Speyside event waives fee for distillery namesakes

Spirit of Speyside: Distilled will waive its entry fee for visitors who share a name with Speyside distilleries – such as Glen Grant, Glen Murray or Ben Riach.

The event will shine a spotlight on the area’s food and drink producers

People who can prove they share the same name as any of Speyside’s famous distilleries will gain free entry into Spirit of Speyside: Distilled – a new food and drink event that will shine a spotlight on the area’s food and drink producers.

Spirit of Speyside: Distilled festival manager Pery Zakeri said: “I would imagine that there might be a few people out there called Glen Keith or Ben Rinnes. Who knows, maybe there are even some Mac Allans.

“Whatever the name, if they share it with one of our famous distilleries, then we will be happy to provide free entry to any one of the four sessions taking place at Spirit of Speyside: Distilled. After all, they are technically brand ambassadors for our Speyside whisky, spreading the name wherever they go in the world.

“Whisky is our most famous export but to the people who live here and who work in the industry, it is more than just a product to be bought and sold. It is the lifeblood of the area, so we salute all the Glen Grants, Glen Murrays, Ben Riachs – or Reiachs – out there who are flying the flag for Speyside.”

Distilled is an offshoot of The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, which takes place annually over the May Day holiday weekend, and will take place in Elgin – the largest town in Speyside – from September 9 to 11.

Festival organisers decided to launch the event for whisky fans that do not want to create an extensive itinerary at the main event.

A range of whisky distilleries including Cragganmore, The Glenlivet, Aberlour and Cardhu will be offering samples along with  local craft breweries, gin distillers and local food stalls.

Masterclasses covering topics from cocktails to food pairing will also be available.

Zakeri added: “We’re delighted to be able to offer such a broad range of exhibitors, from global brands to small craft breweries that are just starting to make a name for themselves. There’s a really good buzz surrounding Distilled, and we can’t wait to raise our glasses and get things underway.”

Spirit of Speyside: Distilled kicks off at Elgin Town Hall on Friday, September 9 with an evening session from 7–11pm.

There are two sessions on the Saturday – from 1-5pm and again from 7-11pm – with the final session on the Sunday from 12-4pm.