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Coming Soon, Scotland’s Largest Whisky Festival ‘Spirit of Speyside’

Plans are ramping up as one of the world’s largest whisky festivals is set for a packed, six-day celebration at the end of April, and organizers of the ‘Spirit of Speyside Festival’ say now is the time for people to book tickets, travel and accommodation to get in on the action.

Speyside’s draw to local, national, and international visitors with a taste for Scotland’s national drink is on display as over half the 550 events within the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival have already sold out.

Ticket sales have highlighted a renewed vigor for in-person events while putting the region on the map as a top travel destination.

The Festival, which runs from April 27th to May 2nd, will give ticket holders exclusive access to world famous distilleries usually off-limits to the public, while allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the region and discover all that Speyside has to offer, from rolling mountains to the Moray coastline.

Spirit of Speyside
One of the many Spirit of Speyside events (image via Spirit of Speyside)

“With such a vast range of events on offer, there really is something for everyone and we have brand new additions to the 2022 Festival which are proving very popular already,” said George McNeil, chairman of The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, in a prepared statement. “It’s so encouraging to know that people from all across the globe are, once again, gearing up to travel to the heart of Malt Whisky Country to discover all that Speyside has to offer; be that the abundance of distilleries, our spectacular landscapes and outdoor sports or our world-renowned hospitality.”

He added that with just a couple of weeks to go until the first full festival returns after the pandemic, there’s still time to buy tickets. “We also urge visitors to organize their travel in the area and accommodation to avoid disappointment and make the very most of our festival experience.”

Visit Moray Speyside lists some of the best the region has to offer, and it’s worth checking out  and if you’re planning a trip to Speyside.

To view the full festival line-up and to purchase tickets, check out more on the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival here.

Launched in 1999, the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival’s annual celebration of Scotland’s national drink has developed into one of the largest events of its kind anywhere in the world.

For more than 20 years, festival events have taken place throughout Speyside, the biggest whisky producing region in Scotland, located in the Moray area in the Northeast of Scotland, between Aberdeen and Inverness.

With more than 550 events, this year’s festival program runs for six days from Wednesday, April 27th, until Monday, May 2nd.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Limited is a company limited by guarantee. With an independent chairman, the directors, who work on a voluntary basis, provide expertise in key areas of the whisky industry, culture, and heritage, as well as tourism and hospitality, to drive the Festival forward along with the support of the Festival Team.

Further selection of 2022 Program Highlights:

Under lock and Key NEW to 2022

Join Master Distiller, Alan Winchester, on his swansong at The Glenlivet to discover the truth behind generations of struggles between patrolling excise officers and the distillery team in this wild, rugged landscape. This opportunity includes a tasting of once-in-a-lifetime whiskies and a signed bottle of The Glenlivet 12-Year-Old Licensed Dram limited edition to celebrate Alan’s closing hurrah.

Whisky and Seafood Experience NEW to 2022

The first of its kind at the Speyside Whisky Festival, this is a collaboration between two local family-owned businesses, Benromach Distillery and The Bothy Bistro, to showcase hand-crafted single malt paired with fresh seafood from the Moray coast.

Whisky & Chocolate Pairing with Martine Nouet

Matured whiskies from Gordon & MacPhail paired with chocolates selected by French author Martine Nouet. Taste whiskies from the Gordon & MacPhail portfolio matched with specially selected chocolates chosen by Martine Nouet.

Celebrating 25 Years of a’bunadh NEW to 2022

Join Master Distiller Graeme Cruickshank in conversation with archivist Chris Brousseau, Brand Ambassador Caris Simpson and the team in celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Aberlour liquid. The evening includes a tasting combined with a dining experience and each guest will take away an engraved bottle of the latest batch of a’bunadh.

Sleeping Giants

Great whiskies have hearts of oak. Brand Ambassador Caris Simpson will accompany you from Strathisla to Mulben, where members of the North Operations team will reveal fascinating insights about cask selection and the long maturation process. On returning to the Visitor Centre Boardroom, you’ll explore the results of this highly-skilled craft. Chivas Regal blending expert Kevin Balmforth will guide you through tastings of five aged editions from the Distillery Reserve Collection. Then, moving on to the Chivas Cellar of Warehouse No.3, you’ll be offered a farewell dram drawn straight from the cask, together with a 50cl Strathisla 25-Year-Old bottle to take with you.

Scottish Aperitivo Hour (weather permitting) 

John Dewar & Sons are back with their famed and free Scottish Aperitivo Hour event. Enjoy sampling a couple of special single malts with friends whilst you take in the surroundings.

Livet Illicit NEW to 2022

A variation of the award winning ‘One Life Livet’ tour. This afternoon experience includes pick up/drop off from your local hotel/residence in air conditioned classic ‘go anywhere’ Land Rover Safari vehicles. Local guides will have exclusive access to several historical whisky smuggling sites including a visit to a secret illicit still location in The Glenlivet hills where you will be sworn to secrecy whilst drinking the recently released The Glenlivet 12 year old ‘Illicit Still’ malt. You’ll end the afternoon in a hillside bothy, listening to tales of illicit whisky distilling and smuggling from a bygone age whilst savoring drams from The Glenlivet core range.

History & Heritage Tour followed by Afternoon Tea

Starting at the Robbie Dhu Spring, where the water for Glenfiddich whisky flows from, you will journey down to Dufftown and then onto Glenfiddich Distillery to discover the story behind the maverick whisky makers of Dufftown. The afternoon will finish with a whisky afternoon tea in the Whisky Lounge.

History of the Highball with Sarah Burgess NEW TO 2022

Come along to the oldest Whisky Hotel in Speyside, The Craigellachie Hotel and join Sarah Burgess, Creative Director of The Craigellachie Collection along with a special guest, for a special journey and demonstration into the history of the High Ball. Included in the ticket price, four Highball Cocktails.

Electric Drams – an E-bike tour NEW to 2022

Right to Roam presents the leisurely “Tour de Speyside Way E-bike Cruise” with the Dram Queen. A three-hour pleasure cycle along the Speyside Way taking in the scenery and finishing with a special dram by the Telford Bridge with the Dram Queen herself. The hire of the electric bikes is included, and they do most of the hard work, making cruising the Speyside Way a joy.

Star Wars and Whisky NEW TO 2022

A brand-new event from the Dowans for 2022. A total of 25% of all ticket sales will go to Cancer Research in memory of the ultimate Star Wars and whisky fan Brett Ferencz whose Scotch Trooper alter ego always made people smile. Experience whisky tasting with a difference.

Glen Moray: Chapter and Verse NEW TO 2022

Join Glen Moray’s Iain Allan who will host an atmospheric evening in Elgin Cathedral’s Chapter House with members of Historic Scotland who will regale with tales while some of Glen Moray’s finest drams are available to taste.

The Whisky Dinner at The Bank NEW to 2022

Join world-renowned French chef, resident of Islay and author Martine Nouet at The Bank Restaurant for the definitive whisky dinner. A four-course dinner matched with the very best whiskies from the one of the largest selections of privately held casks in the world. Co-hosted with Ian Logan from Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Ltd, the dinner will be an opportunity to enjoy not only great whiskies but also a wonderful menu created by Martine especially for this dinner.

Whisky Auction 2022

The only whisky auction during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, returning after a break due to the covid pandemic, the Craigellachie Village Council will be holding a Whisky Auction in the Craigellachie Village Hall to raise funds for the village hall and recreation facilities.

Ballindalloch Whisky and Chocolate Immersive Sensory Experience NEW to 2022

This is an interactive tasting experiment to learn about the wonders of pairing different age statement whiskies with some of the highest quality craft chocolate in the world. From a new make to a whisky that is nearly 30-years-old, matured in a range of traditional casks, you will have the unique opportunity to do this tasting alongside the McPherson-Grant family and the Ballindalloch whisky creation team.

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