Deanston Distillery will host its annual DramFest winter festival on December 6-7, 2025, featuring masterclasses, exclusive tastings, and warehouse tours at the Highland distillery near Doune. The weekend celebration showcases whisky-making through hands-on experiences priced from £35, with Saturday dedicated to whisky education and Sunday transforming into a community winter wonderland.
The distillery, situated on the banks of the River Teith, has scheduled multiple experiences throughout Saturday, including blending masterclasses, manager’s tours, and cask origin tastings.
Murray Kerr, Distillery Manager at Deanston, will lead an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour at 12 pm on December 6. The 90-minute experience includes sampling wort, wash, and new make spirit, concluding with three single cask drams from Kerr’s personal selection.
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READ THE STORY“From cask to glass, every DramFest experience from masterclasses to tastings, invites guests to discover what makes Deanston’s spirit so distinctive,” the distillery stated in an announcement.
The Blending Masterclass at 2 pm allows participants to create their own 8-year-old Deanston blend. Guests will explore five whiskies matured in different cask types, including Andean Oak, Bourbon, Red Wine, Oloroso, and Refill.
Gordon, Deanston’s long-serving warehouseman, will conduct warehouse walks at 10 am, 1 pm, and 3:30 pm. Each £40 session includes tastings of three single cask drams drawn directly from casks.
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Two Cask Origins Tasting sessions at 11:30 am and 3:30 pm explore how previous cask contents shape Deanston’s whiskies. The 45-minute guided tastings cost £40 per person.
Sunday’s winter wonderland opens to the community with Santa and reindeer appearances, a Christmas market, and children’s activities.
Lowland Cooperage will demonstrate traditional cask-making throughout both days in Warehouse 4. Five complimentary 20-minute coopering demonstrations will showcase the ancient craft.
Deanston produces its single malt using traditional methods, including an open-top mash tun. The distillery is known for its waxy, hand-crafted Highland single malt whisky character.
Tickets are available at www.deanstonmalt.com/dramfest with limited availability expected to sell quickly.
