NEW WHISKY AND FOOD TOURS SHOWCASE SPEYSIDE’S FINEST

With a higher concentration of whisky distilleries than any other region on earth, a host of iconic family-owned food producers and some of the finest raw ingredients anywhere, the rich, fertile area of Speyside and the Moray coast is one of the star turns in Scotland’s bountiful larder.

Each year this fact is celebrated at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, a five-day festival running from 28th April to 2nd May, that showcases the very best of this historic and beautiful area of north-east Scotland nestling to the west of Aberdeen and the east of Inverness. With well over 200 individual events throughout the area, the festival has grown in importance over the past 12 years to become one of the leading whisky events in the world.

Although Speyside and the Moray coast is the epicentre of the whisky universe, the area has much more to offer than just the “water of life”. This is reflected in the growing number of food events centred around traditional, family-owned companies such as Walkers, the shortbread manufacturers who are now Scotland’s biggest food exporters.

To provide a sense of what Speyside has to offer, organisers of the Festival are running two day-long weekend tours that encapsulate all that is good about the area’s food and drink, by combining an unforgettable whisky experience with an insight into the rich culinary and agricultural heritage of this area.

Visitors can see around Benromach Distillery, the smallest distillery in the Highlands, or enjoy a behind-the-scenes visit to The Glenfiddich Distillery uniquely designed for the whisky festival (The Glenfiddich Distillery Visitor Centre was recently named ‘Scottish Visitor Attraction of the Year’), and the Sunday tour incorporates a visit to the ancient community of Benedictine monks at the 800 year old Pluscarden Abbey to sample their Gregorian chants and their home-made elixir of apple juice and honey – the alternative ‘spirit of Speyside’.

The unique tours also include a visit to meet some of the local Speyside farmers who make some of the finest malting barley in the world, and whose beef and vegetables end up on the tables of some of Europe’s finest restaurants.  There’s even time on the Saturday to pop in to Walker’s Shortbread’s Highland headquarters for afternoon tea and a sample of the Queen’s favourite shortbread, and the chance to eat some of the best food in Scotland at award-winning Knockomie Hotel in Forres or at The Glenfiddich Distillery’s Malt Barn Restaurant.

There’s always more than just whisky on offer at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival – the blend of whisky, music, food and fun guarantees that visitors will be immersed in the culture of Malt Whisky Country and experience the true taste of the Speyside spirit of hospitality.

To find out more and book tickets go to www.spiritofspeyside.com, and keep up to date with the Festival programme on www.facebook.com/WhiskyFestival or www.twitter.com/spirit_speyside.

Notes

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky and Food Tours run on Saturday, 30th April and Sunday, 1st May.  The cost of £75 and £90 respectively includes travel by luxury coach, an experienced guide, all tours and lunch/dinner.  Full details are available at the festival website www.spiritofspeyside.com

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2011 runs from Thursday, 28th April-Monday, 2nd May.  www.spiritofspeyside.com

Speyside is easily accessible by rail or air, including a number of low-cost airline options to Aberdeen and Inverness airport.

The Festival runs a subsidised Book-a-Bus service and taxi voucher scheme.

The Festival also runs several competitions and awards including a Photographic Competition and the prestigious Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards.

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2011 has received funding from EventScotland and is also financially supported by many other private and public partners.

EventScotland is the national events agency.  EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors.  For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org

The Year of Active Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative being delivered by EventScotland and VisitScotland which began on the 1st January 2011. For more information go to www.eventscotland.org/activescotland

A series of focus years running from 2010 to 2013 will ensure co-ordinated national activity that will spotlight some of Scotland’s great assets as we journey towards 2014.  The four focus years are centred on domestic and international tourism and the development of the events industry in Scotland. These focus years will celebrate our reputation as a land food and drink, as an active nation, as a place of culture and creativity and as a place of natural beauty.

EventScotland in partnership with Volunteer Development Scotland is delivering Event Team Scotland, a new web – based portal which matches volunteers across Scotland with exciting sporting and cultural events.

For more information please visit www.eventteamscotland.com

Further media information and photographs from Caroline Keith at theKeithconsultancy on 01463 811000 or 07734 543923