SPIRIT OF SPEYSIDE WHISKY FESTIVAL

The 2006 Spirit of Speyside Festival kicks off with a packed calendar full of whisky, music, food and fun in malt whisky country. The event runs from April 27 to May 1.

Situated in the heart of Speyside, Glenfarclas – ‘The Spirit of Independence’ - has a feast of events planned to entertain guests.

To kick-start activities on Friday 28 April, Brand Ambassador George Grant, the sixth generation of the Grant family, who own and manage the Glenfarclas Distillery, invites visitors to join him as he shares some secrets of the distillery’s 170-year history. This event will include: -

• Masterclass featuring a selection of Glenfarclas’ oldest Highland Single Malts
• Personal tour of the distillery from George Grant
• Whisky Tasters’ lunch
• Fun 40-question quiz on the distillery and its famous malts
• The chance to win a rare bottle of 40 Years Old Glenfarclas worth £1500

The event lasts from 11:30am until 3:15pm and costs £40 per person.

Glenfarclas will be offering special tours around the distillery, during which guests can see the largest stills on Speyside before enjoying a complimentary dram of multi-award winning Glenfarclas Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky.

The Distillery visitor centre, which is open all year Monday to Friday, will also open on Saturday and Sunday during the Festival. Tours run from 10am – 3.30pm (11am - 3:30pm on Sunday), adult tickets are priced at £3.50 per person and under-18s can visit free.

Transport to and from Glenfarclas is available so there is no need to worry about having that last dram! Special extended transport has been arranged for the duration of the Spirit of Speyside Festival – a £5 day pass buys complete flexibility on the specially provided buses. Bus timetables are available on www.spiritofspeyside.com.

FREE DRAM AND A GOOD READ

Glenfiddich is hosting two events in Glasgow as part of its ‘Glenfiddich in Conversation with…’ author tour.

The tour is a series of free events that feature some of the country’s most talented new authors reading excerpts from their books and having a chat. All those who go along will also be invited to savour the banter over a complimentary taster of Glenfiddich Special Reserve 12 Year Old single malt.

The Glasgow events will take place in the Oran Mor on Great Western Road, on April 18 featuring author Alan Bissett, who will read excerpts from his latest book The Incredible Adam Spark, and in the Blue Dog, George Street, on April 24 with Michael Smith, who will read from his debut novel The Giro Playboy. Both events start at 8 o’clock and entrance is free