Speyside Festival Annual Whisky Competition Finalists

[William]

More than 50 Speyside malts were tasted by a panel of expert judges at the first stage of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival annual whisky competition.

Now in its sixth year, the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards began with a blind tasting, held at the Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood, which was hosted by Richard Lochhead, MSP.

The finals will take place during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival at the Benromach Distillery, Forres just before the start of the opening dinner on April 29, at which the winners will be announced. Visitors to the festival can take part in the final judging process.

Local MSP Richard Lochhead said: "I always enjoy hosting this event and am honoured to have been asked to judge once again this year. The Spirit of Speyside festival is a firm favourite for literally thousands of people and I look forward to it every year."

Jim Royan, board chairman of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, said: "These whiskies are the expressions of the highest quality of Speysides' wonderful spirit. I'm sure that their success will confirm their international recognition."

The judges selected two finalist for each of the three categories:

Up to 12 years old:
Aberlour 10 year old
Balvenie Doublewood 12 year old

13-20 years old:
Aberlour 16 year old
Mannochmore 18 year old

Over 20 years old:
Benromach Vintage 1968
The Glenlivet 25 year old

William

[Brummie]

I treated myself to bottle of Glenlivet 25 Year old XXV at the end of last year, great whisky and deserves recognition.

I assume the Mannochmore 18 is the Diageo special release bottling, anyone had it, is it any good?

Brummie

[Alastair]

[Brummie]

Thanks Alastair, i may look into getting a bottle of the Mannochmore, i am always looking for something different and the special releases from diageo i have had so far have always been quality whiskys.