Spirit Of Speyside: Distilled Just Around The Corner

What could be better than some of your favorite distilleries congregating in one place to offer samples of their hard work and then pairing that with food? It can’t get much better than that – the only downside is if you are not already nearby, then you have to find some way to get to the Elgin Town Hall in Elgin, Scotland, to experience the Spirit of Speyside: Distilled festival which occurs on September 1-2, 2017.

What you will find there if you can make it, is more than 30 exhibitors – not merely whisky distillers – such as Simpson’s Ice Cream, Berry Good Gin, rum distillers Beach Craft Spirits, Spey Valley Brewery and chocolates from Favour-it Flavours – along with Baxters, The Glenlivet, Walkers Shortbread and The Macallan.

Now in its second year, the Spirit of Speyside: Distilled is an off-shoot of the annual, popular Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, but whereas the festival focuses on whisky, The Spirit of Speyside: Distilled aims to showcase the region’s offerings other than whisky.

Visitors to the event will be able to enjoy the products served up by some of Speyside’s best bars and eateries. The Copper Dog – part of the Craigellachie Hotel – will be re-created in the hall’s Supper Room and will have cocktails flowing, live music and food.

The Station Hotel, Rothes, will have a team of mixologists on hand to pour its signature range of whisky and gin cocktails – including the specially created ‘Distilled’ in honor of the event – while Elgin-based bar The Drouthy Cobbler will be giving visitors a taste of what it provides along with some Speyside-themed street food. Additionally, the team from Harbour Lights in the coastal town of Lossiemouth will be showing off local seafood by serving up smoked salmon canapes and other treats.

There will also be a program of masterclasses giving visitors the chance to enjoy rare and cask strength
drams, learn how to pair food, and discover more about Speyside’s other drinks producers. Tickets for masterclasses must be bought in addition to entry tickets.

The Spirit of Speyside: Distilled, will run for four sessions, one from 1-5pm and one from 6-10pm on
each day. Tickets are priced at £20/$25 which includes entry, six vouchers for tasting samples of gin, whisky or beer, a lanyard and a Glencairn crystal nosing and tasting glass.

The full list of exhibitors at Spirit of Speyside: Distilled confirmed to date is:

Copper Dog; The Glenlivet; Simpsons Ice Cream; The Drouthy Cobbler; The
Balvenie; Avva Scottish Gin; Beach Craft Spirits; The Station Hotel;
Speyside Craft Brewery; The Whisky Shop Dufftown; Strathisla;
Cragganmore; Glen Grant; Spey Valley Brewery; Berry Good; Glen Moray;
The Macallan; Murray McDavid; Elgin; Aberlour; Strathisla; Caorunn;
Walkers; Tomintoul; Cardhu; Glenfiddich; Benromach; Gordon & MacPhail;
Cairngorm Leaf & Bean; Baxters; Harbour Lights; Macleans Highland
Bakery; Favour-it Flavours Chocolates; Keith Brewery.