Spirits rising
There’s a real sense of purpose on Speyside at the moment, reflected by its rapidly developing Spirit of Speyside Festival.
Dominic Roskrow reports
Put it down to the eight outstanding whiskies weâd had to taste and judge, the fact that the dinner was served late or that the generally amenable ambience, but Alex Salmond couldnât stop beaming.
The Scottish National Party leader had stepped in at the last moment to replace SNP member of parliament Angus Robertson, who was tied up with a by-election campaign, and he was clearly enjoying himself.
âIf you see me on television later tonight and I look happier than normal,â he told the dinner guests, âit might just be down to the fact that Iâve enjoyed one or two of these splendid whiskies.â And they were splendid. They had been chosen by a Whisky Magazine panel and there were eight of them instead of the suggested six. All of them outstanding. Guests had to taste them and then select their favourites in three categories â what a marvellous start to the Speyside festival.
Fitting, too, that the dinner, held in a warehouse at the picturesque Strathisla Distillery set the standard for what has become an excellent advertisement for this most fertile but traditionally not particularly united whisky region.
Traditionally only Chivas Brothers has bothered to promote the festival, but with an energetic and talented Spirit of Speyside Festival committee in place thatâs changing, and fast.
Before weâd even arrived at the dinner the sense of dynamism in the region had swept over us. The Glenlivet is in the process of having its visitor facilities upgraded, for in.....
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By Dominic Roskrow
Section : Whisky Events
Page number : 18
