TICKETS ARE BEING snapped up by both local and international lovers of the best food and drink products on offer from Moray and Speyside.
Less than a week after tickets went on sale for the inaugural Spirit of Speyside: Distilled festival organisers have been taken by surprise at the international interest in the event – on a scale that almost matches the much wider Spring event that has proven such a massive hit.
With a limited number of tickets available for each of the sessions taking part at the Elgin Town Hall from September 9 to 11, people are being urged to book their places as early as possible.
Joining all of the region’s distilleries under one roof for the first time are Gin makers Caorunn, Gordon Castle and El:Gin and fruit infused gin company Berry Good, alongside local craft beer companies Windswept Brewing, Spey Valley Brewery and Speyside Craft Brewery.
Food is being catered for by the presence of the very best of Moray/Speyside’s producers including Walkers Shortbread, Baxters, Associated Seafoods, Ashers Bakers, Macleans Highland Bakery, Cairngorm Leaf and Bean, Berry Good, Iain Burnett Highland Chocolatier, Balvenie St Ice Cream and Aunt Marie’s Kitchen.
Festival manager Pery Zakeri said: “After much anticipation tickets for the first Spirit of Speyside: Distilled are now on sale and are being snapped up by drinks lovers both at home and abroad.
“We imagined that the festival would appeal largely to people in North-east and wider Scotland so we’ve been a little surprised that among the early interest comes bookings from Germany, the USA and Norway.
“We have a great mix of food and drink exhibitors, complemented by masterclasses, and all within the one venue, Elgin Town Hall. As tickets are limited in number we strongly advise ordering them now to ensure being part of this exciting new festival for Moray-Speyside.”
The £20 ticket price includes entry, a lanyard, vouchers for five 10ml tasting samples of gin or whisky, a voucher for a tasting measure of a beer, a Glencairn crystal nosing and tasting glass and a light snack, featuring the best of local produce, prepared by event caterers, Good Highland Food.
There are four different sessions over the course of the weekend and these take place on September 9 from 7-11pm; September 10 from 1-5pm and 7-11pm and on September 11 from 12-4pm.
Those wishing to attend should visit the Spirit of Speyside: Distilled website for full details.