Speyside is a “protected region” for Scotch Whisky distilling under UK Government legislation. According to Visit Scotland, this region includes the area between the Highlands to the west, Aberdeenshire in the east and extending north to the Cairngorms National Park.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is held annually, normally over the first weekend of May. Festival events take place throughout Speyside, the biggest whisky producing region in Scotland, located in the Moray area in the northeast of the county between Aberdeen and Inverness.

⇒ Also сheck оut мore info: Festivals • Travel Around Speyside

Illicit distilleries were common in the 1800s, but eventually, licences became available after the passing of the 1823 Excise Act. George Smith was the first licensee in Speyside, in 1824, and his small operation at Upper Drumin in the Glen Livet valley eventually grew into the massive Glenlivet enterprise.

Today, the major distilleries in the region are owned by leading international drinks groups including Diageo, LVMH and Pernod Ricard, by family-owned companies including J. & G. Grant and William Grant & Sons and by The Edrington Group (majority owned by a charitable trust).

Roughly 50 percent of Scotland’s whisky is made here in the approximately 50 distilleries located in this region. According to one source, the top five are The Macallan, Glenfiddich, Aberlour, Glenfarclas and Balvenie.

Event venues are as varied as the experiences on offer – distilleries old and new, charming village halls, local whisky bars, historic castles, old steadings and the great outdoors – each guaranteeing an authentic experience.

With activities taking place from Elgin in the north, Kingussie in the south, Keith in the east and Forres in the west, following the length of the River Spey to the sea (one of National Geographic’s ‘greatest coastlines’), the festival brings this renowned whisky region to life as visitors from 54 countries are welcomed, greeted by locals as old friends.

Scotland’s Malt Whisky Trail (wiki) is a tourism initiative featuring seven working Speyside distilleries, a historic distillery (Dallas Dhu, now a museum) and the Speyside Cooperage. A 2012 BBC article recommends a leisurely tour, taking a day or two at each distillery to appreciate the local “traditions and lore”.

TRAVELINE – Provides online travel planner services for all public transportation across Great Britain. They also have separate planners dedicated to specific regions.

⇒ Also сheck оut мore info: Getting here (spiritofspeyside.com) • Getting Around Edinburgh (edinburgh.org) • Travel in Scotland  (visitscotland.com) • Getting around Britain (visitbritain.com).

BUS: National Express | UK Stop finder

TRAIN: ScotRail. The essential source for rail travel information in Great Britain is the National Rail website. It includes an extremely useful journey planner, ticket prices and detailed information about every railway station in the country.

AIRPORT: Edinburgh Airport – from / to the airport > Airlink100. The most important airports are London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Manchester Airport.

FERRY: There are many ferry routes into the UK from continental Europe. (*Ferry routes to Great Britain)

The lineup for this year’s Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, one of the world’s most anticipated whisky celebrations, has been unveiled. Over five hundred events within the Festival, which runs from 27 April to 2 May, have been announced. These will allow ticket holders exclusive access to world famous distilleries, the chance to meet the craftspeople behind the liquid and immerse themselves in the heart of malt whisky country.

⇒ video source: Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival / youtube.com /

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