• 1. What is the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival?

    Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, launched in 1999, invites whisky novices, enthusiasts and connoisseurs to discover the passion behind the world’s finest single malt whiskies in Speyside, the largest whisky producing region of Scotland.

    Now in its 23rd year, Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is attended by visitors from across the globe (54 countries and counting…). It delivers a programme of over 700 whisky inspired events - exclusive distillery tours, tutored tastings, talks, whisky auctions and fairs, outdoor adventures by foot, canoe or argocat, traditional ceilidhs, fine dining dinners, live music and crafts - and everything in between!

    The events are organised by the Board of Directors, The Festival Team and its many partners and members and this creates a very rich and diverse programme. In addition, a number of community groups organise events.

    The Festival takes place in Speyside, in the North-East of Scotland over the first weekend of May each year.

  • 2. When does the Festival take place?

    Our Spring Festival takes place during the early May Bank Holiday weekend.

    Dates for your diary: Wednesday 1st - Monday 6th May 2024

    Forward planning for 2025: Wednesday 30th April - Monday 5th May 2025

    To see a flavour of what to expect next year in, view the previous programme here

  • 3. Where does the Festival take place?

    At the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, we like to do things a little differently. There is no single Festival venue - our venues are distilleries old and new, quaint village halls, local whisky bars, historic castles, old steadings, much loved local shops and the great outdoors. Events take place in these venues throughout the region, from Aviemore in the South, following the River Spey to central Speyside and the historic towns in the coastal North.

    Speyside is home to over 50 distilleries - more than half of the distilleries in Scotland - and is the largest whisky producing region of Scotland. It’s a big region and truly beautiful. See our Travel Around Speyside for information on how to travel when you are here.

  • 4. Who runs the Festival?

    Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival operates through a Board of Directors selected to provide expertise in key areas of the whisky industry, culture and heritage, tourism and hospitality. With an independent Chairman, the Directors work on a voluntary basis to plan and deliver the Festival along with the support of the Event Co-ordinators. See our Festival Team page for more information.

    The Festival delivers the Opening Dinner, Opening Ceilidh, the Whisky Awards and the Whisky School. Our partners and members deliver the majority of events and each event will reflect the individual style of the organisation that provides it.

  • 5. Which distilleries are open for the Festival?

    Distilleries with visitor centres deliver a special events programme each year for the Festival. Those distilleries usually open to the public, but which open for the Festival, may change from year to year. In 2023, Tamdhu, Craigellachie, Dailuaine, Linkwood, Mortlach and Speyside, all opened their doors and offered Manager’s tours, tastings and more.

  • 6. Does Spirit of Speyside offer a better whisky experience than other times of the year?

    Over 700 events take place in the six days of the Festival, bringing Speyside to life with endless unique experiences to sample - not to mention a fantastic Festival atmosphere. There’s no other time of the year quite like it!

    During the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, visitors are invited inside distilleries which are not normally open to the public, to see the whisky making process and meet the makers. Distilleries such as Glen Keith, Inchgower, Mortlach, Roseisle, Speyside Distillery and Tamdhu have all opened their doors previously, making the Festival the annual whisky pilgrimage for many.

    However, visitors can be certain that they will receive a warm welcome to Speyside all year round. Many distilleries are open to visitors for most of the year. Others are seasonal and open from March or April until the end of October. See Speyside Distilleries for more information.

  • 7. What time does the Festival start and end each day?

    The first events of the day kick off around 09:00 and take place throughout the day until late evening. Live music events typically take place during the evening and have the latest starting times, some, but not all, as late as 23:30.

  • 8. When do Festival tickets go on sale?

    Tickets for #Dram24 will be on sale late January/ February.

    To be among the first to know, we'd recommend signing up to our e-newsletter, reading our latest news or follow the Festival on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for regular updates.

  • 9. What is the price of a Festival ticket?

    Each Festival event is ticketed individually and can vary in price. Some events are free. The majority of tickets for many quality events and whisky tastings are priced between £30.00 and £60.00. The most exclusive events may cost up to £400.00 or £500.00. Whatever your budget, you’ll be sure to find an event to suit.

  • 10. Is there a Festival pass?

    No. Festival events are organised by our many partners and members and so this is not possible. See FAQ 9. ‘What is the price of a Festival ticket’ for more information on purchasing tickets.

  • 11. How quickly do tickets sell out?

    Demand for the exclusive distillery tours, tastings and VIP whisky dinners is always high and these events often sell out within the first 24 hours of sales. However, with over 500 events, there are still many events from which to choose. There are generally some tickets for events available during the Festival itself.

  • 12. How can I pay for my tickets?

    Visa and Mastercard are both accepted on the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival website. We regret we are unable to accept American Express cards or payments via PayPal and apologise for any inconvenience this causes.

  • 13. Can I book tickets over the telephone?

    All tickets must be booked online at www.spiritofspeyside.com. Unfortunately, payment for tickets cannot be taken over the telephone.

    Not all tickets for events must be booked in advance, however, it is strongly recommended that you do book ahead to avoid disappointment on the day of the event.

  • 14. Can I book tickets on the day of the event?

    Yes, tickets can be booked on the day of the event.

    At midnight, all remaining tickets for the following day’s events are taken offline but tickets may still be purchased by contacting the event provider directly. It is advisable to check for availability in advance.

  • 15. Can I cancel my booking?

    All tickets are generally non-refundable. See our Terms and Conditions for all information on purchasing tickets.

  • 16. Can I get a refund?

    All tickets are generally non-refundable. Please see our Terms and Conditions for all information on purchasing tickets.

  • 17. Where are the nearest airports?

    Inverness Airport and Aberdeen International Airport are both close to Speyside, approximately 45 and 55 miles respectively. See our Getting Here page for more travel information.

  • 18. How do I travel to Speyside?

    By air, rail, car or bus, Speyside is just a trip away. See our Getting Here page for all travel information.

  • 19. Are there good public transport links in Speyside?

    Speyside has a good local transport network and festival-goers use buses, trains and taxis to get around. However, Speyside covers a large rural area and does not have the same transport infrastructure as a city. We therefore recommend that you make your transport plans in advance of your visit and keep them in mind when organising your itinerary for the Festival. See our Travel Around Speyside page for information on how to travel about when you are here.

  • 20. Can drivers taste whisky?

    At the end of 2014, The Scottish Government decreased the drink drive limit to 50 milligrams of alcohol in every 100 millilitres of blood. See Road Safety Scotland & DrinkAware for more information.

    The good news is that for designated drivers, most distilleries offer driver’s packs into which you can decant whisky samples to taste later. Please contact the distillery you are visiting for specific guidance on this.

  • 21. Where should I stay?

    Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival takes place across the region, from Kingussie in the South, following the famous River Spey to central Speyside and Forres in the West. Within central Speyside popular villages to stay in are Aberlour, Craigellachie, Rothes and Dufftown, however, there is a wide range of accommodation available in Elgin, Keith, Grantown, Aviemore and Huntly. Please note that there are no public transport links between Grantown-on-Spey and Aberlour.

    See our Accommodation page for our list of partners. From quaint self-catering cottages to historic hotels, you’ll be sure to find the perfect place to get a good night’s rest.

  • 22. How do I get my ticket?

    Following your online booking, a booking confirmation will be sent to the email address you provided. This confirmation acts as an e-ticket. You can either show your e-ticket on your mobile device or you can print it out and take it with you to the event. If you book more than one event in a single transaction, all events will be listed on one confirmation - just be sure to remember to take this with you to every event.

  • 23. Help - I didn’t receive a booking confirmation.

    Don’t worry. In the first instance please check your junk or spam folders in case the email has been placed in them. If you've checked these folders in your email account and still cannot find your confirmation, contact [email protected] and we will resend this to you.

  • 24. Help - I’ve lost my booking reference number.

    Please email the Festival team your full name at [email protected] and we’ll track it down for you.

  • 25. What is the Whisky School and How Do I Register?

    The Spirit of Speyside Whisky School is a renowned three day course which examines all aspects of whisky making including malting, mashing, brewing, distilling and maturation. It features fascinating in-depth lectures and a series of behind the scenes visits so pupils get a real understanding and experience of malt whisky making in Speyside. The lectures are presented by speakers of international standard - with over 200 years of experience between them - all from within the Whisky Distilling Industry and the Institute of Brewing and Distilling. The Whisky School is aimed at whisky enthusiasts who wish to learn more about the technical aspects of the creation of malt whisky and is held prior to the Festival. All pupils depart with a Diploma.

    To register your interest for 2024, please contact the team at [email protected] with Whisky School in the subject line.

  • 26. How can I keep up-to-date with Festival news?

    Sign up to our e-newsletter, read our latest news, follow the Festival on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or drop us a line.

  • 27. What is Distilled Food and Drink Experience?

    Distilled Food and Drink Experience is held in the Town Hall in Elgin with three sessions over two days. Our partners and members come together in one location to provide you with a taster of what Speyside has to offer. You will also get to experience masterclasses in aromas, whisky, food pairings and much more as they change every year!

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