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Spirit of Speyside to host in-person event
The Spirit of Speyside Festival has confirmed it will host an in-person event in November, which will be overseen by a new chairman.
The whisky festival was launched in 1999 and has become an ‘annual celebration of Scotland’s national drink’.
It is one of the biggest whisky festivals in the world, allowing attendees and distillers to explore and learn about the Speyside region. Speyside is home to more whisky distilleries than any other region in the world.
The 2020 festival was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic, while the 2021 iteration was held virtually in April due to ongoing restrictions worldwide.
James Campbell has been chairman of Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival for the past 10 years.
He said: “It’s been my pleasure to act as chairman of Spirit of Speyside for the last decade and give visitors from around the world a taste of Scotland in miniature.”
Campbell has seen the festival transform into a six-day event involving more than 50 distilleries from around the region.
“Over the years, we’ve seen the festival grow to become an important part of the region and to help support the local economy,” he added.
“Earlier this year we brought the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival online with 688 guests from 15 countries around the world logging in, but nothing beats being together to celebrate the world’s largest producing whisky region.”
New chairman
Taking over Campbell’s position for the November festival this year will be newly appointed chairman George McNeil.
McNeil, who is also managing director of the Johnstons of Elgin retail division, has lived in Speyside for 14 years.
He said: “I’m looking forward to giving something back to this amazing region by looking after this iconic festival.
“The Spirit of Speyside is onto a winning formula by bringing together a huge variety of whisky companies with local communities and nearly 140 business members in the region, and I’m really looking forward to continuing that legacy.”
The spirits industry is seeing a number of in-person events resurface again this year, including Tales of Cocktail 2021, which will host a hybrid in-person and online festival next month.
Earlier this week, Tales of the Cocktail’s annual Spirited Awards announced the top 10 nominees in this year’s writing and media categories – and The Spirits Business has been listed in the Best Cocktail & Spirits Publication.
Furthermore, The Spirits Business is looking forward to welcoming consumers and trade professionals back to its Wine & Spirits Show this October.