Speyside Whisky Festival (and some other Fest's info)

Fancy a tipple? Here's a wet weekend in the UK you'll really appreciate

About Britain

By Simone Kane

Sunday, 25 April 2010

• • LARG

JEFF J MITCHELL / GETTY IMAGES

Roll out the barrel: learn more about whisky at the upcoming festival in Speyside

Are you a glass-half-empty or a glass-half-full type? If you're fond of a tipple, your spirits will be lifted by the range of alcohol master classes and tours popping up around the country.

Start your education at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival (spiritofspeyside.com), which launches on Thursday in one of the most whisky-soaked regions of Scotland. The 50-plus distilleries in the area include The Glenlivet and Glenfiddich, and they, along with others, will open their doors to allow you a peek at the production of some of the world's most sought-after whiskies. You'll be among 1.2 million people who visit Scotland's distilleries every year, generating about £25m in income.

The five-day festival features 230 events, including workshops on whisky as a culinary ingredient or as an accompaniment to foods as diverse as chocolate and sausages. Over-indulgence can be worked off on one of the many "drambles" around whisky country.

The refurbished Scotch Whisky Experience (whisky-heritage.co.uk) now offers a series of mini master classes to visitors who take its whisky tour, for a small charge. Themes include discovering your "nose", mixing cocktails, and food pairing.

Down in Devon, the historic Plymouth Gin Distillery (plymouthgin .com) has just launched its Master Distiller's Private Tour. The experience includes an exclusive show-round of the distillery and tutoring in the distilling process using a personal micro gin still. Plymouth Gin is one of the few food and drink brands with a protected geographical location and its recipe dates from 1793. Visitors are taken through the production process, and rewarded at the end with the opportunity to taste a range of gin styles and a gift of a bottle of single-batch handmade gin.

Wine tourism is on the rise, too. The family-run Wroxeter Roman Vineyard (wroxetervineyard.co.uk), in Shropshire, offers a tour of the vines and winery, a tasting, and lunch (with wine, of course). And, if you're worried about driving after all that imbibing, the estate includes a four-star holiday cottage where you can have a little lie down.

... Whisky Live Glasgow 2010

... I used to attend this Event.

Whisky Live Glasgow 2010
Scotland’s greatest whisky celebration

Where The Thistle Ballroom. Glasgow

When Saturday 11th September 2010

INTRODUCTION Whisky Live Glasgow heads back to its roots with its focus on education, education, education. With more Masterclass rooms, a whisky VIP room, the whisky antiques roadshow and the whisky collectors’ corner, Whisky Live Glasgow provides the very heart of whisky excellence. With great food, a fantastic location and the support of the UK’s largest independent retailer, the Whisky Shop, Whisky Live Glasgow remains the greatest celebration of the very best whiskies in the world. SHOW DETAILS • Saturday 11th September 2010 • The Thistle Ballroom. Glasgow • New hours; 12 noon to 5pm • Entrance ticket prices; Full day ticket £25 (12 to 5); VIP ticket £35 (12 to 5); designated driver £15; half day £18 (2 to 5) • Masterclass ticket prices; Regular ticket £13 Saturday 11th September, Full day ticket, 12 noon to 5pm Including Whisky Live tasting glass, show guide, 8 vouchers and food. £25*. On door price £29.50 Saturday 11th September, Half day ticket, 2pm to 5pm Including Whisky Live tasting glass, show guide, 4 vouchers and food. £18*. On door price £22.50 * Ticket prices include VAT and exclude booking fee Masterclass tickets: £13 Further sample vouchers are available on the day. Tickets are strictly limited – book now to avoid disappointment AND FOR 2010 THE NEW FORMAT OFFERS • Improved food offering for all guests • Retail; the UK’s largest independent retailer, the Whisky Shop, will offer all the products tasted at the show as well as the finest after-show service. • The VIP lounge; in the heart of the show will be the VIP lounge where visitors receive a different range of food, and will also be joined throughout the day by exhibitors for impromptu tastings and conversations • The Masterclass; 30 to 50 people • The Tasterclass; up to 100 people in an informal setting • Whisky tour – experience the show under the private guidance of the editor of Whisky Magazine; 3 ten minute tours throughout the show • Food and whisky combinations; chocolate and cheese paired with whisky PLUS • Book signings • Coopering displays • The Beer Experience • Whisky Antiques Roadshow • Collectors’ Corner • Independent Bottlers’ Challenge winners stand TASTINGS Whisky Live gives you the unique opportunity to sample the great whiskies, whilst mingling with the producers, independent bottlers and brand ambassadors all under one roof. In addition to learning about the world of whisky, visitors have the opportunity to sample rare and sought after whiskies and meet the stars of the industry. MASTERCLASSES The Whisky Live Masterclasses are a unique insight into the world of whisky and are tutored by master distillers and other leading whisky experts. Tickets will go on sale from August 1st from www.whiskylive.com priced at £13 per session. HOW TO GET TO WHISKY LIVE GLASGOW? Road From South M8, junction 17, 3 sets of lights, 1st left, 2nd straight over, 3rd right. From West M8, junction 17, right fork. 5 sets of lights, 1st right, 2nd right, 3rd right, 4th left, 5th right. 250 car parking spaces are available for guests and costs £5 per car per overnight stay. Rail Call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484 950. Take trains to either Glasgow Central or Queen Street Station. Both stations are only a ten minute walk from Thistle Glasgow. Air The journey time to Thistle Glasgow from Glasgow International Airport will take 20 to 45 minutes depending on the traffic. Taxis are easy to locate at the front of the terminals, and a one way trip from the airport to the hotel will cost around £20. The Thistle is just 45 minutes from Glasgow Prestwick International.

... now this is what you call a Whisky Collection !

... little people of Ireland are "a protected species"

Home About Us National Leprechaun Hunt The Home of the Naked Leprechaun EU says Yes to the Little People Dance of The Naked Leprechaun Contact Us Blog Shop Tell A Friend Links

EU.says Yes to the Little people EU SAYS YES TO THE LITTLE PEOPLE (December 14, 2009) It was with great relief that the committee for the protection of Little People in Carlingford  finally got word from the EU. that  the area within the perimeters of "The Sliabh Foy Loop" walk is now designated a protected area for flora, fauna,wild animals,and Little People (Leprechauns).   In spite of objections from the "Blackfaced Mountain Sheep Breeders Association", know locally as B.M.S.B.A.and Coillte the forestry people,the EU.have opted in favour of the rich bio -diversity of the Cooley mountains and this area is now protected  under the European Habitats Directive.                               Click here to return to the EU says Yes to the Little People page For further information Contact Cooley Penninsula Tourist Office Phone 0429373033  or int.00353429373033 E.mail : info@carlingford.ie

Bushmills Whiskey Competition.

... Iv'e had a wee look at this facebook page and it is the biggest Whiskey-related prize I have ever seen with £5,000 spending money, food, golf, Irish-stuff and hospitality.
... remember (if your the winner) to ask them to switch off the still computers and make some old-school Irish 'craft' malt.

St Patrick's Day: Northern Ireland distillery seeks whiskey lover for dream job

The oldest licensed distillery in the world celebrated St Patrick's Day by launching a competition offering a dream job to one lucky whiskey lover.

Whiskey maturing in casks at Bushmills Distillery . Photo: ALAMY

The Bushmills Whiskey distillery in Northern Ireland is scouring the planet for someone to work with master distiller Colum Egan and his team for a month to create his or her own blend of Irish whiskey.

The winner will spend a month on Northern Ireland's north Antrim coast, near the Giant's Causeway, where Bushmills has distilled whiskey since James I authorised it to do so in 1608.

Mr Egan said: "If someone can prove to us that they have what it takes, then we'd be delighted to let them be the first person outside of the distillery to work alongside me to create their own special blend of Bushmills Irish whiskey."To win the job, prospective whiskey makers ought to make sure they know the difference between Irish whiskey and its Scottish rival, beyond the fact that one is spelt with an "e" and the other is not, when they apply online at the Bushmills Facebook page.

Glasgow's Whisky Club Pub-meet March 2010

... Glasgow's Whisky Club are not the sort of folk to waste good whisky, so last Tuesday the merry maltsters gathered at the Club-cosyzone (called by the locals a "pub") to see what bottle-ends were sitting on the Barrel and available to sniff, sample, savour and speak about.

Isle of Arran Peacock, Rowan tree, an old Strathclyde Grain, Indi Bladnoch and many assorted other-stuffs provided a good variety of offerings/options, and importantly, with most being half (or less) full bottles there was a need to finish off the contents prior to opening new Whiskies.

We are all a motley assortment of individuals of varying gender, ages, disposition and character, so conversations and malt-discussions are rarely dull,  ... and fortunately, not too serious or heavy-duty ! and it is always a great opportunity to discuss with like minded people the findings and fine points of smell and flavour.

A young peated Arran proved a talking point, particularly as the Distillery are charging £50 for a four year old Malt,  was it worth it ?,  should we encourage Distillers to ask high prices by paying for what we think might be good Whisky ?

or not ?

With such good natured interaction, it is worth noting that sometimes it is not the actual Whiskies that make an event successful, but the quality of company and relaxed atmosphere which allow folk to relax and just enjoy ..... the Malty stuff.

Yorkhill Children's Hospital Biker Fund-raise 2010 (Posted here by special request )

... this is not a Whisky Blog, but a Biker- Blog Special for all who supported the Bike-run to raise cash for the Childern's Hospital.   .... thanks.

Prince William's Cask at the Arran Malt Distillery (on April 1st )