Launched in 1999, the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has been annually celebrating the Scottish national drink ever since. Held across the Speyside region, which has the highest concentration of distilleries in the world, it has grown over the years to include hundreds of whisky-inspired events.
The Festival usually spans six days over the early spring bank holiday weekend. After being cancelled due to Covid-19 in 2020 and going online in 2021, it’s back in all its glory from 27 April to 2 May 2022.
Over 500 events, including many new additions to the programme, will take place over the 2022 Festival. We’ve curated a selection of just 10 here, from tours and history lessons to culinary experiences. Tickets are available now!
Right to Roam presents the leisurely ‘Tour de Speyside Way E-bike Cruise’ with the Dram Queen. This three-hour pleasure cycle along the Speyside Way takes in the beautiful scenery and finishes with a special dram by the Telford Bridge with the Dram Queen herself. The hire of our electric bikes is included – as they’ll do most of the hard work, cruising the Speyside Way will be a joy.
The first of its kind at the Speyside Whisky Festival, this is a unique collaboration between two local family-owned businesses, Benromach Distillery and The Bothy Bistro. Experience hand-crafted single malt paired with the freshest seafood from the Moray coast.
Join master distiller Graeme Cruickshank in conversation with archivist Chris Brousseau, brand ambassador Caris Simpson and the distillery team in celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of Aberlour’s A’bunadh expression. The evening includes a tasting combined with a dining experience and each guest will take away an engraved bottle of the latest batch of A’bunadh.
The Balvenie Cooperage offers a very special opportunity to apprentice under cooper Ian McDonald, who joined The Balvenie in 1969 and celebrated his 50th year with the distillery in 2019. Afterwards, share a dram with Ian and hear a story or two.
Come along to the oldest whisky hotel in Speyside, The Craigellachie Hotel, and join Sarah Burgess, creative director of The Craigellachie Collection, and a special guest, to delve into the history of the highball. Four highball cocktails are included in the ticket price.
25% of all ticket sales from this brand-new event at The Dowans Hotel will go to Cancer Research in memory of the ultimate Star Wars and whisky fan Brett Ferencz. His Scotch Trooper alter ego always made people smile! Experience whisky tasting with a difference.
Weather permitting, John Dewar & Sons are back with their famed and free Scottish Aperitivo Hour event. Enjoy sampling a couple of special single malts with friends whilst you take in the surroundings at the beach at the base of the Craigellachie bridge.
Join Glen Moray's visitor centre manager Iain Allan for an atmospheric evening in Elgin Cathedral’s chapter house. Iain is joined by members of Historic Scotland who will regale visitors with tales while they taste some of Glen Moray’s finest drams.
This interactive tasting experiment explores the wonders of pairing whiskies of different age statements with high-quality craft chocolate from around the world. From a new make to a whisky that is nearly 30 years old, visitors will have the unique opportunity to taste and pair them alongside the McPherson-Grant family and the Ballindalloch whisky creation team.
The only whisky auction during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, this is an event not to be missed. Returning to Craigellachie Village Hall, the Craigellachie Village Council will be holding the auction to raise funds for the hall and recreation facilities in the village.
The Festival usually spans six days over the early spring bank holiday weekend. After being cancelled due to Covid-19 in 2020 and going online in 2021, it’s back in all its glory from 27 April to 2 May 2022.
Over 500 events, including many new additions to the programme, will take place over the 2022 Festival. We’ve curated a selection of just 10 here, from tours and history lessons to culinary experiences. Tickets are available now!
Taking in Speyside with a dram
1. Electric Drams: an E-bike Tour
Right to Roam presents the leisurely ‘Tour de Speyside Way E-bike Cruise’ with the Dram Queen. This three-hour pleasure cycle along the Speyside Way takes in the beautiful scenery and finishes with a special dram by the Telford Bridge with the Dram Queen herself. The hire of our electric bikes is included – as they’ll do most of the hard work, cruising the Speyside Way will be a joy.
2. Whisky and Seafood Experience (new for 2022)
The first of its kind at the Speyside Whisky Festival, this is a unique collaboration between two local family-owned businesses, Benromach Distillery and The Bothy Bistro. Experience hand-crafted single malt paired with the freshest seafood from the Moray coast.
3. Celebrating 25 Years of A'bunadh (new for 2022)
Join master distiller Graeme Cruickshank in conversation with archivist Chris Brousseau, brand ambassador Caris Simpson and the distillery team in celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of Aberlour’s A’bunadh expression. The evening includes a tasting combined with a dining experience and each guest will take away an engraved bottle of the latest batch of A’bunadh.
The opening ceilidh in 2019
4. Raise a Barrel
The Balvenie Cooperage offers a very special opportunity to apprentice under cooper Ian McDonald, who joined The Balvenie in 1969 and celebrated his 50th year with the distillery in 2019. Afterwards, share a dram with Ian and hear a story or two.
5. History of the Highball with Sarah Burgess (new for 2022)
Come along to the oldest whisky hotel in Speyside, The Craigellachie Hotel, and join Sarah Burgess, creative director of The Craigellachie Collection, and a special guest, to delve into the history of the highball. Four highball cocktails are included in the ticket price.
6. Star Wars and Whisky (new for 2022)
25% of all ticket sales from this brand-new event at The Dowans Hotel will go to Cancer Research in memory of the ultimate Star Wars and whisky fan Brett Ferencz. His Scotch Trooper alter ego always made people smile! Experience whisky tasting with a difference.
Tasting
7. Scottish Aperitivo Hour
Weather permitting, John Dewar & Sons are back with their famed and free Scottish Aperitivo Hour event. Enjoy sampling a couple of special single malts with friends whilst you take in the surroundings at the beach at the base of the Craigellachie bridge.
8. Glen Moray: Chapter and Verse (new for 2022)
Join Glen Moray's visitor centre manager Iain Allan for an atmospheric evening in Elgin Cathedral’s chapter house. Iain is joined by members of Historic Scotland who will regale visitors with tales while they taste some of Glen Moray’s finest drams.
9. Ballindalloch Whisky and Chocolate Immersive Sensory Experience (new for 2022)
This interactive tasting experiment explores the wonders of pairing whiskies of different age statements with high-quality craft chocolate from around the world. From a new make to a whisky that is nearly 30 years old, visitors will have the unique opportunity to taste and pair them alongside the McPherson-Grant family and the Ballindalloch whisky creation team.
10. Whisky Auction 2022
The only whisky auction during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, this is an event not to be missed. Returning to Craigellachie Village Hall, the Craigellachie Village Council will be holding the auction to raise funds for the hall and recreation facilities in the village.
