BEST OF THE WEST FESTIVAL, September 17 & 18th

Once in a while, the LOCH FYNE WHISKY BAR pops up and will next weekend as part of the Best of the West Festival.

You will be able to sample a wide range of the West Coast’s finest drams, poured for you by the people who actually make the stuff!

An informal atmosphere of whisky chat, local music and insightful presentations from key distillers including: Euan Mitchell, Managing Director of Isle of Arran Distillers; Anthony Wills, Founder and Managing Director of Islay’s new Kilchoman Distillery; Alan Logan of Bruichladdich Distillery; Mike Tough of Oban Distillery and Pete Currie, Springbank Distiller’s globetrotting evangelist (and former LFW man). A smooth and mellow afternoon for any whisky fan.

FOOD

The festival isn’t just whisky: Argyll and the West of Scotland is renowned for its fresh and organic ingredients; the best seafood, lamb, beef and dairy in Britain will be showcased at the festival along with chocolates, coffee, puddings, cheeses and jams. All are part of ‘Food From Argyll’, made locally and to world-class standards. All is available to sample, or to take home and enjoy later; oysters, langoustine, stovies, venison, beef, burgers…

ALES

By the music stage The George Hotel will be offering a specially created range of cocktails. Should you prefer something less spirited, Fyne Ales have experts to guide you through the ales they brew on Loch Fyne.

MUSIC

The main music tent features some of our most talented musicians. The line-up includes a wide variety of musical genres from the West of Scotland including Traditional Jazz, Blues, Celtic Rock and bagpipes with highlights including The Chris Whitehouse Jazz Trio, Doctor Hip and the Blues Operation, The Camans Acoustic and Washington Irving. The whisky bar also features unsigned talent on an acoustic stage.

CRAFTS

The craft tent will feature Harris Tweed, plants and flowers, pottery, jewellery from Iona, paintings, photography, glassware, interior design and much more… all created and inspired by the West Coast.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

The Best of the West is a fun family weekend. Activities include pony rides, golf putting, fly-casting demonstrations, laser quest, chainsaw carving, an artist-in-residence and birds of prey. And when the kids have gone to bed, continue the spirit of the day at Inveraray’s George Hotel where fine food, music and hospitality continue throughout the evening.

FREE

The free admission (£5 car parking), family-friendly festival will highlight the best in food, drink, craft, music and entertainments from the West of Scotland.

Inveraray Castle provides a stunning venue, as those who attended Connect or the Spirit of the West will agree. The imposing, turreted castle, built in the 1700s for the Dukes of Argyll, sits on the edge of Loch Fyne surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of the west coast. The Festival will take place with the castle, hills and loch as a special, dramatic backdrop.