May Long Weekend Offers Whisky Festival Experience

Whisky lovers don’t have to wait until January to experience their next whisky festival. During the May long weekend the Highland Games Whisky School offers a whisky festival experience in an outdoor setting. Eight classes will be held May 21, 22 and 23. Participants may take classes focused on a specific distillery, sample a range of malts or experience whisky and food pairings. Held in Topaz Park, Whisky School tuition includes entrance to the Highland Games.

Whisky school classes this year focus on single malt whiskies from Scotland and the United States. Tastings are presented by whisky ambassadors who share distillery anecdotes and insider information while exploring each whisky’s distinctive characteristics.

Saturday May 21 classes begin at noon with a selection of Glenlivet malts. At 1:45 enjoy the malts of Glenfarclas with Gavin Cameron and at 3:30 explore the world of Bourbon with Matt Jones.

Sunday May 22 explore the malts of Aberlour at noon, a selection of vintage malts paired with chocolate at 1:45 and Legend of Bourbon, a look at the history and the modern interpretation of Bourbon at 3:30.

Monday May 23 at noon Bill Jones of Deerholme Farm joins Andrew Campbell Walls of Victoria Caledonian Distillery to present a whisky and local food pairing. At 2:45 experience the exclusive malts of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society paired with Xoxolat chocolate.

Advance registration is required for Whisky School classes. Cost for whisky school classes is $35 and includes a day pass to the Highland Games. Cost for the whisky and food pairing is $45. Whisky School students are also able to purchase an engraved Victoria Highland Games Glencairn whisky nosing glass for $15Proceeds of the Whisky School benefit the Victoria Highland Games Society.

More details on each class and registration forms are available at victoriahighlandgames.com/games/attractions/whisky-school