White Stag dinner gets festival off to a flyer
It was another weekend to remember at the eighth annual Arran Malt and Music Festival at the Isle of Arran Distillery which was to prove one of the biggest and best yet.
The sun shone as the festival got under way in Lochranza with the traditional White Stag dinner last Friday night when the international audience of guests, many resplendent in their white kilts and dinner suits, enjoyed a evening of refinement.
A drinks reception was held in the new visitor centre foyer, before a tour of the distillery where master distiller James MacTaggart gave a short speech before being surprised by being officially named the head of the White Stag Community by managing director Euan Mitchell and given a presentation box of crystal whisky glasses.
In what was to be an evening of presentations, there was a second one later for distillery chairman Dr Mike Peirce who has just celebrated his 75th birthday and was given a unique quarter cask and a special birthday cake.
During the evening an excellent dinner was prepared by Scott Gilmour, the executive chef at Seamill Hydro, assisted by the distillery’s own staff and themed on Arran ingredients. And there was music during the evening from the Rowan brothers, who are regular visitors to the festival, and Arran’s own John Divine, who now works as a distillery guide.
The whisky auction, as always, proved very popular, raising money for the Arran Trust, before the revellers enjoyed a dram and a chat.
The festival, which began for some with a walk up to the source of the water for Arran whisky, Loch na Davie, earlier in the day, continued with music and masterclasses over the weekend.
For a full picture special of the event see next week’s leisure section of the Banner.