Whisky Month: Homecoming Scotland

Press release issued 29th April 2009

Spirits are high as Scotland's iconic drink is celebrated as part of the Homecoming Scotland celebrations - with the Whisky Month programme launching on Friday (May 1).

Downloaded the programme here

The programme celebrates the traditional and contemporary aspects of whisky through a wide range of events   - from musicals and smugglers walks to cookery and a rare whisky auction.

The starting point for the month long festival, and a must for any journey of discovery into Scotland's Whisky, is the refurbished Scotch Whisky Experience opened by the First Minister Alex Salmond MSP on 1st May.  Friday also sees the First Minister attending the Gala Dinner launching the specially extended Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival which will this year conclude in a spectacular Homecoming finale, Saturday 9th May, taking place on the banks of the Spey in Aberlour. 

The middle of the month,16th &17th May, sees the distilleries that make up the dramatic Whisky Coast come together in the stunning grounds of Inveraray Castle in the brand new Spirit of the West.  Sign up for sessions with the master distillers, cooking demonstrations from Nick Nairn and the top chefs from the West Coast. Feast on the freshest local produce and experience the culture and heritage of the region through a programme of music, dance and unique entertainment. Be quick to pick up tickets for the sumptuous Burns Ceilidh Dinner at the castle on the Saturday night!  

Uncover more about Scotland's top export at the National Archives 'From the Vaults: Whisky and the Scots' exhibition. Running from 7th May to 26 June over 500 years of  the history of Whisky will be brought to life through rare exhibits including the 'founding document' of the industry and poignant reminders of the close links between Whisky and another international icon of Scotland, Robert Burns.

Other new activities during Whisky Month include dining experiences for non-members at Edinburgh's exclusive Scotch Malt Whisky Society venues, guided walks along the routes of the smugglers and Excisemen in the forests of Balmacara, 9th May, and Glen Affric, 29th May, and Whisky tastings with a difference as you cruise the majestic waters of Loch Ness on board the Jacobite Queen, Just Add Water May 8, 15, 22, 29. The Homecoming Whisky Auction, May 13th at McTear's Auctioneers offers you the chance to bid for some of the rarest bottles of Scotland's national drink and on May 15th Scotland's oldest Whisky Merchant, Robert Grahams, enables visitors to its Edinburgh and Glasgow stores to sample their exclusive Robert Graham Homecoming Single Islay Malt, especially selected to mark the Year of the Homecoming.

            Gavin Hewitt, SWA Chief Executive, said:
"The Scotch Whisky industry has pulled together an exciting programme during Homecoming's 'Whisky Month', with events across the country celebrating whisky's contribution to Scotland's culture, heritage, and economy. The combination of festivals, distillery visits, exhibitions and events will showcase our national drink to an international audience."
 
Marie Christie Homecoming Scotland 2009 Project Director said:
"Scotch Whisky is a unique aspect of Scotland's rich culture and heritage which is celebrated across the world. Showcasing it through the Homecoming festivities provides us an opportunity to promote some of the country's most distinctive communities and regions through a lively programme of activity."

Forming a key theme at Homecoming events throughout the year the celebration of Whisky is expected to attract an additional 30,000 visitors across Scotland and contribute to the development of Whisky tourism as an important legacy of the Homecoming campaign.  

For a full listing of events in the Whisky Month programme and for further information on Homecoming Scotland 2009 go to www.homecomingscotland2009.com/whiskymonth
 

Enjoy a huge range of unmissable Whisky events and experiences during May's Whisky Month and throughout the year of Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebrations

May - Dec  The Scotch Whisky Experience
May - Dec  The Diageo Claive Vidiz Scotch Whisky Collection
May  Whisky Bars of Edinburgh
May   Whisky Bars of Glasgow
May  Auchentoshan Celebratory Homecoming Tour
May   Glenmorangie Distillery-extended tours & tutored tastings
May 1 - 10   Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Enthusiasm for Scotch
May 1 - 31   The Famous Grouse Experience: Warehouse No.9          
May 1 - 31   Royal Lochnagar - Special Homecoming Tours
May 2  The Scotch Malt Whisky Society: An evening of drams, food and surprises
May 4 - 5   Ardmore Distillery's Homecoming
May 4, 11, 18, 25  Dewar's World of Whisky
May 7  Ardbeg Whisky Tasting
May 7 - Jun 26 From the Vaults: Whisky and the Scots
May 8-9,15-16,22-23 Glenmorangie Whisky Weekends
May 8, 15, 22, 29 Just Add Water
May 9, 16, 23, 30 Talisker Whisky Evenings at Dunvegan Castle
May 9  The Scotch Malt Whisky Society: Whisky with a Difference
May 9  The Whisky Walk at Balmacara Country Park
May 13  Homecoming Whisky Auction
May 15 - Oct 17 Whisky Galore - A Musical!
May 15  The  Inn at Inverbeg
May 15  Robert Graham Scotch Whisky Tastings
May 16  Word Festival 2009 - MacLean's Malt Whisky Tour of Scotland                                                                    
May 16 - 17 Spirit of the West
May 16 - 17 Open Weekend at Highland Park Distillery
May 21  Glengyle Distillery Open Doors Day
May 23  Whisky an' a' that! VI
May 23 - 31 Feis Ile - Islay's Malt & Music Festival
May 28  The Islay Distilleries and Feis Ile
May 29  Illegal Whisky, Smugglers and Ancient Forests
May 30  Exclusive Tours: Dufftown, Mortlach & Glendullan Distilleries                          
              
                                                                                                    
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
Beyond May, there a range of more Whisky related events and festivals that continue throughout the Homecoming year:

Jan - Dec  Westering Home to Islay
Jan - Dec   Discovering Distilleries
April - Sept  Whisky and Wildlife
July 11 - 25  Classic Malts? Cruise
July 25 - 26  The Talisker Taste Experience at The Gathering 2009
Aug 27 - 30  Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles
Sept 4 - 12  Blas Festival
Sept 6 - 12   Whisky Week
Sept 18 - 20 Isle of Barra Whisky Galore Festival