Scottish festival has whisky at its heart

Whisky Month is a diverse range of more than 30 unmissable events and experiences happening across Scotland this May, held in honour of Scotland’s famous national drink as part of the year-long Homecoming 2009 celebrations.

Homecoming Scotland is a year-long celebration marking Scotland’s major contributions to the world stretching from Burns Night to St Andrews Day 2009

Discover the unique characteristics of the whisky regions of Scotland: the Highlands, Speyside, Lowlands, Islay and Campbeltown.

The ‘water of life’ will be celebrated across these regions with three major festivals, special tours and tastings, exclusive access to rarely opened distilleries and a look at the world’s largest collection of whiskies. Into this mix goes a generous measure of music, dance and song, feasts of fabulous food, a game or two of golf and the chance to explore the great outdoors.

Weekends away
Take a break and head to the Highlands for a Glenmorangie Whisky Weekend for fine Scottish hospitality while visiting the home of Glenmorangie in Tain, or head to Skye’s Iconic Dunvegan Castle for an unforgettable evening with Talisker Distillery.

Festivals
Celebrations begin at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival on the 1st May. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the festival has extended its programme over 10 days offering specialist whisky tours, tastings and gourmet food events at distilleries. For families, activities combine whisky and leisure to create a variety of entertainment, scenic walks, golf, sport and shopping. The festival finale headlined by renowned Scottish band, Capercaille on Saturday 9th May embraces the music, dance and song of the region in a spectacular event on the idyllic banks of the River Spey.

On the 16th – 17th May is Spirit of the West, a brand new festival which takes place in the stunning grounds of Inveraray Castle. Whisky tasting, food sampling and cookery demonstrations will run alongside historical trails, fashion shows, music, arts and crafts and golfing activities and a lively ceilidh.

Continuing the Islay celebration, is the legendary Feis Ile - Islay Malt & Music Festival from the 23rd- 31st May which features a week long programme of events at Islay’s distilleries

Distillery tours and expert insights
Scotland’s most northerly distillery, Highland Park on the island of Orkney, flings open its doors for a free, exclusive Open Weekend on the 23rd and 24th May.

Up in the Highlands visit Dewars World of Whisky, where Homecoming is celebrated with "Dewar’s Signature Tour” a chance to taste some of the world’s finest and rarest whiskies from Dewar’s premium portfolio and a warehouse tasting of Aberfeldy Single Malt.

In Aberdeenshire, take the opportunity to enter Ardmore Distillery - rarely open to the public - where you can experience a bespoke tour and whisky tasting session. While you are in the region head across to the University of Aberdeen’s Word Festival 2009 for Maclean’s Malt Whisky Tour of Scotland. A world-authority on Whisky, Charles MacLean will talk about his new book MacLean’s Malt Whisky Handbook and provide his expert insight into the flavour and character of Scotch malt whisky.

In the Lowlands there are also plenty of opportunities to get a flavour of Whisky Month. Visit Auchentoshan’s newly refurbished Visitors Centre near Glasgow and make sure you stop at Edinburgh’s Scotch Whisky Experience for ‘Enthusiasm for Scotch’ and The Diageo Claive Vidiz Scotch Whisky Collection - the world’s largest collection of whiskies a ‘must see’ for whisky fans and novices alike

Whisky Galore – A Musical!
Whisky Month will also play host to the world premiere of a new musical adaptation of Whisky Galore from 15th May to 17th October. Showing in the beautiful surroundings of Highland Perthshire at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Whisky Galore – A Musical! is part of The Home Season from Scottish playwrights featuring six plays across six days.

And the celebration of this famous tipple doesn’t stop there! For the full Whisky Month programme and details on the range of the whisky events taking place across Scotland throughout 2009 including information of whisky packages, trails and itineraries go to: Homecomingscotland2009.com/whiskymonth

Gavin Hewitt, Chief Executive of The Scotch Whisky Association, said: "Whisky Month in May is the perfect time to visit Scotland, the home of whisky. An exciting programme of distillery and festival events awaits our visitors. They will experience the very best that Scotch whisky has to offer and learn why this global icon embodies the spirit of Scotland."

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.”