Food And Whisky Found At The 2017 Spirit Of Speyside: Distilled Festival
The 2017 Spirit of Speyside: Distilled festival is in a mere two weeks and lest you think it is just another festival honoring whisky – which would not be altogether a bad thing – think again, there will be plenty of food, specifically local food, at the festival in Elgin, Scotland, on September 1-2, 2017.
If you are able to make it to the 2017 Spirit of Speyside: Distilled, you will find more than 30 of the Speyside region’s food and drink firms all conveniently assembled in one place for your sampling pleasures.
Included in the whisky portion of the equation will be the Aberlour Distillery, and according to Graeme Cruickshank, master distiller at Aberlour, one of the reasons to visit is to experience first-hand those local virtues.
“Speyside’s single malt whiskies, such as The Glenlivet and Aberlour, use barley grown in the fertile ground surrounding the distilleries and local springs provide water for distillation. The craftsmanship, which is at the heart of single malt creation, coupled with the quality of these local ingredients results in Scotch whiskies that are rich and fruity in flavor.”
On the food side of the equation, there are plenty of options, but one of the most instantly recognizable to anybody around the world has to be Walkers Shortbread, which is based just down the road in Aberlour. The bakery was originally launched in 1898 just over the county border in Deeside by Joseph Walker. However, he knew that a move to Speyside was necessary to grow his bakery and customer base due to the area’s growing population and transport links. Grandson Jim Walker is now at the helm of the business along with his brother Joe and other members of the family.
“The view from our base in Aberlour appears on our marketing and we believe that it adds to the integrity of the product. Not many food producers can say that they have such a stunning view, or that four of the world’s top-selling single malt whiskies are based within 10 miles of their factory,” says Jim Walker.
Tickets for the 2017 Spirit of Speyside: Distilled, are priced at £20/$25 each and which includes entry, six vouchers for tasting samples of gin, whisky or beer, a lanyard and a Glencairn crystal nosing and tasting glass.
All whisky and foods on offer will have a Speyside provenance and there will be the chance to purchase products from stand holders.
The full list of Spirit of Speyside: Distilled exhibitors confirmed to date are:
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; El:gin; 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.
