|
|
Whisky Forum
|
 FAQ  Search  Memberlist
 Register
 Profile  Log in to check your private messages  Log in |
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
William
Administrator
Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 4056
Location: Scotland
|
 Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:29 pm Post subject: Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2009 |
 |
|
Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival - May 1st - May 10th 2009
Visitors will enjoy a heady mix of new and exciting events smoothly blended with established favourites. Many have a strong whisky theme including master classes, visits to distilleries seldom open to the public, open days, walks and dinners. The celebrations start on Friday May 1st.
The Festival goes from strenth to strength each year and this year is the festivals 10th Anniversary, so it should be an extra special event.
For more info on the festival, to buy tickets and a list of events visit:
http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/
If you are travelling to the event dont leave it to late to book your accommodation.
William |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
|
|
|
islayonspey
Double Malt Member
Joined: 12 Sep 2007
Posts: 120
Location: Dufftown, Speyside, Scotland
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:51 pm Post subject: Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2009 |
|
|
| William wrote: | Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival - May 1st - May 10th 2009
Visitors will enjoy a heady mix of new and exciting events smoothly blended with established favourites. Many have a strong whisky theme including master classes, visits to distilleries seldom open to the public, open days, walks and dinners. The celebrations start on Friday May 1st.
The Festival goes from strength to strength each year and this year is the festivals 10th Anniversary, so it should be an extra special event.
For more info on the festival, to buy tickets and a list of events visit:
http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/
If you are travelling to the event dont leave it to late to book your accommodation.
William |
Hi William,
You got there before me (one of the organisers). 
That's right guys (and dolls), you need to book fast otherwise it'll be fully booked, some of the very special ones like, the & Stills Tour of Dufftown!!  :
Also you'll find that we, in Dufftown, are holding our 6th Whisky Fair with over 10 participants mostly in whisky but we may have 1 or 2 breweries too.
About accommodation, be quick!! that's all I can say. My own B&B was fully booked up since last September!!
We may help you to find accommodation by emailing dufftown@dufftown.co.uk and it would help if you visit www.dufftown.co.uk direct.
Hope to see you there. 
Rene
PS I'm off to the Canaries on Sunday for 14 days. Hope the sun is about !! 
_________________
Ardbeg 4 ever |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
William
Administrator
Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 4056
Location: Scotland
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 12:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I hope the sun does shine for you Rene, enjoy your holiday and try bring us some sunshine back.
William |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
islayonspey
Double Malt Member
Joined: 12 Sep 2007
Posts: 120
Location: Dufftown, Speyside, Scotland
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:43 pm Post subject: about the sun, well . . . . |
|
|
| William wrote: | I hope the sun does shine for you Rene, enjoy your holiday and try bring us some sunshine back.
William |
Back from sunny Gran Canaria but, as we flew north the sun fell out of our suitcase ! and we landed in Glasgow at -9 and a foot of snow. The following morning we drove to Dufftown where it was -7 at lunchtime and 3 feet of snow.
Needless to say we weren't impressed.
Now my friends and I are hard at work preparing for the Festival in May. roll
Slainte Rene ::
_________________
Ardbeg 4 ever |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
William
Administrator
Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 4056
Location: Scotland
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
It is bad enough having to return to a wet cold day but -9 and a foot of snow could not have been much fun. I hope you didnt step off the plane in your shorts and teeshirt. I am just back from Ireland myself where there was a rumour the sun may shine but it didnt happen.
I am sure you have loads more than usual to do for this years event with it running for 10 days, hope it all goes well.
William |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
John
Moderator
Joined: 21 Apr 2006
Posts: 876
Location: UK
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 4:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I saw this piece in the Press & Journal about the Speyside Festival. It is a little long but worth the read if you are going or have ever thought of going to the festival or just visiting Speyside:
| Quote: | Spirit yourself away for a taste of Speyside
So much to do; so little time. Even although the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has marked the celebration of its 10th year by doubling the time it will run to 10 days, I doubt if anyone will be able to see and do everything on the packed itinerary, writes Marjo Hallowell
AS A RECENT arrival from the Antipodes, I am often asked: "Why Scotland?"? The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is just one of the classic examples of what Scotland is all about - a beautiful country steeped in tradition and a warmth that is felt with everyone you meet.
The festival runs from May 1-10, and offers visitors, be they from down the road or across the world, a taste of what Speyside has to offer throughout the year.
Many distilleries and attractions not usually open will open their doors for a glimpse of what they do - and do so well.
With over half of all the distilleries in Scotland within an hour or so of each other, the festival is a perfect opportunity to enjoy the spirit of the land, and the pure waters that flow through her.
From the avid whisky buff to the traveller or local, the festival has it all.
There are about 300 events including 180 whisky tours and tastings, 21 whisky dinners, 12 bracing whisky walks, 12 cooperage tours and numerous distillery tours.
The opening dinner will be at The Balvenie Maltings in Dufftown, where the 2009 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards will be presented.
An exclusive Malt Whisky School, a three-day masterclass, has been introduced this year. This adds to the many fantastic experiences on offer.
Gordon and MacPhail in Elgin offers a range of tastings throughout the festival which include whisky combined with food including chocolate, cheese, salmon, or haggis. There are also straight-out whisky tasting and tours as well.
Be sure to book for these at www.gordonandmacphail.com.
Many distilleries are open for you to just arrive and go on a tour, but for others you may need to book. Some are free and costs vary for others, so it is always best to check.
And if you see one, you haven't seen them all. The diversity is such that each offers something different.
One thing is for sure, you wouldn't have whisky if you didn't have a cask - or is it a barrel?
You'll learn more with a visit to The Speyside Cooperage. Some distilleries have their own cooperages, but the Speyside cooperage supplies casks to many local distilleries and is the largest in Scotland. You can even try putting together a barrel for yourself.
Nothing goes to waste, with timber unsuitable for storing the precious drops used for plant barrels, furniture or whatever the imagination can come up with.
The festival is not all about the whisky, with castles and ruins to visit as well as train rides to be enjoyed.
Retail therapy abounds with the likes of Johnstons Cashmere Heritage Centre in Elgin, where you can catch a tour of the mill, and Brodie Countryfare (I was expecting tents in a playing field, not this astounding shopping experience in the small village), and Baxters Highland Village in Fochabers.
Don't be surprised to be overawed by the scenery as you drive from location to location and always be sure to have some time up your sleeve.
Be sure to try to get into the Cairngorms National Park and the Glenlivet Estate. Ideally, take a Land Rover tour with David Newland, who has the eagle eye to spot the wonderful birds and other wildlife that are so abundant on the high slopes.
David will show you the smugglers' trails and identify the birds as you go along. You may even get to see a black grouse or golden eagle.
For the more adventurous there are many walking trails throughout Speyside and the Glenlivet Estate offering wonderful views of the rugged terrain.
Brodie Castle is a must for daffodil buffs, with Ian Brodie having been a major force in the propagation of many varieties. Don't forget to go into the castle as well. A good tip is to join the National Trust (I have an Australian membership); it allows you free access to some of the local castles.
Membership to Historic Scotland allows you access to others such as the cathedral ruin in Elgin. A trip to the top of the tower is worth the effort.
You mustn't forget the distilleries; there is just so much to do.
Benromach, a wee distillery reopened by Prince Charles in 1998, is just outside Forres and it has a wonderful guide.
From the wee to the grand, I visited Glenfiddich, which has a massive amount of merchandise - as well as the whisky - and a friendly personal greeting for everyone who walks in the door.
That's one thing I noticed: everyone was friendly. I visited as part of an organised trip for some and for others I was just the average visitor walking in off the street.
Be prepared to be surprised. It was suggested I visit the gardens at Glen Grant. I enjoyed walking through the budding trees with daffodils at their feet along the water's edge. The paths were wheelchair friendly and when I turned the corner there was this magical garden, complete with pavilion and whisky safe.
Buds on the rhododendrons promise to be blooming by the festival. At the end of the garden, there is a further walk along the water to the smugglers cave.
To the north, there's Lossiemouth and the magnificent west beach. I didn't dip my toes in the water, but I will be back when it's a little warmer.
While in that neck of the woods, you can travel past the air base and head towards Findhorn. I spotted some signs for bird hides near the village (another reason for coming back).
The arts have not been forgotten. Happy snappers should keep an eye out for that great shot as photos taken during the festival can be entered in a competition for next year.
Glenfiddich has an artists in residence programme and works can be seen around the distillery; be sure to keep an eye out for those wee angels who have gathered their share of the whisky.
Another highlight is a musical celebration at Aberlour, an outdoor event on the banks of the River Spey, with performances from the iconic band Capercaillie, along with pipe bands, a lone piper and a fireworks display, on Saturday, May 9.
Dining may prove a challenge, with many wonderful restaurants to choose from. Many tours have a lunch included.
Numerous community groups and associations are putting on free entertainment for everyone to enjoy, so be sure to pop into village stores and galleries along the way.
Also worth a visit is the Whisky Shop in Dufftown, which has a variety of bottlings by independent bottlers favouring single-barrel selections.
Public-sector funders including EventScotland, Homecoming Scotland, HIE and Moray Council are supporting the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, the first event for Whisky Month as part of Homecoming Scotland.
A day, a weekend or the whole 10 days, there will be more than enough to keep you entertained and wanting to come back for more.
Accommodation is abundant to suit all budgets. I was fortunate enough to stay at the Knockomie Hotel, with fabulous host Gavin Ellis, and it is recommended for the charm, service and food. I made sure to sample the local dishes, salmon and Moray lamb, to keep it a truly local experience.
Speyside is home to many stylish hotels, guest houses and B&*, self-catering properties and campsites, ensuring accommodation to suit every budget.
As always, a sense of responsible drinking is in force throughout the festival and a designated driver is recommended for the tasting tours.
After all, the organisers want you all to be able to come back throughout the year.
And Speyside is just that - an area you can visit no matter what time of year and find something that will give pleasure. I'll see you there, because I am definitely going back again, and again.
Further details on the website: www.spiritofspeyside.com Advance booking is recommended for all events as some have limited places |
Told you it was long but it gives you a good insight into the festival and the events surrounding it.
John |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
Andy M
Master Of Malts
Joined: 09 Jul 2007
Posts: 1212
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:06 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Cheers for that John, it was a good read, it really does paint a great picture of Speyside and the whisky festival, i really have to try go some day even outside festival times it sounds like it would be a fantastic break.
Alastair |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Samson
Master Of Malts
Joined: 24 Nov 2007
Posts: 1718
Location: Canada
|
| Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 12:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
It does sound a brilliant event, i would love to come over for it some day, perhaps when i retire.
Samson |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
|
|
