A mouth-watering, thirst-quenching taster to one of Scotland’s greatest food and drink producing regions is being served up to audiences for a third year running, with tickets for Spirit of Speyside: Distilled being launched for sale this Friday (June 22).
The one-stop gathering, in the heartland of Scotland’s famed whisky producing region, showcases an amazing array of food and drink all made in Moray-Speyside, showing how the thriving sector is making its mark through innovation, diversity and quality.
These fine flavours come together under one roof at Elgin Town Hall on August 31 and September 1, when the special mix sees some of the biggest brands in the Scotch whisky industry served up to visitors alongside local gins, award-winning craft beers, and delicious food bites.
Distilled comes from the organisers of Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, a hugely successful and long established five-day extravaganza which sees over 550 events take place at multiple venues across the region each Spring.
James Campbell, chairman of Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, says: “We are proud of Speyside’s reputation as one of the best whisky producing regions in the world, but the region has more than its fair share of innovative food and drink producers.
“From iconic whisky brands, gin producers, amazing local craft beers, seafood specialists and artisan chocolate makers, Distilled celebrates this ever-evolving culture and is a yard stick to all that’s happening on the Speyside food and drink scene.
“We are delighted that we have been able to condense all of this into four sessions over two days. Early demand for tickets is very encouraging and if you want to be sure of experiencing Moray-Speyside’s fantastic range of flavours, be sure to get your tickets early – Distilled is the place to be.”
There will be a wide range of different drinks to sample, served up in all manner of ways, from classic drams to contemporary cocktails. Expect interesting pairings alongside tasty treats from specialist artisan producers and some brand new local gins to sample.
It’s all conveniently contained within one central venue – Elgin Town Hall – which, split over two floors, provides plenty of space to meet the makers, mingle, and savour the flavours on offer.
There are opportunities to learn more about the samples by signing up to a range of tutorials or ‘masterclasses’ staged by whisky and gin experts including the chance to try rare and cask strength whiskies, drink very special gins and cocktails and learn about food and drink pairing.
Tickets go on sale on at 12 noon on Friday, June 22. Distilled draws visitors locally, from all over Scotland, and other parts of the UK, and the level of international visitors has been growing over the past two years, many coming to the event and staying on to explore the Moray-Speyside region.
Distilled features four different sessions. The opening session on the afternoon of Friday, August 31 is from 2-5 pm with tickets priced at just £15. Friday and Saturday evening sessions will run from 6-10pm while the Saturday afternoon session is from 1-5pm and tickets for these sessions are £20.
The ticket includes entry, six vouchers for tasting samples of gin, whisky or beer, a lanyard and a Glencairn crystal nosing and a Glencairn tasting glass.
Expert-led masterclasses cost an additional £15 per person, with full details of the range and times to be announced on the event website.
All whisky, gin, beer and food on offer will have a Speyside provenance and there will be the chance to purchase products from stand holders. There will also be festival merchandise available to buy.
For more information and to book tickets visit www.distilled.scot
Distilled is active on social media at www.facebook.com/distilledscot on Twitter and Instagram @distilledscot. Follow the festival at #distilled18
