Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival salutes masters of malt

A captain of industry, an award-winning spirits writer and a Speyside community stalwart, were recognised for their outstanding contribution to the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival at the event’s opening dinner last night (Wednesday, April 27).

The top award – recognising a lifetime of achievement to Scotland’s national drink, alongside the promotion of Speyside and its products across the world – went to Richard Forsyth.

He heads up family business Forsyth’s of Rothes, a firm which supplies the copper stills pivotal to the production of whisky to distilleries around the globe.

The third generation to join the family business, Richard started with Forsyth’s when it mainly produced copper pot stills and condensers for the Scotch whisky industry.

A slump in whisky trade saw him reach out to new markets and the company developed experience in carbon and stainless steels for the paper, oil, gas and pharmaceutical industries as well as serving whisky, beer, gin and rum and other spirits businesses on every continent, making the firm’s expertise in distillation recognised across the world.

Under Richard’s leadership, the firm has grown to a turnover of over £46 million and employs more than 350 people in Speyside.

Journalist Dave Broom writes regularly about all spirits, but is best known for his work with whisky.

He is chief engineer for scotchwhisky.com; columnist, taster and features writer of Whisky Advocate and writes for a number of other international titles including Wine Spectator, The Spectator, Prospect, Financial Times, Drink, Mixology, The Week and many more.

He was one of the team which developed and maintain the generic Single Malt Flavour Map for Diageo. Last year he was voted Best Spirits Writer at the Spirited Awards.

Speyside-born Hugh Fraser plays an active part in Speyside community, particularly in Aberlour through its Highland Games, Community Association, Hospital League of Friends and Hall committees.

Hugh has been a driving force for growing the number of community-led events being staged in Aberlour for the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival programme and helped with the Festival’s big concert in Aberlour to mark its tenth anniversary.

He’s helped lift the profile of the area, spearheading celebration events for Aberlour’s Bicentenary and being central in efforts in getting Aberlour Visitor Centre into community hands. This facility opened last year and is run by solely by volunteers, including Hugh.

James Campbell, chairman of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival said that the combined contribution of all three winners brought immeasurable benefits to Speyside whisky.

“Each award recipient has, for very different reasons, played an important part that has helped put Speyside firmly on the global whisky map.

“Richard Forsyth has been a business innovator and a great ambassador for Speyside over many years. He has been a great benefactor of Speyside communities, particularly his home town of Rothes.

“Whenever possible Dave Broom has attended the Festival, participating in many events and sharing his enthusiasm and knowledge with Festival-goers. To mark the Festival’s 10^th anniversary in 2009, Dave inspired us to install the toposcope on the summit of Ben Rinnes, which shows all the distilleries in Speyside.

“Being a community leader in Aberlour, Hugh has worked tirelessly to encourage all to get behind the Festival and events. He puts a lot of time and effort into doing this and promoting the Festival and Speyside and its distilleries to visitors from across the world who he meets through his many community roles.

“We are delighted to present these awards and recognise three examples of sterling service and continued commitment to the Festival, the Speyside whisky industry and the international whisky business.”

The awards were presented at a gala dinner held at Auchroisk Distillery last night. The 2016 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival programme runs until Monday, May 2 and full details are available at www.spiritofspeyside.com/ The Festival is active on social media – facebook.com/WhiskyFestival and @spirit_speyside on Twitter and on Instagram.

Picture captions: 

Picture 1: Richard Forsyth received his lifetime achievement award from Dennis Malcolm, the master distiller of Glen Grant

Picture 2: Dave Broom was presented his award by whisky writer Martine Nouet

Notes

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is committed to promoting responsible drinking. Visitors travelling to and from festival events can take advantage of a range of transport options. Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has received funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and is also financially supported by many other private and public partners.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2014 to 2020. The Scottish Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme.

Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design

2016 will shine a spotlight on Scotland’s achievements in innovation, architecture and design through a wide-ranging, variety of new and existing activity.

The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design will run from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016 and will build on the momentum generated by the 2015 Year of Food and Drink as well as previous years including Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.

Through a series of exciting events and activity, the year will showcase Scotland’s position as an “innovation nation”, its outstanding built heritage, and its thriving, internationally acclaimed fashion, textiles and design sector.

The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland, supported by partners including Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, Architecture + Design Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Enterprise, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).

The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design events fund is managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate

Beam Suntory Portfolio Awarded Top Honors at San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Deerfield, IL  – Beam Suntory has been awarded multiple medals at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), one of the most respected and influential spirits competitions in the world. Across its brand portfolio, Beam Suntory took home nearly 40 medals, including eight Double Gold, 10 Gold, 15 Silver and “Best Anejo” Tequila, reinforcing its passion for quality and position as an industry leader across multiple spirits categories.

“We are proud our brands earned such a strong range of impressive accolades at this year’s competition, which is a true testament to the craftsmanship of our distillers and blenders and the quality of the liquids they produce,” said Matt Shattock, Chairman and CEO of Beam Suntory.

More than 1,800 spirits were judged as part of the 2016 SFWSC, which is considered one of the world’s most prestigious tasting competitions.

Beam Suntory’s Double Gold wins at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition include: Hibiki® Japanese Harmony™ Whisky; Hakushu® 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky; Hakushu® 18 Year Old Single Malt Whisky; Knob Creek® Bourbon; Laphroaig® 10 Year Old Scotch Whisky; Auchentoshan® Three Wood® Whisky; El Tesoro® Anejo Tequila; and Alberta® Pure Vodka. Top Gold medal recipients include: Yamazaki® Sherry Cask 2016 Whisky; Knob Creek® Rye Whiskey; Courvoisier® Cognac VSOP; Auchentoshan® 12 Year Old Scotch Whisky; Bowmore® 15 Year Old Whisky; Canadian Club® Chairman’s Select™ 100% Rye Whisky; and Cruzan® Estate Diamond® Dark Rum.

Beam Suntory’s impressive honors at the 2016 SFWSC add to key wins at several additional competitions. These recent accolades include:

• “World’s Best Blended Whisky” for Hibiki® 21 Year Old Whisky and “World’s Best Flavoured Whisky” for Knob Creek® Smoked Maple Bourbon at the 2016 World Whiskies Awards;
• “Best of Show” for Jim Beam® Single Barrel Bourbon and Double Gold for Jim Beam Black® Bourbon at the 2016 North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition;
• Gold for Hornitos® Black Barrel® Tequila at the Bar Business Spirits Competition;
• “Highly Recommended” for EFFEN® Cucumber Vodka at the Beverage Testing Institute’s International Review of Spirits; and
• Gold for both Laphroaig® 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Cruzan® Estate Diamond® Dark Rum at the 2016 Denver International Spirits Competition.

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka, and Midori liqueur.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good.  Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.  For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com/

1792 PORT FINISH BOURBON WINS DOUBLE GOLD

AT 2016 SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION 

Three other Barton 1792 Distillery whiskeys win medals 

BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (April 19, 2016) – A prestigious Double Gold Medal was awarded to 1792 Port Finish Bourbon at the 16th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition where a record-breaking 1,899 entries were submitted for a blind tasting.

Thirty-nine of the industry’s finest spirits experts reviewed each entry before ultimately awarding four top medals to bourbons submitted from Barton 1792 Distillery.

“Each of these awards means a great deal to us, and we’re especially honored to accept the Double Gold for our inaugural Port Finish Bourbon,” said Master Distiller Ken Pierce.

1792 Port Finish Bourbon was released in limited quantities in the fall of 2015 as part of a series of limited edition bourbons from Barton 1792 Distillery.

In addition to receiving a Double Gold Medal for 1792 Port Finish, three additional bourbons from Barton 1792 Distillery were honored with medals. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon and Zackariah Harris Bourbon each received silver medals, and Kentucky Tavern Bourbon received a bronze medal.

Complete results for the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition can be found at http://sfspiritscomp.com/results/browse.

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery. This whiskey is named for the year Kentucky became a state and is the recent gold medal winner at the 2015 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. To learn more visit http://www.1792bourbon.com/.

Heaven Hill Brands Named Global Distiller of the Year At Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky

Bernie Lubbers Also Recognized As American Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year

BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Heaven Hill Brands was named Global Distiller of the Year at Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky awards in London. The Icons of Whisky Awards recognize and celebrate the finest companies and individuals in the whisky industry.

“For over 80 years now, Heaven Hill has been a steward of whiskey worldwide,” said Max L. Shapira. “American Whiskey remains our heart and soul. We believe this award is a reflection of our commitment to both quality whiskey and innovation.”

During the ceremony, Heaven Hill North American Whiskey Brand Ambassador Bernie Lubbers was named Global American Whiskey Brand Ambassador of the Year. The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience was, also, nominated for Global Visitors Center of the Year.

“Heaven Hill’s diversity of whiskey products is second to none,” said Denny Potter, Heaven Hill Co-Master Distiller. “We take great pride in our legacy and the brands that are the foundation upon which it is built. The Global Distiller of the Year award is an amazing result of hard work and creativity from everyone at Heaven Hill.”

In September, Heaven Hill was awarded top honors at the Icons of Whisky – America as Distiller of the Year, Brand Ambassador of the Year and Visitors Attraction of the Year for the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. Regional Icons of Whiskey winners in each category then compete for the overall Global title, judged by the magazine’s expert editorial panel and announced at the Whisky Magazine Awards dinner in London on March 17, 2016.

This is the third time Heaven Hill has been recognized as Icons of Whiskey – America Distiller of the Year by Whisky Magazine. The company was recognized in 2008 and 2009 by the publication. It is the first time to be awarded Global Distiller of the Year. Previously, the distiller has been recognized by Wine Enthusiast in 2004 and Whiskey Advocate in 2011. Likewise, the Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center was recognized as Icons of Whisky – America Visitors Center of the Year in 2008.

The awards are part of a big year for Heaven Hill Brands. The company was awarded North American Whiskey of the Year by Whiskey Advocate for John E. Fitzgerald Special Reserve Bourbon and Pikesville Rye Whiskey was named the #2-overall Whiskey in the world by Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible.

Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams Bourbon; Larceny, Elijah Craig and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Deep Eddy Vodka; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; The Christian Brothers Brandies; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur; Lunazul Tequila; Cinerator Hot Cinnamon Flavored Whiskey and Rittenhouse Rye Whisky.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”

DESIGNER GILES DEACON CREATES BESPOKE WHISKY STONES FOR HEATHROW  

Limited edition whisky stones available exclusively from Heathrow in World Duty Free stores

Whisky Experience kicks off at Heathrow on 27 April, with over 300 whiskies available to try

Whisky is the highest selling beverage with nearly 1.1 million bottles of whisky sold at Heathrow each year

Scotch whisky accounts for a quarter of UK food and drink exports, generating £4 billion for the economy. 

19 April 2016, London, UK – Heathrow, the UK’s hub airport has today announced a collaboration with top fashion designer Giles Deacon, ahead of its month-long Whisky Experience, which launches on the 27^th April. The internationally-renowned designer has designed a set of top-of-the-range, bespoke whisky stones, complete with a custom pouch, which will be offered as an exclusive gift with purchase to customers spending £70 or more on whisky in World Duty Free stores and World of Whiskies stores at Heathrow.

The whisky stones have been handcrafted using soapstone and are intended as a substitute to ice cubes because of their cooling properties and ability to retain this temperature without compromising the flavour of the drink. Designed by Giles, the stones come in an accompanying pouch which features a paisley print set against a yellow background. The stones themselves also incorporate a subtle element of the pouch design. As well as being available at the airport there will be a limited number available via your.heathrow.com.

With nearly 1.1 million bottles of whisky sold at Heathrow each year, passengers travelling to the US, India and China are the most likely to pick up a bottle of the spirit when travelling through the airport. Whisky is also a key export for the UK, with Scotch whisky accounting for a quarter of UK food and drink exports, generating £4 billion for the economy.

The Whisky Experience takes place annually at Heathrow and is designed to give passengers the opportunity to taste and learn more about the popular spirit. From travel exclusives by renowned distillers to premium single malt whiskies, there are over 300 different whiskies on sale at Heathrow and a number of experts will be on hand during May to introduce people to the range.

As one of the biggest names in the fashion industry, Central Saint Martins graduate Giles Deacon made his name designing for luxury brands including Bottega Veneta and the Gucci Group. He presented his first collection in 2004, which catapulted him into the pages of fashion pages including Vogue, W, Harper’s Bazaar and i-D. His line was subsequently picked up by some of the most prestigious retailers in the world, including Selfridges and Harvey Nichols. It wasn’t long before the awards and celebrity fans started to roll in, with Giles now regularly dressing global superstars such as Drew Barrymore, Kate Moss, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cate Blanchett.

Commenting on the collaboration, Giles said: “I’m a huge fan of whisky and particularly enjoy sipping on Japanese blends whenever I travel, so what better way to keep my drink cool than to add a couple of hand crafted whisky stones to my tumbler. The inspiration for my design came from a print inspired by the Victorian textile designer and writer William Morris. I love the idea that passengers can take a little inspiration from British history with them on their travels from Britain’s most iconic airport.”

Jonathan Coen, Retail Director at Heathrow, said: “Whisky has become increasingly popular in recent years. Whether you’re a fan of the classic whisky advertisements of the sixties or simply love an Old Fashioned cocktail from time to time, we’re proud to stock a diverse range of whisky across our terminals. From Scotch, bourbon or single malt varieties, there’s something for everyone, and for anyone struggling to make up their minds, our expert tasters will be on hand to offer passengers advice on how best to enjoy this iconic British drink.”

“We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Giles Deacon to give passengers something extra special to enjoy long after their journey with us.”

Fred Creighton, Managing Director at World Duty Free, said: “Our Whisky Experience event takes place every year. We work in close partnership with Heathrow to showcase the extensive range of whiskies we offer, many of which are travel exclusive and can’t be found on the high street.  We have some exceptional whiskies this year including Bruichladdich The Laddie Eight and Glenmorangie The Tayne and our expert staff, along with Master Blenders from various distilleries, will be on hand to meet customers and help them discover more about this celebrated spirit!”

To find out more about these Whisky stones and how you can get your hands on some, visit your.heathrow.com.  

Notes:

Visit http://www.heathrow.com/ for more information. 

Top ten best-selling whiskies at Heathrow:

1. Johnnie Walker
2. Glenlivet
3. Balvenie
4. Chivas Regal
5. Glenmorangie
6. Lagavulin
7. Aberlour
8. Jack Daniels
9. Talisker
10. Jameson 

About Heathrow

Heathrow is the UK’s hub airport, home to more than 80 airlines connecting to more than 180 destinations. Every year Heathrow welcomes over 70 million passengers with a commitment to ‘making every journey better’. Following an investment of more than £11 billion over the past 10 years, passengers have voted Heathrow the ‘Best Airport in Western Europe’ two years in a row, ‘Best Airport Terminal’ for Terminal 5 five years in a row and ‘Best Airport for Shopping’ seven years in a row.

FIRST CLASS SELECTION AT BONHAMS WHISKY SALE IN HONG KONG

Whisky

The Whisky section of the sale offers a highly desirable bottle of Karuizawa-1963-50 year old estimated at HK$200,000-280,000 and a pair of Karuizawa-45 year old-Water of Life at HK$150,000-190,000. There is also a large selection of single cask whisky from the Yamazaki distillery and a bottle of Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt-Ace of Spades estimated at HK$80,000-110,000.

A 57-year-old bottle of Macallan Lalique whisky is estimated at HK$210,000-250,000

The sale also includes a bottle of one of the most sought-after of Scotch whiskies, The Macallan Lalique-57 year old which has an estimate of HK$210,000-250,000. Distilled and bottled by Macallan, this very rare 57 year old whisky comes in a Lalique Crystal decanter numbered 17 of 400.

NOTES

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. Today, the auction house offers more sales than any of its rivals. The main salerooms are in London, New York and Hong Kong. Sales are also held in the UK in Knightsbridge and Edinburgh; in the US, in San Francisco and Los Angeles; in Europe, in Paris and Stuttgart and in Sydney, Australia. Bonhams also has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of forthcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com.

“The fight for greater transparency in Scotch whisky continues…”

Over the last few weeks we have been excited to witness a growing industry momentum behind our Scotch Whisky Transparency campaign, with other producers publicly adding to the debate.  As one of the many thousands of enthusiasts who signed our Statement of Beliefs, I’m writing to tell you where we, at Compass Box, stand today and what our next planned steps are.

Our talks with the wider Scotch industry continue behind the scenes and we are making progress in the critical task of building a consensus that change needs to take place.   Importantly, we have recently identified a pragmatic approach that we believe could allow authorities to use the existing regulations to crackdown on misleading product information whilst still permitting full transparency.  Until we have had the chance to discuss this approach with the industry we will continue to work within the confines of the existing regulations – but it offers the prospect of change on the horizon.  We will of course keep you fully posted as the situation develops.

In the meantime, those interested in greater transparency in the world of Scotch whisky may wish to keep their eyes open for our second Limited Edition release of 2016. Details will be shared in the coming days but rest assured it is a whisky with which to ponder the world of Scotch not only as it is, but also as it could be! As ever, we remain grateful for your support as the fight for greater transparency in the world of Scotch whisky continues.

Whiskymaker John Glaser

JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN FOR SCOTCH WHISKY TRANSPARENCY

United States – Kentucky

Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bottled in Bond Straight Kentucky Bourbon (750ml)  $39.99 View

Jefferson’s Very Small Batch Bourbon (750ml) (Previously $35)  $26.99 View

Scotland

Springbank 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml)  $84.99 View

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Garnheath 28 Year Old 1986 Cooper’s Choice

Lowland Single Grain Scotch Whisky

Germany joins quest to find Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival’s top drams

For the first time in the history of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Whisky Awards, lovers of the amber nectar overseas will play a part in helping choose the region’s finest whiskies with the quest to find region’s best drams going global – to Germany.

Customers of Scotia Spirit in Cologne will gather at the specialist whisky retailer today (Thursday, April 21) for a tasting when they will cast their votes for their top choices from the six finalists shortlisted by a panel of industry leaders, acclaimed writers and specialist retailers.

The German judging will be overseen by Linda Mellis, a director of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, who is jetting out to Cologne to meet up with shop owner Peter Klas, a good friend of the festival.

Peter gave up a career in film and media to pursue his passion for Scotland, opening up his specialist store stocked with more than 450 different kinds of whiskies and other luxury food and drink products from Scotland two years ago.

Scotland became his ideal escape from pressures of working in a fast-paced industry and during visits he developed a taste for Scotch whisky, which led him on a path to the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. He now invites customers to join him on an annual excursion to the drams-fest with a record 17 people accompanying him this year from April 28 to May 2.

With limited places on his organised visit, but huge interest in Speyside’s best known export, a conversation with festival chairman James Campbell, discussing ways in which other German whisky lovers could feel involved in the festival, set the ball rolling for the Cologne judging event.

Peter says his shop has gone from strength to strength since opening, with both interest and demand for luxury Scottish produce and he’s looking forward to being the first satellite tasting site outside of Speyside for this year’s awards.

“The whole atmosphere at the festival is wonderful, and I hope we can try and recreate some of what is so special about the festival by sampling these whiskies in my tasting room on Thursday,” Peter explains.

“Speyside is special as it has the biggest range of malt whisky, its nature and scenery is great and it’s the best place to learn about whisky.

“My customers are really looking forward to taking part in voting for what they think are the best whiskies, and being part in what is one of the major events of the festival.”

The votes of around 70 customers and media guests will be counted and included along with other votes made on Speyside during the festival. Winners will be announced on Sunday, May 1 at the whisky awards ceilidh in the Memorial Hall, Dufftown.

James Campbell, chairman of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, says, “Speyside whisky is renowned the world over and we are pleased that this year, for the first time, we have been able to add an international dimension to our whisky awards.

“Our friends in Germany will be among the whisky lovers who determine the results, and being a public vote makes these awards all the more coveted.

“Who knows, this could be the start of something bigger. Maybe in future years we will have whisky lovers in other cities in the world use their nose, knowledge and taste buds to choose the winners in each of the three strongly contested categories.”

The awards are sponsored by coppersmiths Forsyths of Rothes and the three categories for 12 years old and under, 13-20 years old and 21 years old and over.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival will welcome visitors from all over the world – and closer to home – from April 28 to May 2.

The jam-packed festival programme takes place in various locations across the scenic Speyside region when people have the chance to enjoying food, music, heritage, culture and of course whisky along the way.

This year’s programme has almost 500 different events to choose from with whisky train rides, comedy, ceilidhs, food events and heritage trails, in addition to whisky tastings and distillery tours, ensuring there is something for everyone.

Tickets are available at www.spiritofspeyside.com. The Festival is also active on social media – facebook.com/WhiskyFestival and @spirit_speyside on Twitter and on Instagram.

Ends

Picture: Peter Klas is delighted Germany has been chosen for the first ever international judging session of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Awards.

Notes

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is committed to promoting responsible drinking. Visitors travelling to and from festival events can take advantage of a range of transport options. Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has received funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and is also financially supported by many other private and public partners.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2014 to 2020. The Scottish Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme.

Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design

2016 will shine a spotlight on Scotland’s achievements in innovation, architecture and design through a wide-ranging, variety of new and existing activity.

The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design will run from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016 and will build on the momentum generated by the 2015 Year of Food and Drink as well as previous years including Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.

Through a series of exciting events and activity, the year will showcase Scotland’s position as an “innovation nation”, its outstanding built heritage, and its thriving, internationally acclaimed fashion, textiles and design sector.