One of the world’s largest whisky festivals will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year when over 85 venues open their doors on 1st of May.
The hotly anticipated preview of events for The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival lands today when the world celebrates Robert Burns with a dram, giving attendees a few days to peruse over 650 events before ticket sales officially open at 12 noon on the 31st of January.
Celebrity chef and whisky fan Tony Singh helped launch the prestigious festival by heading to The Glenlivet in Speyside and naturally celebrated with a dram. He said, “This is one of the best whisky festivals globally and I’m looking forward to coming back with my family in May to go to some of the events. Having recently invested in a cask, I must confess – I'm head over heels for a good malt or blend, especially when it's a delightful addition to my culinary creations. So, what better day than Burns birthday to toast the festival launch.”
Thanks to the glorious waters in Speyside, they boast an unusually high concentration of distilleries. As the largest whisky producing region in Scotland, many of the 51 distilleries open their doors, including ones normally closed to the public. Incredibly, 5 distilleries will celebrate their 200th anniversary this year. The Macallan, The Glenlivet, Miltonduff, Cardhu and Balmenach will all reach the special milestone.
With 19 villages and towns taking part, thousands of tourists will arrive and blend in with the locals when they descend on Speyside for 6 days from 1st of May. The festival provides a huge boost to the local economy attracting thousands of visitors each year, with almost 40% of them coming from overseas, 20% from the local area and the rest from all corners of the UK.
Visitors can enjoy countless tastings, tours, ceilidhs, quizzes and, of course, the spectacular Speyside scenery. The accommodation options are extensive and range from luxury hotels to glamping pods. Many of the hotels, restaurants, halls and tourist attractions take part by hosting events to whet the palette.
George McNeil, Chair of The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, said; “It’s incredible to think this is the 25th year of the festival and it continues to grow in size and stature. The distilleries in Speyside that take part make it a truly unique festival. It’s a chance for visitors to immerse themselves in the whisky world with world-class experiences, behind the scenes tours, visit distilleries that don’t normally open their doors to the public and enjoy a few days in this beautiful part of the world. I think this year will be our biggest and best yet so would encourage people to book early to avoid disappointment.”
Events include;
The Spirit of Speyside Festival Ceilidh at The Macallan
The Ultimate Whisky Flight which includes a helicopter tour with Glenfarclas
Auchroisk Distillery Through The Decades Tour
Whisky Detectives with Glenlivet Hill Trek
OurWhisky Foundation House Party at The Dowans Hotel
TICKET INFORMATION
Previews for ticket sales go live at 12noon on 25th January
Launch of ticket sales is live at 12noon on 31st January
