Scotland is gathering a growing reputation for its gin production.
On Monday 1st May, Speyside’s Balmenach Distillery, the home of Caorunn Gin is opening its doors to festival goers.
Distillery manager Sandy Jamieson will be offering an insight into Caorunn’s production process. Guest will enjoy a tour of the production area followed by tutored, deconstructed nosings and tastings.
500 events at Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival
This programme for this year’s Festival has almost 500 different events. Venues include distilleries old and new, charming village halls, local whisky bars, historic castles, old steadings and the great outdoors.
Festival manager Pery Zakeri says, ‘Events like our exclusive behind the scenes tours – and events where people get to meet master distillers and expert blenders – will always be the most popular.
‘But every year we look to add interesting and unusual choices to the Festival listings.’
Festival chairman James Campbell underlines the importance of the festival being unforgettable for both whisky devotees and curious beginners:
‘The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is very much the gold standard for whisky connoisseurs. But we ensure there is plenty to attract those who are less knowledgeable about Speyside malts or indeed who have never tasted whisky.’
Based in the heart of Scotland’s malt whisky country, the five day festival has events from Kingussie in the south to Forres in the west and Buckie in the east.