Spirit of Speyside 2009 

The 2008 Autumn Speyside Whisky Festival was another resounding success.

At the Whisky Auction 328 lots were sold in addition to 42 lots of memorabilia with a total sale value of £17,000. A large number of Manager's Drams and Rare Malts were sold.

Enjoy 4 days of whisky-filled fun in Dufftown in Scotland's whisky heartland of Speyside.

One of the best ways to discover more about single malt Scotch whiskies is to come to the Autumn Speyside Whisky Festival based in and around Dufftown. Throughout the 4 days of the festival, several distilleries that are not normally open to the public invite whisky enthusiasts to tour their facilities and enjoy a dram

Mini bus trips are laid on that enable connoisseurs of whisky to tour and taste an incredible array of fine malts from a wide range of distilleries. The most infamous of these is the marathon "Seven Stills Tour" that visits all of Dufftown's distilleries on a single trip with a dram at each and every one. Definitely not one for the faint hearted!

The Whisky nosing tasting programme based in the Whisky Museum provide a unique opportunity to explore the pairing of whisky with foods such as salmon, cheese, or chocolate under the guidance of well known whisky experts. In addition, there is the opportunity to try some of the exciting new expressions from the Independent bottlers and Distilleries.

The Autumn Speyside Whisky Festival differs from the Spring Festival with a Craft Fayre in the Dufftown Memorial Hall on Saturday and a Whisky Auction on Sunday afternoon where some rare and unusual bottles of whisky go under the hammer. This is a great opportunity for buyers and sellers alike.

Dine in restaurants whose special festival menus compliment a mouth-watering choice of the finest local Scottish produce combined with Speyside malt whiskies.

There is much much more; join local musicians for Stramash, or listen to the ever-popular Robin Laing for an evening of whisky muse and song (and perhaps a dram or 2). The Festival highland dancers and the Dufftown Pipe Band will also be making guest appearances during the Festival. There is also the opportunity to blow out the cobwebs with a guided walk in the hills around Dufftown or enjoy an off-road land rover safari in the stunning surroundings of the Braes of Glenlivet.

Finally the famous Dregs Party brings the festival to a close. As the last drops are drained from bottles it is time to say goodbye to old friends until the next festival. We hope to see you there!