I anxiously waited for issue 40 (which finally arrived on July 15). The WM website indicated an article on the Speyside whisky festival, and having been to the festival before, I could not wait to read about it.
I rapidly scanned the magazine looking for the article, then had to go back to the index and found a brief article called “Glenlivin’ it up”. What Marcin had written was fine, but it appears that he attended only a few events (perhaps sponsored by Chivas Brothers? - Chivas is mentioned 6 times and Glenlivit 10 times in this short article).
But what about the Speyside whisky festival? The Speyside whisky festival is about the people of Dufftown who open up their homes and their hearts twice a year to whisky lovers from all over the world. The Speyside festival is about Fiona Murdoch, Ian Millar, Gordon Haughton, Anne and Laurie Higgins, Rene and Glo and dozens of other local volunteers who spend countless hours organizing a world class whisky festival. The festival is about dozens of organized events, run with military precision, many of which are only available during the festival, like distilleries who open their doors to the public only during these few days. The Speyside festival is about the seven stills tour!
Local whisky shops, retailers, restaurants, hotels, distilleries, really push the boat out to ensure that everyone is made welcome and has a special time. WM readers who were at the festival may be very surprised, and perhaps disappointed, that Dufftown was not even mentioned. The hard work and organization of the festival by the people of Dufftown is unparalleled. Every event was well planned, on time, and a joy to be part of. The Speyside whisky festival is a must for any whisky enthusiast and definitely ranks as one of the best whisky festivals in the world.
As a strong supporter of WM from issue one, I am becoming despondent. I am seeing a trend recently for this type of article. A lot of words with little substance, a lot of talk about sponsors and themselves, or their own events, but not a lot about whisky. Thank goodness Ian still makes regular contributions. I for one, think it is time to put whisky back into Whisky Magazine.
