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Scotsman
21-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Spirit of Speyside whisky festival breaks ticket records - and looks to further growth in 2026
The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has announced another year of increased sales, with nearly 9,000 tickets sold for the first time. Celebrating its 26th anniversary, the festival has grown in stature, establishing itself as one of the world's largest and is a major contributor to the local economy. It is supported by 74 members and 43 partners, including EventScotland, part of VisitScotland - and there are over 600 events across the six days. In 2024 the festival announced a 23 per cent increase in sales from the year before. However, this year will be the first time the festival will come close to a record-breaking £450,000 of sales, including its Whisky School which takes place over four days. Visitors from 37 countries descend on Speyside, contributing to over 50 per cent of overseas ticket sales with Germany, the US, Netherlands and Canada purchasing the most, outside of the UK. Billed as one of the largest international events of its kind anywhere in the world, organisers said the festival relies on the Speyside businesses and community to create a programme of unique experiences for visitors who are not just whisky aficionados. The festival is packed with a range of diverse events, from coopering masterclasses and BBQs to wildlife walks, the Dram Train, music events and canoeing down the river whilst stopping for a Speyside malt. New chairman Henry Angus New chairman Henry Angus said: 'We can't do this festival without the support of the local community. It's vital not just for the businesses but also it's there for the locals to enjoy the buzz for six days. With visitors coming from all over the world, it's an opportunity to meet new people, have some fun, enjoy the stunning scenery along with a brilliant week of events.' The festival kicked off in style on Wednesday April 30 with 91 events taking place, and concluding in the evening with the renowned Touch of Tartan opening event, co-hosted by Speyside Distillers. This year it was held at the Macdonald Highlands Hotels in Aviemore. Over 300 guests gathered for an evening of celebration, where the winners of the prestigious annual whisky awards were also announced. Rob Dickson, director of industry and events at VisitScotland, said: 'The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival shows the vital role events play in Scotland's visitor economy - supporting communities, creating jobs, and showcasing our culture to the world. "It is part of an exciting portfolio of events taking place across the country that we are supporting to deliver a wide range of economic and social benefits and strengthen Scotland's position as a world-leading tourism and events destination.' The opening dinner heralded the whisky and festival award winners, and it was a big night for Aberlour distillery. The whisky winners for 2025 were: the Gold winner of the 12-year-old and under category was The Glen Grant 12-year-old; the Gold winner of the 13-17 category was Aberlour 15-year-old; the Gold winner of the 18 years old over category was Aberlour 18-year-old Double Sherry Cask and the Gold winner of the non-age statement category was Aberlour Triple Cask Matured. The overall winner of the 2025 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Award was Aberlour 18-year-old Double Sherry Cask. The festival winners were: Ambassador – Karen McGillivray; International Ambassador – Stuart Baxter; Unsung Heroes – The Whisky Awards Team: Linda Mellis, Carol Inch, Helen Mellis and Pat Brazil; and Spirit of Speyside Award – James Campbell (previous Chairman of Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival). At the opening dinner, outgoing chairman George McNeil explained that former co-chair, Sarah Burgess was due to take over the role of chairperson but now could not due to a change in circumstances. However, a new chairperson had been found in Henry Angus. Mr McNeil said: 'We were delighted when Henry Angus accepted the role as your Spirit of Speyside chairman.' Mr McNeil thanked the current and past executive team members as he handed over the reins to Mr Angus. Mr Angus was attracted to the role of chairman given his history with the area and love of whisky. He said: 'Whisky has been a passion for life since my early school days in Aberlour and smelling malted barley in the air. I have worked in Moray for the past 25 years and made positive connections in the business and local community. "I really want to give something back and my work and career has given me a lot of engagement with the whisky industry who are all of course, very supportive of the festival. I am keen to try and help the festival grow nationally and internationally with my export experience in various roles.' When asked what his plans for the festival were going forward, Mr Angus said: 'The vision is to get more eyes on the festival UK-wide and globally and to engage with more businesses but with over 500 events already lined up, it's about quality of events over quantity. "We want to showcase the very best of what's in Speyside – not just from the distilleries, but also from the hotels, restaurants, cafes and venues in the area. 'We already know that last year, visitors came from 39 countries and the biggest numbers were from the US, Canada and Europe but not so much Japan. We are certainly recognised as an international whisky festival and we are the first festival to kick off World Whisky Month. "Since we launched the festival, Event Scotland and Visit Scotland have supported us, helping to grow our international market and that's why we are in such a good position with roughly 50% of visitors from overseas each year.' Find out more about the Spirit of Speyside whisky festival, including events for next year as they are announced, at
Sunday Post
18-05-2025
- General
- Sunday Post
Foster carers transform lives, says charity as it urges families to help
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up Fostering is on the brink of crisis with a shortage of carers stripping children of the chance to live with a family, according to a leading charity. Aberlour Children's Charity is urging more Scots to consider fostering to help bridge the widening gap between the number of children in need of a home and the number of available carers. Nicola Fearon, the charity's head of fostering, confirms applications to become foster carers have dropped in recent years and believes there are a variety of factors for why that is the case. She said: 'In recent years, there have certainly been more carers leaving and fewer coming in. There are many reasons, from an ageing population and people caring more for elderly relatives to the cost-of- living crisis.' Aberlour, which has been delivering foster care for more than 20 years, believes the pool of potential carers is wide and diverse. Fearon said: 'Our vetting will be thorough but there are few things that would automatically rule out potential carers. Children come from all sorts of backgrounds and carers come from all sorts of background too. It's about empathy, not experience. We would encourage anyone who has ever thought about it, however briefly, to pick up the phone or send us an email.' Care Inspectorate data covering the five years up to 2024 revealed only 178 new foster carers registered in 2023, the lowest number in five years, while 405 households came off the register. Almost half of potential foster carers, with most receiving at least £20,000 to care for a child, were approved within six months. Fearon said while the responsibility of providing foster care can seem daunting to potential carers, it has the power to change the lives of children and carers alike. She said: 'The lives of fostered children can be transformed but so can the lives of carers and their own children and grandchildren. Our carers say the same things again and again. They will talk about giving something back, of giving a child a family and a home. They will say it's challenging but the sense of making a real difference to a child's life far outweighs the rest.' Aberlour, marking its 150th anniversary this year in partnership with The Sunday Post, is the biggest Scotland-only children's charity delivering more than 50 frontline services for children and their families across the country. Lynne O'Brien, chief officer for children and families, believes wide-ranging expertise allows carers to receive exceptional support so they do not feel out of their depth. She said: 'Our foster carers are highly valued and we can draw on different services and expertise from across Scotland. Flexibility is key and we have the ability to be creative to tailor support for children and families.' 'It's about belonging and love' It has not always been a bed of roses but, according to Aberlour Children Charity's first foster carers, that's kind of the point. 'It's about being a family for children and every family will have ups and downs,' said Shona Stewart. 'You enjoy the good times and get through the bad times and you do it together as a family. It's about belonging and love. That's all it's about, really.' Shona and husband David were Aberlour's first carers when the charity launched its fostering service in 2004. Experienced in social work and residential care, they were still surprised by the positive impact of fostering. Shona and David (not their real names, to protect the privacy of their children) said fostering was life-changing for everyone. Shona, 56, said: 'When I was training as a social worker, we were told that if there's one person crazy about you then you are more likely to succeed. 'We just wanted to be the people crazy for these kids.'
Scotsman
13-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Amazon whisky deals May 2025 – Aberlour, A'Bunadh Alba, Woven & more
From rich Speyside drams to smoky global blends, these are the top whisky bottles currently on offer at Amazon – ideal for Father's Day or summer sipping. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Looking to top up your whisky shelf or bag a standout Father's Day gift? Amazon has some excellent limited-time deals on single malts, smoky blends and cask strength bottles. We've picked out four with real pedigree – and big savings. Bottled at cask strength, A'Bunadh Alba is a bold American-oak-matured release. | Aberlour 1. Aberlour 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky – now £33.97 (was £45, save 25%) A smooth Speyside dram, Aberlour 12 is matured in traditional oak and sherry casks. | Aberlour The Aberlour 12 is a staple of the Speyside region, offering a classic introduction to sherry-cask-matured Scotch. It's double matured—first in traditional American oak and then finished in sherry oak casks—creating layers of fruitiness, warm spice and richness that far exceed its price point. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On the nose, expect red apple and orchard fruit; the palate opens up with rich chocolate, toffee, cinnamon, and a slight ginger kick. The finish is long, sweet and just a little spicy, ideal for sipping neat or with a drop of water. For under £35, it's exceptional value, especially with its reputation as a crowd-pleasing dram that both newcomers and seasoned fans enjoy. 2. Aberlour A'Bunadh Alba – now £74.04 (was £98.99, save 25%) Bottled at cask strength, A'Bunadh Alba is a bold American-oak-matured release. | Aberlour A'Bunadh Alba is a powerful, cask-strength single malt that's matured exclusively in first-fill American oak barrels, which previously held bourbon. Unlike the original sherry-cask A'Bunadh, this Alba expression leans into sweet vanilla, honeyed orchard fruits, and a zingy citrus zest. With no chill filtration and no dilution, it's as close as most whisky fans will get to sipping straight from the cask. On the palate, there's lemon zest, grapefruit, buttery shortbread, and sugared almonds—complex, bold and bursting with flavour. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The finish is warming and long, with hints of toasted nuts and soft oak. It's a brilliant option for gifting or expanding your collection with something that feels exclusive and intense. 3. Woven HEMISPHERES Blended World Whisky – now £45.95 (was £54.95, save 16%) This smoky, global blend combines Manuka-smoked whisky from New Zealand with Edinburgh malt. | Woven Woven is a rising name in the whisky world, known for innovative small-batch blends — and HEMISPHERES is one of its most adventurous creations. This globally inspired blend combines Manuka-smoked single malt from New Zealand with smooth, herbaceous malt whisky from Edinburgh, creating a layered experience that evolves in the glass. On the nose, you get gentle smoke, dried orange peel and floral hints. The palate follows with honey, clove, herbal oils and a soft finish that balances smoke with sweetness. It's a whisky made for those who enjoy exploring new flavour profiles and is equally at home neat, over ice or in a smoky Old Fashioned. At just under £46, it's a modern whisky with real craft credentials. 4. Tullibardine 228 Burgundy Cask Finish – now £37.04 (was £45.95, save 19%) Tullibardine 228 is finished in Burgundy wine casks, giving it red fruit and chocolate notes. | Tullibardine Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tullibardine 228 is a Highland single malt whisky with a distinct twist—it's finished in 228-litre Pinot Noir casks from Burgundy, imparting vibrant notes of red summer fruits, Turkish Delight and dark chocolate. This finish complements the vanilla and floral backbone of the spirit, resulting in a dram that is fruity, rich and ever-so-slightly spiced. The distillery itself has a rich legacy, dating back to 1947 on a site that was once a medieval brewery. On the palate, the 228 bursts with juicy cherry, raspberry and velvety cocoa notes, making it a perfect after-dinner whisky. The finish lingers with sweet spice and a refined dryness that hints at the wine casks' origin. An excellent bottle for those who enjoy wine-finished expressions. 🥃 Want even more great whisky gifts? Whether you're stocking up for Father's Day, adding to your home bar or looking for something unusual to sip this summer, there's more to explore: From smooth single malts to smoky oddities and big bold cask strength bottles, there's something for every taste and budget.
Scotsman
13-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Amazon whisky deals May 2025 – Aberlour, A'Bunadh Alba, Woven & more
From rich Speyside drams to smoky global blends, these are the top whisky bottles currently on offer at Amazon – ideal for Father's Day or summer sipping. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Looking to top up your whisky shelf or bag a standout Father's Day gift? Amazon has some excellent limited-time deals on single malts, smoky blends and cask strength bottles. We've picked out four with real pedigree – and big savings. Bottled at cask strength, A'Bunadh Alba is a bold American-oak-matured release. | Aberlour 1. Aberlour 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky – now £33.97 (was £45, save 25%) A smooth Speyside dram, Aberlour 12 is matured in traditional oak and sherry casks. | Aberlour The Aberlour 12 is a staple of the Speyside region, offering a classic introduction to sherry-cask-matured Scotch. It's double matured—first in traditional American oak and then finished in sherry oak casks—creating layers of fruitiness, warm spice and richness that far exceed its price point. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On the nose, expect red apple and orchard fruit; the palate opens up with rich chocolate, toffee, cinnamon, and a slight ginger kick. The finish is long, sweet and just a little spicy, ideal for sipping neat or with a drop of water. For under £35, it's exceptional value, especially with its reputation as a crowd-pleasing dram that both newcomers and seasoned fans enjoy. 2. Aberlour A'Bunadh Alba – now £74.04 (was £98.99, save 25%) Bottled at cask strength, A'Bunadh Alba is a bold American-oak-matured release. | Aberlour A'Bunadh Alba is a powerful, cask-strength single malt that's matured exclusively in first-fill American oak barrels, which previously held bourbon. Unlike the original sherry-cask A'Bunadh, this Alba expression leans into sweet vanilla, honeyed orchard fruits, and a zingy citrus zest. With no chill filtration and no dilution, it's as close as most whisky fans will get to sipping straight from the cask. On the palate, there's lemon zest, grapefruit, buttery shortbread, and sugared almonds—complex, bold and bursting with flavour. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The finish is warming and long, with hints of toasted nuts and soft oak. It's a brilliant option for gifting or expanding your collection with something that feels exclusive and intense. 3. Woven HEMISPHERES Blended World Whisky – now £45.95 (was £54.95, save 16%) This smoky, global blend combines Manuka-smoked whisky from New Zealand with Edinburgh malt. | Woven Woven is a rising name in the whisky world, known for innovative small-batch blends — and HEMISPHERES is one of its most adventurous creations. This globally inspired blend combines Manuka-smoked single malt from New Zealand with smooth, herbaceous malt whisky from Edinburgh, creating a layered experience that evolves in the glass. On the nose, you get gentle smoke, dried orange peel and floral hints. The palate follows with honey, clove, herbal oils and a soft finish that balances smoke with sweetness. It's a whisky made for those who enjoy exploring new flavour profiles and is equally at home neat, over ice or in a smoky Old Fashioned. At just under £46, it's a modern whisky with real craft credentials. 4. Tullibardine 228 Burgundy Cask Finish – now £37.04 (was £45.95, save 19%) Tullibardine 228 is finished in Burgundy wine casks, giving it red fruit and chocolate notes. | Tullibardine Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tullibardine 228 is a Highland single malt whisky with a distinct twist—it's finished in 228-litre Pinot Noir casks from Burgundy, imparting vibrant notes of red summer fruits, Turkish Delight and dark chocolate. This finish complements the vanilla and floral backbone of the spirit, resulting in a dram that is fruity, rich and ever-so-slightly spiced. The distillery itself has a rich legacy, dating back to 1947 on a site that was once a medieval brewery. On the palate, the 228 bursts with juicy cherry, raspberry and velvety cocoa notes, making it a perfect after-dinner whisky. The finish lingers with sweet spice and a refined dryness that hints at the wine casks' origin. An excellent bottle for those who enjoy wine-finished expressions. 🥃 Want even more great whisky gifts? Whether you're stocking up for Father's Day, adding to your home bar or looking for something unusual to sip this summer, there's more to explore:
Press and Journal
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Press and Journal
All you need to know: 2025 Speyside Stages as David Bogie returns in search of back-to-back triumphs
David Bogie is aiming to make it back-to-back McDonald and Munro Speyside Stages triumphs in this weekend's Scottish Rally Championship opener. Leading seed Bogie, a six-time Scottish champion, is aiming to rack up a 12th Speyside Stages victory alongside co-driver John Rowan in their Skoda Fabia RS, following his victory last year. Among his closest competitors could be Castle Douglas' Jock Armstrong – himself a two-time Scottish rally champion. Armstrong holds the record for the fastest time through the Cooper Park, which hosts the opening two stages, and will return alongside co-driver Owen Paterson in their Skoda Fabia. After signing off the 2024 campaign in style by winning the Caledonian Rally, Aberlour co-driver Michael Hendry will be targeting a home victory to help Dumfries' Mark McCulloch pick up from where he left off. Another home contender will be Huntly's John Wink, who secured his first SRC victory at last year's Snowman Rally. Wink will be accompanied by Will Atkins, who is deputising for regular co-driver Neil Shanks – the Speyside Stages clerk of the course. Muir of Ord's Scott Macbeth and co-driver Dan Forsyth are seeded fifth, in their Skoda Fabia R5. Among the other north contenders are Alford's Scott Beattie (seeded sixth), Banchory's Bruce McCombie (11th), Aberdeen's Chris Collie (19th) and Paddy Munro from Kyle of Lochalsh, who is seeded 20th. The opening two stages take place at Cooper Park in Elgin, with the first car due from 9am. Spectators can park at Lossie Green. The only spectator stage beyond this is Whiteash, with the first cars due at 12.45pm – however spectators must be in place by 12.15pm. The car park is situated on an unclassified road between the A96 and B9016 which runs alongside the south-western side of the forest – with parking costing £5 per car which will be donated to the Riding for the Disabled charity. Cars will also stop twice at Keith Showground for a service, which will be available for spectators to watch from 11.16am and 1.18pm. The rally will come to a conclusion at UHI Moray in Elgin, where the first cars are due to return from 3.45pm – after which the presentation and champagne spray will take place. 1 David Bogie (Dumfries) and John Rowan (Portglenone) – Skoda Fabia RS 2 Jock Armstrong (Castle Douglas) and Owen Paterson (Dumfries) – Skoda Fabia 3 Mark McCulloch (Dumfries) and Michael Hendry (Aberlour) – Proton Satria Evo 4 John Wink (Huntly) and Will Atkins (Whitchurch) – Hyundai i20 R5 5 Scott Macbeth (Muir of Ord) and Dan Forsyth (Elgin) – Skoda Fabia R5 6 Scott Beattie (Alford) and Peredur Davies (Pwllheli) – Ford Fiesta R5 7 Daniel Sigurðarson (Hafnarfjorour) and Asta Sigurdardóttir (Hafnarfjorour) – Skoda Fabia 8 Darren Gass (Markethill) and TBC – Volkswagen Polo 9 Stephen Petch (Hamsterley) and Michael Wilkinson (Tow Law) – Ford Fiesta Rally2 10 Hugh Brunton (Angus) and Martin Brady (Galway) – Volkswagen Polo R5 Cooper Park (Elgin) – first car due at 9am Keith Showfield – first car due at 11.16am, and again at 1.18pm Whiteash – first car due at 12.45pm – spectators to be in place by 12.15pm UHI Moray (Elgin) – first car due at 3.45pm
