Spirit of Speyside shares 2025 whisky festival preview

Spirit of Speyside shares 2025 whisky festival preview

The event line-up has been revealed ahead of ticket sales opening on Monday 3 February

 

Image: Benriach Distillery

News | 27 Jan 2025

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The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has launched a preview of the line-up for its 2025 event, ahead of tickets going on sale at noon (GMT) on Monday 3 February. The event will be held from 30 April–5 May 2025, and will see many of Speyside's distilleries open their doors to festival-goers — even those usually closed to the public.

 

The event follows Spirit of Speyside's record-breaking 25th-anniversary event in 2024, which saw ticket sales increase 23 per cent on the previous year. Spirit of Speyside said that an economic assessment had shown that the 2024 festival generated more than £2.2 million to the local economy.

 

The 2025 festival launches with a new chair; Henry Angus will take over from George McNeal, who oversaw the previous three festivals. The Lakes whiskymaker Sarah Burgess was originally due to take over as chair, but McNeal confirmed that she was no longer able to take up the role.

 

Angus, formerly of Scottish company Associated Seafood, has had a long-standing relationship with Spirit of Speyside and recently joined his board. McNeil will officially hand over the reins to Angus at the opening industry dinner on Wednesday 30 April. 

Henry Angus, incoming chair of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival

Angus commented: “Last year was record-breaking and the spotlight was firmly on Speyside. This is the most populous whisky region with the greatest array of distilleries at any festival globally. It brings together whisky fans, distillers, and visitors that love this beautiful part of the world. From masterclasses to music, from quizzes to fireside gatherings, from culture to history, the calendar is full of opportunities to share the water of life with fellow whisky lovers, aficionados, and people that just enjoy a dram.”

 

The event launches on Wednesday 30 April with an industry dinner co-hosted by Speyside Distillers at the Macdonald Highlands Hotel in Aviemore, which is also the venue for the annual Spirit of Speyside ceilidh on 2 May.

 

Along with the ticket sales, Spirit of Speyside is offering the opportunity to join its Whisky School, which is usually pre-sold. The programme explores the "history, science, and craftmanship behind Scotch whisky". 

 

Other event highlights shared by Spirit of Speyside include a tour of new distillery the Cabrach, a painting-and-tasting experience by the sea with Murray McDavid, and a six-course tasting menu dinner with the Macallan in its new TimeSpirit restaurant.

 

For more information, visit www.spiritofspeyside.com.

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