What a blend – Scotland’s favourite drams and the best of homegrown music

The National Whisky Festival returns to Glasgow this weekend with live acts, writes Sean Murphy

An annual festival which blends the world of whisky with the best in Scottish culture is set to return to Glasgow this weekend.

Featuring makers of whisky-related crafts, homeware and artwork, an impressive programme of live music and food from popular local producers, the National Whisky Festival takes places this Saturday at SWG3 in the city’s west end.

Run in partnership with Celtic Connections, the unique tasting festival runs over two sessions, one in the afternoon (12pm to 3.30pm) and one in the evening (4.15pm to 7.45pm) and will see live music from artists like Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit, Croft No.5, The Friel Sisters, Talisk and Siobhan Miller.

Now in its second year, the team behind the event say it will give attendees the opportunity to sample more than 100 whiskies, from the likes of Ardbeg, Bruichladdich, Glenmorangie, Lagavulin and Benromach, taste whisky cocktails from the Finnieston Distillery Company, and visit stalls from the city’s own Glasgow Distillery Company and Clydeside Distillery. Fans of independent bottlers will also be able to enjoy offerings from Douglas Laing, Wemyss Malts and Speyside’s own Copper Dog.

To satisfy those looking to enjoy more than just the whisky, the organisers say there will be a range of artwork, glassware, and books, as well as non-alcoholic offerings, craft gin, rum, chocolate and coffee.

Colin Campbell from the National Whisky Festival said: “We want to celebrate whisky, we don’t just want to standaroundchin-wagging,nodding, murmuring. It’s a beautiful drink – it’s many different drinks – so much can be done with it.

“We’re not part of the no ice brigade. We want our attendees to enjoy whisky in whatever fashion makes them happy.

“Whisky is a firm part of Scottish culture: it inspires people to make all sorts of wonderful artwork, architecture, music, poetry... That’s why we bring these things to our show.

“At what other whisky festival can you take a break between drams to dance to the beat of world-renowned musicians?”

Campbell added that food from vendors such as Babu Bombay Street Kitchen (Indian street food), Hen of the Woods (traditional Scottish/vegan) and The White Goose (pies) will be available to “make sure no one is drinking on an empty stomach”. 0 The National Whisky Festival will have more than 100 brands to sample