Speyside Scotch Whisky Festival extended for 2009

Article original appeared in the Press and Journal, January 19th 2009

A three-day malt school and a performance by Capercaillie will feature at this year's Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.

The programme for the 10th annual whisky event, which will run from Friday, May 1, to Sunday, May 10, was announced yesterday.

The festival has been extended from five days to 10 following the success of last year's event, which brought in the highest visitor numbers ever.

Organisers hope to attract 23,000 people and generate around £750,000 for the local economy.  The festival was established in 1999 to celebrate Scotland's malt whisky country and to help promote tourism to Moray.

This year more than 250 events will take place around Speyside.  These include the prestigious annual whisky awards, professional and student chef competitions, and tours and tastes from distilleries which are not normally open to the public.  This year will also feature the first Malt Whisky School - a three-day master class for a select number of whisky enthusiasts. Other activities will include ceilidhs, music events, whisky and food-matching dining opportunities and concerts.  The climax will be an outdoor concert on the banks of the River Spey in Aberlour, featuring Capercaillie, pipe bands, fiddlers and dancers and a fireworks display.

Jim Royan, chairman of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Board, said hopes were high that this year's event would be the best yet.

"It already has a reputation which goes beyond whisky but this year we believe we can take it to a new dimension and establish it internationally," said Mr Royan.