Slainte! – Scotland’s biggest festival of whisky enjoys a record-breaking year
Spirit of Speyside Festival’s five days of events wowed enthusiasts from all over the world, writes Sean Murphy
It’s Scotland’s biggest celebration of whisky, and this year’s festival saw a record-breaking five days of events, with people from all over the world descending on Speyside to enjoy Scotland’s national drink.
Set within Scotland’s biggest whisky-producing region, the 19th Spirit of Speyside Festival was described by organisers as the most successful yet in terms of international numbers, with strong ticket sales and the most extensive festival programme ever – featuring 575 events in total – delivered as part of this year’s offering.
Debut attraction Off The Beaten Track was selected by The Scotsman’s own Sean Murphy to win the coveted best new event award, and saw whisky-lovers transported by coach to four distilleries never normally open to the public – Dalmunach, Tormore, Braeval and Allt a Bhainne – for tours delivered by Chivas Brothers’ international brand ambassador Tristan Campbell. This was then followed by a Mediterranean and Middle Easterninspired lunch prepared by cookery writer Ghillie Başan, paired with whiskies from each of the distilleries, at her home in the Braes of Glenlivet.
The event narrowly beat out competition by a behind-the-scenes tour of Glen Moray, led by two generations of distillers in Graham Coull and Ed Dobson, and the Whisky Under the Stars by the Spey walk organised by whisky author Blair Bowman.
The winning event was announced at the ceilidh held at the Craigellachie Hotel on the last night, where the winners of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards were also revealed.
The annual awards – which are sponsored by Forsyths of Rothes and place the power to determine the winning drams in the hands of the public – saw the 25-year-old Cragganmmore Special Release announced as the public’s favourite whisky overall.
There was double cause for celebration for Glen Moray, with its Classic Chardonnay winning the non-age statement and its 18-yearold crowned the winner in the 13 to 20-year-old section. Top title in the 12-year-old and under winner went to Strathisla 12-year-old.
Meanwhile, in the over 21-year-old category, Glenfiddich 21-year-old Reserva Rum Cask Finish triumphed, with the 25-year-old Cragganmore Special Release runner-up – the very same dram that gained the most individual votes overall making it the public’s favourite.
James Campbell, chairman of Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, said: “Whatatrulymagnificentfivedayswe have had here in Speyside. We’ve been joined by people from more countries than ever, as well as local people, who have been able to enjoy our biggest ever programme of events, and amid glorious sunshine too.
“One of the key events of the festival is the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards and we congratulate all our winners. From a fantastic range of new events, the Off The Beaten Track tour encompassed landscape, whisky and food, three qualities for which Speyside is famed the world over, making it a worthy winner of the best new event. We’re delighted 0 The Scotsman’s own Sean Murphy presents Ann Millar with the award to have been able to offer so many different experiences to so many people, all enjoyed over a dram and in convivial company.”