Spirit Of Speyside Festival 2009

[norlaggan]

Just in case you don't know The 2009 Spirit Of Speyside Whisky Festival has been extended to 10 days to coincide with HomeComing Scotland (1st - 10th May). I have just checked http://www.spiritofspeyside.com but the full program hasn't been listed yet.

[couttleberry]

Just to let you know in case you don't already, the booking system has gone live for the Spirit of Speyside Festival 2009.

Look forward to seeing you all there!

[BruceCrichton]

Just booking mine now.

[Single Malt Kommunist]

I understand that there are some distilleries who open for public tours only during this festival. Can anyone kindly point out which ones those are?
It seems I will be fortunate enough to spend a few days at the festival (yoohoo!). Anyone else signed up yet?

Thanks in advance. SMK

[Single Malt Kommunist]

No worries, found all the hidden gems.
Guess Im a bit late though...seems Mortlach is fully booked already.

[whiskynig]

Single malt kommunist.
Dont fret yourself about missing the Mortlach tour.
We did it last year and it was the worst tour we have ever been on.
Afterwards for our dram, we had to have Glendullan as they had no mortlach left to give us.
I am a big fan of Mortlach, but if that is the best they can do they can poke their tour where the sun doesn`t go.

[BruceCrichton]

I understand that there are some distilleries who open for public tours only during this festival. Can anyone kindly point out which ones those are?
It seems I will be fortunate enough to spend a few days at the festival (yoohoo!). Anyone else signed up yet?

Thanks in advance. SMK

How about Glen Rothes on Friday 1st?

[Single Malt Kommunist]

Thanks for the info whiskynig. Thats really a shame to hear - especially since Diageo seems to be trying harder to woo the fanatics (eg. extensive tasting tours in Germany over the last months).

Havent been to Glenrothes yet...did you find it a good tour BC?

[BruceCrichton]

Thanks for the info whiskynig. Thats really a shame to hear - especially since Diageo seems to be trying harder to woo the fanatics (eg. extensive tasting tours in Germany over the last months).

Havent been to Glenrothes yet...did you find it a good tour BC?

Read about my view of it here:

http://www.dufftown.co.uk/AutumnSpeysid ... al2008.php

[Wave]

I understand that there are some distilleries who open for public tours only during this festival. Can anyone kindly point out which ones those are?

I did the Rothes - Five Fascinating Distilleries (Sat. May 2nd this year) last year and thoroughly enjoyed myself! The distilleries included Glen Grant, Glenrothes, Glen Spey, Speyburn, the mothballed Caperdonich and the Forsyths' Coppersmiths. Instead of touring the Glen Grant distillery (which is open to the public normally) they had a special cask for us set up in the garden, nice!

Edit*
Seeing that the Rothes tour is already booked up if I was going to the festival this year I'd jump at the chance to see the Glenglassaugh Distillery (Sat. May 2nd., 8 spots left atm)

Cheers!

[BruceCrichton]

http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/event_d ... ?event=523

This is the one to go for.

7 places left, at the time of posting.

[Single Malt Kommunist]

Thanks Bruce...cant make it out that early though, and will settle for second best by booking the Friday 1.5 hour tasting event onsite at Glenrothes.

One can only hope that the watchman will need some extra help securing the stillhouse to get a glimpse inside.

@Wave: thanks, saw that too. Will have to try next year.

[BruceCrichton]

Thanks Bruce...cant make it out that early though, and will settle for second best by booking the Friday 1.5 hour tasting event onsite at Glenrothes.

One can only hope that the watchman will need some extra help securing the stillhouse to get a glimpse inside.

@Wave: thanks, saw that too. Will have to try next year.

Where are you staying and what events are you on?

[Single Malt Kommunist]

Probably will only go to the Glen Rothes tasting - my timing is bad this year, as most of the interesting visits are booked.

Im heading up North first to Glenmo, as I havent been there yet (and to be honest, I will avoid the hell of finding a place at Speyside to stay).

Other thing is that I am meeting a group of cask members up at "our" distillery (which unfortunately prevents me from going to the Newcastle Whisky Fest).

Decisions, decisions.....



BTW, nice writeups on the Speyside Festivals...will keep that in mind planning for next year.

[BruceCrichton]

Probably will only go to the Glen Rothes tasting - my timing is bad this year, as most of the interesting visits are booked.

Im heading up North first to Glenmo, as I havent been there yet (and to be honest, I will avoid the hell of finding a place at Speyside to stay).

Other thing is that I am meeting a group of cask members up at "our" distillery (which unfortunately prevents me from going to the Newcastle Whisky Fest).

Decisions, decisions.....



BTW, nice writeups on the Speyside Festivals...will keep that in mind planning for next year.

Why not come to the September event?

[laddie teun]

glad i booked most of the events on time
although new ones keep being added
got about 20 events booked
but having to miss out about the same number

[BruceCrichton]

glad i booked most of the events on time
although new ones keep being added
got about 20 events booked
but having to miss out about the same number

What events are you on?

[laddie teun]

All Events on Friday May 1st 2009
New Spirit to Glenfarclas 105, 11:00 12:30
Highland Park Masterclass with Martin Markvardsen, 13:30 15:00
The WSD Challenge - Speyside, 15:30 17:00
Stramash 19:30 00:00

All Events on Saturday May 2nd 2009
Rothes - Five Fascinating Distilleries 12:30 17:00
Whisky Masterclass with Susan Colville 17:30 19:00
Whisky Supper Muse and Songs in Tomintoul 19:30 00:00

All Events on Sunday May 3rd 2009
Dave Broom's Walk to the Summit of Ben Rinnes 10:30 14:30
Whisky Fair Dufftown

All Events on Monday May 4th 2009
Glenfiddich: The Manager's Tour 10:30 13:30
The Influence of Sherry with Mike Lord 15:30 17:00
Duncan Taylor Master Class 17:30 19:00
The Dregs Part 1: First Blood 20:00 22:00

All Events on Tuesday May 5th 2009
recover

All Events on Wednesday May 6th 2009
Dufftown Distillery Tour 10:00 11:30
Auchroisk Distillery Visit 14:00 15.30

All Events on Thursday May 7th 2009
Mortlach Distillery Tour 10:00 11:30

All Events on Friday May 8th 2009
The Macallan Precious Tours 10:00 12:00
Whisky and Chocolate with Paul MÃ¥rtensson 13:30 15:00
The Aberlour Gourmet Whisky Dinner 19:15 22:45

All Events on Saturday May 9th 2009
Cardhu & Breakfast at the Home of Johnnie Walker Cardhu Distillery 09:30 12:30
Adelphi Masterclass with Alex Bruce 17:30 19:00

And currently working out the last dertails of hosting the ultimate A'bunadh tasting
all batches up to 23 including the Sterling Silver
Probably spread over four sessions, two days (may 7th and 8th) at the Craigellachie hotel
Detaisl to follow very soon hopefully

[MacDeffe]

I'll be joining the friday stramash and Rothes tour as well on saturday

Saturday night I will be at one of the whisky dinners in Dufftown and sunday its Benromach vertical at Benromach and the Mortlach vertical at Gordon and macPhails

I'll be easily recognisable at the stramash. A beer in one hand and a dram in the other

MacDeffe

[BruceCrichton]

See you at:

All Events on Friday May 1st 2009

The WSD Challenge - Speyside, 15:30 17:00


All Events on Saturday May 2nd 2009

Whisky Masterclass with Susan Colville 17:30 19:00


All Events on Sunday May 3rd 2009


All Events on Monday May 4th 2009

The Influence of Sherry with Mike Lord 15:30 17:00
Duncan Taylor Master Class 17:30 19:00
The Dregs Part 1: First Blood 20:00 22:00

[laddie teun]

looking forward to meeting some forum members
and have a dram

[jmrl]

I'll be going up on Friday so if anybody is at the fair in Dufftown say hello. I'll be manning the Cadenheads stand (with some Springbank distillers stuff too, including Kilkerran from Glengyle).

I'll aslo be doing a tasting at 5.30 on Sunday 3rd:-

Convalmore 30yo

Cooley (peated) 16yo

Glenburgie 11yo

Glenlossie 14yo (port)

Glenglassaugh 23yo (sherry cask)

[Onefortheditch]

I'm going on Monday the 4th. What's the story with the bookings/reservations? Do you just turn up with e-mails they send you?

And do they do any special bottlings for the festival like they do during Feis Ile?

[jmrl]

Not sure about that OFTD

Bottlings have in the past been limited to minis but maybe a special effort this year what with homecoming/whisky month/ week long festival etc.

[BruceCrichton]

I'm going on Monday the 4th. What's the story with the bookings/reservations? Do you just turn up with e-mails they send you?

And do they do any special bottlings for the festival like they do during Feis Ile?

The e-mails are back up. Print them off to be safe.

They do have records of which events you are booked on.

[Onefortheditch]

Thanks for the info gents.

We are going to the Speyside Cooperage Tour and the Independents V Distilleries with Gavin Smith. The previous 2 years I have just gone to the whisky fair in the Dufftown Hall which I must confess has been excellent.

I might squeeze in another day as well as I really want to go to Strathisla.

[BruceCrichton]

The first leg of the festival has been done and dusted.

Time to compose my report.

[Willie JJ]

Well I certainly had a good few days.

I saw you on Thursday night and at the Douglas Laing tasting Bruce. I meant to say hello, but there was a lot going on and you always seemed to be in company.

I did the 7 Stills tasting and the quiz on Thursday, then the Mortlach tour, the Glenlivet tasting with Ian Logan and Charlie MacLean, the Douglas Laing tasting and Stramash on Friday. On Saturday we did 5 Stills of Elgin and the Glen Moray barbecue. All in all it was great fun.

[BruceCrichton]

Well I certainly had a good few days.

I saw you on Thursday night and at the Douglas Laing tasting Bruce. I meant to say hello, but there was a lot going on and you always seemed to be in company.

I did the 7 Stills tasting and the quiz on Thursday, then the Mortlach tour, the Glenlivet tasting with Ian Logan and Charlie MacLean, the Douglas Laing tasting and Stramash on Friday. On Saturday we did 5 Stills of Elgin and the Glen Moray barbecue. All in all it was great fun.

Are you on Facebook, Willie?

I am uploading some pictures and some clips.

[Willie JJ]

No facebook yet. I must have a look at it.

[Onefortheditch]

Sounds like you did a lot Willie! I'll have to try more events next year.

I really enjoyed the Speyside Cooperage trip. The speaker was good and I learnt a lot about wood and whisky. Their own sherry malt at £16 is excellent value and I bought a bottle of single cask Springbank as well.

Coopering is an ancient trade that has survived history and going into the factory is like going way back in time. Hopefully it will never change!

The tasting with Gavin Smith was so bad it was good. He seems like an amiable chancer and according to one of his books is into whisky and horseracing.....I can understand that.

His talk was very badly organised, from the hall being locked up, to a very late start. We were given 12 drams to taste, or in our case waste. 12 drams in an hour would have floored me. The whisky shop who assisted Gavin said it supported sensible drinking....aye right!! I did taste all the whiskies, but left most in the glass. Most were very nice but a lot of good whisky being poured away is a sin.

Gavin read badly from notes and only seemed happy when tasting the whisky and repeating the word "toffee" a lot. In comparison the cooper spoke really well at the cooperage without notes.

I got to Strathisla as well and bought a cask strength bottle.

Roll on next year!!

[MacDeffe]

Whisky tastings should never be hurried. Whisky should never be hurried. Malts which contain just a bit of quality should be allowed at least 20+minutes

MacDeffe

[BruceCrichton]

Am working on the festival report this afternoon.

[Onefortheditch]

Whisky tastings should never be hurried. Whisky should never be hurried. Malts which contain just a bit of quality should be allowed at least 20+minutes

MacDeffe

I totally agree!!

[BruceCrichton]

Roll on next year!!

Can you make it to the Autumn festival?