SCOTLAND’S BIGGEST WHISKY FESTIVAL GOES VIRTUAL IN APRIL
FULL FESTIVAL MOVED TO NOVEMBER SUBJECT TO COVID CONDITIONS
Spirit of Speyside festival has today (Thursday 28th January) confirmed that it is going to bring together some of the region’s most loved distilleries and whisky makers online instead of in person in April. With a full programme to be announced in the coming weeks, events confirmed so far include a tour of one of Scotland’s newest and most contemporary distilleries, Dalmunach Distillery, from Master Distiller, Alan Winchester; an exploration of Benriach’s World of Flavour and new portfolio with Global Brand Ambassador Stewart Buchanan and a whistle stop virtual tasting tour of Malt Whisky Country with The Malt Whisky Trail.
Festival organisers are hopeful that the event, which would have been celebrating its 21st year in April, will be able to go ahead in person on 3rd – 8th November 2021 providing it is safe for everyone to travel at that time, based on Scottish Government advice.
The decision to postpone original plans for the 2021 Whisky Festival reflects the quickly-evolving situation as a result of the new variant of the Covid-19 virus and current recommendations from the Scottish Government to restrict public gatherings and travel as a preventative measure.
James Campbell, Chairman at The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, said:
“Given whisky lovers won’t be able to come to Speyside for our annual festival this April, we have decided to take the festival to them until it is safe for visitors to return to Malt Whisky Country hopefully later in the year.
We can’t wait to welcome new and returning visitors from the UK and further afield to this beautiful part of the world. In the meantime, we hope that our online programme of events in April will lift everyone’s spirits and give people a taste of what to expect from the festival in November. We will then revert back to our traditional date in 2022.”
The full programme of virtual events will be listed on www.spiritofspeyside.com and will be available for preview on 11th March 2021. Tickets will go on sale online on 16th March 2021.
Notes:
First 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. With a programme of over hundreds of whisky-inspired events over six days, the Festival is a mecca for the curious beginner and the whisky connoisseur alike. Festival events take place throughout Speyside, the biggest whisky producing region in Scotland, located in the Moray area in the North-East of the county between Aberdeen and Inverness.
Over the years, the Festival has developed close links with many Speyside businesses and communities who help to fund the festival. It is a true team effort to deliver an ever-improving range of events and services to make the six days of the Festival a truly unforgettable experience.
The company is limited by guarantee, it runs the festival with a voluntary board of directors drawn from key areas of the whisky industry along with other local businesses and tourism organisations. For further information please visit:
Website: www.spiritofspeyside.com
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