Spirit of Speyside festival May 2008

[BruceCrichton]

Events now booking at:

http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/events.php

[Deactivated Member]

Thanks Bruce. Do you know whether the buses will be running - if so, what their schedules are? There are some v interesting events but ones that involve masterclasses don't really mix with driving!

[MrIntrepid]

I have booked up for all the distillery tours I fancy going on - amazingly some are already almost sold out with 1 place left! Get in quick guys if you want to have a good choice.

[Deactivated Member]

I have booked:

Ardmore Distillery and the Grouse Inn
The Seven Stills Bus Tour
Minibus Tour - Knockando and Cardhu
Speymalt - the box set whisky tasting
Glenfiddich Malt Master Event with Brian Kinsman
The Dreg's Party

I would have considered some of the events that start outwith Dufftown but I didn't know whether transport would be available.

[les taylor]

Nick whats the Dregs party? sounds like fun.

[Deactivated Member]

Every bottle of whisky that is opened during the festival - whether at a distillery tasting or at a masterclass - is supposed to be claimed by one of the visitors and brought to the dregs party - The Whisky Shop is then full of tired and emotional festival goers who help themselves to the dregs. Obviously, the claiming bottles is within reason. You don't get the dregs of a 50 year old Macallan or anything - think Speyburn, Dufftown and various IB bottles and you'll not be disappointed. The party also announced the results of the Whisky Shop tasting challenge where punters taste 4 whiskies, write notes, and vote for the champion. There are two categories: Speyside and non-Speyside. I've gatecrashed the last two years so I thought it was time to buy a ticket.

[les taylor]

Thanks for that Nick. Sounds like a good way to end the festival.

[MrIntrepid]

I have booked:

Ardmore Distillery and the Grouse Inn
The Seven Stills Bus Tour
Minibus Tour - Knockando and Cardhu
Speymalt - the box set whisky tasting
Glenfiddich Malt Master Event with Brian Kinsman
The Dreg's Party

I would have considered some of the events that start outwith Dufftown but I didn't know whether transport would be available.

Hi Nick,

We must have similar tastes - I have also booked the following:
Ardmore Distillery and the Grouse Inn
The Seven Stills Bus Tour
Minibus Tour - Knockando and Cardhu

plus the Balvanie tour on the Friday morning

I am also staying in Dufftown - no doubt we will bumb into each other - I am the guy with the beard and the boxers nose

See you there Darren

[BruceCrichton]

I have booked:


Minibus Tour - Knockando and Cardhu
The Dreg's Party

I would have considered some of the events that start outwith Dufftown but I didn't know whether transport would be available.

Will be on those events and have booked the Adelphi and DTC tastings. Those guys should never be missed in Dufftown.

I assume there will be buses running as usual. Don't know if there will be extra ones.

[BruceCrichton]

Hi Nick,

We must have similar tastes - I have also booked the following:
Ardmore Distillery and the Grouse Inn
The Seven Stills Bus Tour
Minibus Tour - Knockando and Cardhu

plus the Balvanie tour on the Friday morning

Am on the Balvenie tour.

[BruceCrichton]

Nick whats the Dregs party? sounds like fun.

Are you going?

Most of the talk and taste sessions have still to be added.

[Sleazer]

Hi Nick,

We must have similar tastes - I have also booked the following:
Ardmore Distillery and the Grouse Inn
The Seven Stills Bus Tour
Minibus Tour - Knockando and Cardhu

plus the Balvanie tour on the Friday morning

I am also staying in Dufftown - no doubt we will bumb into each other - I am the guy with the beard and the boxers nose

See you there Darren

Hi Darren

Sounds like you look just like me. I'm staying in Dufftown too, and I have booked:
Ardmore Distillery and the Grouse Inn
Minibus Tour - Knockando and Cardhu

plus Mortlach on friday and
Elgin - Five superb distilleries on saturday

Do we need caps with our nicks in capital letters to avoid confusion?


Sleazer

[Deactivated Member]

I have just added the Tormore tour on Tursday and a Land Rover tour of the Braes of Glenlivet on Friday.

[MrIntrepid]

Hi Sleazer

Welcome to the forum, it will be good to meet and have dram on one fo the tours.

I am really looking forward to the festival it is the first time I have made the pilgrimage for this particular festival.

All the best

Darren

[jmrl]

Hello everybody,

I used to be regular at the festivals in Speyside but haven't been able to go as often as I would like recently. I'll be manning the Cadenheads stand at the fair which was a hoot last time I did it. Make yourself known if you're around. It'll be good to put a face to a name.

Any advice about accomodation?

For anybody up there for the first time I can recommend the Cabrach, the cooperage, Caigellachie hotel, the Highlander Inn The fiddichside and the dreggs party. The tours of the stills are the best bit for me and the talks are usually well worth it. Stephen Cribb's tasting examining how water effects taste doesn't seem to be on this time but if you ever get the chance check it out- mind bending stuff!

The 'World Famous Glenfiddich Restaurant' is a local oddity- if your a fan of kitsch this will suit. If you are a fan of culinary art try the chipper first.

[les taylor]

Nick whats the Dregs party? sounds like fun.

Are you going?

Most of the talk and taste sessions have still to be added.

Sorry Bruce no. I'm an interested bystander.

[BruceCrichton]

Hello everybody,

I used to be regular at the festivals in Speyside but haven't been able to go as often as I would like recently. I'll be manning the Cadenheads stand at the fair which was a hoot last time I did it. Make yourself known if you're around. It'll be good to put a face to a name.

Any advice about accomodation?

For anybody up there for the first time I can recommend the Cabrach, the cooperage, Caigellachie hotel, the Highlander Inn The fiddichside and the dreggs party. The tours of the stills are the best bit for me and the talks are usually well worth it. Stephen Cribb's tasting examining how water effects taste doesn't seem to be on this time but if you ever get the chance check it out- mind bending stuff!

The 'World Famous Glenfiddich Restaurant' is a local oddity- if your a fan of kitsch this will suit. If you are a fan of culinary art try the chipper first.

I was at the Cadenhead's tasting last autumn, with Mark Davidson. Look forward to seeing you there. I do the unofficial reports for the site and it's usually difficult to miss me.

Most of the talk and tastes have still to be added as Mike Lord is very busy at the moment, apparently.

Try the Tannochbrae for accomodation. And try and be there for Saturday night.

[BruceCrichton]

More tastings and bus services added.

Think I'll go to the Cadenhead's one for a start.

Was thinking of dropping out of Balvenie to go to Dewar Rattray.

Bruce

[martin grant]

Bruce,
Are there any whisky festivals you don't go to?

[BruceCrichton]

Not going to the Ayrshire event.

Too awkward to get to.

Besides, I've been composing silly jokes for the festival report and I don't want them to go to waste.

[Sleazer]

I have booked:
Ardmore Distillery and the Grouse Inn
Minibus Tour - Knockando and Cardhu

plus Mortlach on friday and
Elgin - Five superb distilleries on saturday

I have now added the Cadenhead´s Master Class on sunday and the Dufftown Distillery Tour on monday to the list. Earlier bookings not mentioned before includes the friday night Aberlour Gourmet Whisky Dinner, the saturday night Gala Dinner at Tannochbrae and a twin room in a Dufftown B&B. The Gala Dinner at Tannochbrae and the B&B was booked mid-october.
Under consideration: "The 7 stills of Dufftown" on thursday afternoon and "Robin Laing sings before your supper!" on saturday afternoon.

[Newbie]

The Spirit of Speyside festival sounds very interesting as I want to go on a distillery tour. I don't think I can make it this year and most things seem to be booked.

But I would be interested in how it works. Some has noted that whisky tasting and driving isn't the best idea, I have seen there are buses but they seem to only be in the evening. How do people get to the morning and afternoon events? Public transport? Taxi?

[Willie JJ]

How do people get to the morning and afternoon events? Public transport?

Har! Public transport! Very funny

[jmrl]

It should be pub transport.

Try sticking out your thumb and hitch a lift, they're generally a friendly and helpful lot up there. Not quite to the extent of the Islay folks who seem to be almost sociopathical about their hospitality (in a good way)

[Deactivated Member]

You are right that drinking and driving is not a happy combination. Having said that, you can probably drive after one dram - and that's what you get on a lot of the tours (the cheap ones). Masterclasses involve many drams, so you shouldn't drive away.

In the past, there have been festival buses throughout the day. But they were quite unreliable and seem to have disappeared, for the most part, this year.

Some events start from the main square in Dufftown - going by minibus. This is handy if you stay in Dufftown and all the events I am going to this year start from Dufftown (except the single dram Tormore tour which I will drive to - and one in Elgin in the evening for which I will get a public bus). I deliberately avoided some events that looked interesting including the Glenlivet open day, just because I couldn't see a way to deal with the transport issue.

I'd never thought of hitchhiking, which is a bit ironic given the number of hitchers I have given lifts to.

Some people are lucky enough to have spouses who drive them about - but they seem to be unable to sustain this arrangement for a full programme of five days' touring.

[Newbie]

Thanks for the info!

Thats the problem I have so far with going on a distillery tour/visit, finding a designated driver!

Anyone who is interested in making such a trip will certainty want a few drams. Anyone who doesn't want a drink certainty isn't going to drive me around Scotland.

Hitch hiking, never tried it but I would imagine that if you needed to be somewhere on time it wouldn't be the most reliable option.

What does everyone else do? I guess one solution is to take some small bottles take the samples home (is that bad etiquette)?

[Deactivated Member]

It would be bad etiquette to use sample bottles to take home the drams. If it is just a visit to a distillery you want, then you can drive to one, do the tour, and just have the single dram they give you. Especially if you hang around for something to eat afterwards, there will be no problem. Glenkinchie is probably the closest to you, but Tullibardine has a good cafe to relax in afterwards. Edradour is free and gives you the dram at the start of the tour, not the end. Alternatively, Dalwhinnie is within walking distance of a station - albeit one that is not served by many trains. Oban distillery is in the town centre; Ben Nevis is on the outskirts of Fort William; Pulteney (if you were feeling adventurous) is walkable from the centre of Wick.

Do check opening times, though, as they can be closed a lot in the winter.

[BruceCrichton]

I have now added the Cadenhead´s Master Class on sunday and the Dufftown Distillery Tour on monday to the list. Earlier bookings not mentioned before includes the friday night Aberlour Gourmet Whisky Dinner, the saturday night Gala Dinner at Tannochbrae and a twin room in a Dufftown B&B. The Gala Dinner at Tannochbrae and the B&B was booked mid-october.
Under consideration: "The 7 stills of Dufftown" on thursday afternoon and "Robin Laing sings before your supper!" on saturday afternoon.

I'm on the seven stills tasting and I fancy the Robin Laing sings event as well.

Am also looking forward to dinner washed down with Cooley at Tannochbrae.

[BruceCrichton]

Hitch hiking, never tried it but I would imagine that if you needed to be somewhere on time it wouldn't be the most reliable option.

What does everyone else do? I guess one solution is to take some small bottles take the samples home (is that bad etiquette)?

There is a second festival in September and most people just stay in or near Dufftown.

[Newbie]

Thanks for the info guys.

I'll have a think and see if I can work something out. I would enjoy going around to see a distillery and see how things work. But for it to be worth while it'd have to be a tour where you taste a range of expressions and some older ones which I could not afford!

Its probably a silly question but do you have to swallow? If your at an event (e.g. whisky live) where there are many many drams on offer surely you can't drink it all!

[Sleazer]

do you have to swallow? If your at an event (e.g. whisky live) where there are many many drams on offer

During the Autumn Whisky Festival 2007 in Dufftown, I worked my way through this list:

Macallan 10yo Serry Oak 40%
Belhaven Best Bitter Ale
Glenfarclas 25yo 43%
John Smith's
Bruichladdich 12yo 2nd ed. 46%
Glenrothes 1985 43%
Arran Tokaji Aszu Wood Cask 55%
Aberlour a'bunadh Batch 20 60,5%
Bowmore 18yo Duncan Taylor
Mortlach 16yo F&F 43%
McEwan's
Tamdhu 18yo 43%
Macallan New Make 69,5% (diluted from 71%)
Macallan 12yo Sherry Oak 40%
Macallan 15yo Fine Oak 43%
Macallan 18yo Sherry Oak 43%
Macallan 21yo Fine Oak 43%
Macallan 30yo Fine Oak 43%
Linkwood 12yo F&F 43 %
Glen Moray New Make
Glen Moray 1991 15yo Mountain Oak Malt Final Release 58,6%
Glen Moray 20yo 40%
Glen Moray 30yo 43%
Rosebank 12yo F&F 43%
Glenlivet New Make
Glenlivet 12yo 40%
Glenlivet French Oak 15yo 40%
Glenlivet 18yo 43%
Glenlivet Nadurra 16yo Cask Strength
Glenlivet Archive 21yo 43%
Carsebridge Single Grain Duncan Taylor 25yo 60,5%
Aberlour Sweet Wort (from 1. wash - ca 0%)
Aberlour Wash ca 8%
Aberlour New Make ca 70%
Aberlour Single Bourbon Cask 14yo 56,1%
Aberlour Single Sherry Cask 14yo 59,7%
Aberlour 10yo 40%
Aberlour 16yo Double Cask 43%
Aberlour a'bunadh Batch 20 60,5% - again!
Tullibardine 1488 Majestic Whisky Ale 7%
Cairngorm TradeWinds 4,3%
Cairngorm Glen Ample Raspberry Beer 4,5%
Cairngorm WildCat 5,1%
Cairngorm White Lady Wheat Beer 4,7%
Cairngorm Black Gold 4,4%
Glen Keith 10yo 43%
Inchgower 14yo F&F 43%
Strathisla 12yo 43%
Benrinnes Wash ca 8%
Benrinnes 15yo F&F 43%
Glenfarclas New Make ca 68%
Glenfarclas Plain Cask/Bourbon 10yo 60%
Glenfarclas Plain Cask/Sherry 10yo 60%
Glenfarclas 10yo 40%
Glenfarclas 15yo 46%
Glenfarclas 21yo 43%
Glenfarclas 25yo 43% - again!
Glenfarclas 30yo 43%
Glenfarclas The Family Casks 1965 Cask 3861/417 Bottles NC/NCF 60%!
Glenfarclas 105 60% 10yo (age given on the tube)
Glenfarclas The Family Casks 1965 Cask 3861/417 Bottles NC/NCF 60%! - again!
BenRiach Curiositas 10yo 46%
Traquair Jacobite Ale 8%
Belhaven Best - again!
Littlemill 12yo 40%
Spirit Of Speyside Festival Blend 2007 Blend of 27 single malts 10yo 41,8%
Bunnahabhain 12yo 40%

My intention was not to taste the same drink twice during my four days at the festival, but I had to take a second sip of some of them.. Some very interesting drams were included in the tours to Macallan, Glenfarclas, etc.

surely you can't drink it all!

I didn't - I left the glasses after one or two sips, and I spat (not the beer..). Others, more determined and with bigger capacity than me, swallowed it all.
The Festival Archives on the Dufftown homepage, written by one of the posters in this thread, will be informative reading.
http://www.dufftown.co.uk/soswf_autumn_2007.php

[jmrl]

The only dram I ever spat out was an Auchentoshan Three Wood at Whisky Live London. Purely because I wanted to taste particular drams and I failed to directly rebuff the hospitality of the rep at the stand. After a while ones palate is poluted for use as a sensitive organ for the appreciattion of fine nuances of taste. But ones brain says you've paid for this (well not really) and come many miles - [img]drink%20it%20all[/img].

Besides 10 years is a long time to wait to be spat in a bucket

At the Speyside festival there are plenty of tours where transport is not needed as long as you are staying in Elgin, Duftown or Rothes. Just stamina.

[Willie JJ]

If your at an event (e.g. whisky live) where there are many many drams on offer surely you can't drink it all!

Nevertheless I always feel it is my duty to try.

[Newbie]

Sleazer - you've had more whisky in a few days than I've had in a life time! It would be very difficult for me to get through all that without liver damage!

I would love to try such an amazing variety of whisky, maybe I'll have go to the one in Autumn !

Nevertheless I always feel it is my duty to try.

Sound like you have a hard life Willie

[Willie JJ]

I suffer for my art.