In light of popular demand, Arbikie have forgone delaying their whisky festival until October and instead return for a summer soiree that brings a lively and interactive event of various regional tipples, filtered through the lens of distiller expertise and masterclass samplings.
A convivial pick and mix of various distillers old and new offering a broad range for aficionados and newbies alike
Poised at the Freemason Hall’s entrance with their six-dram range, Arbickie may well be the hosts but they do not dominate, allowing the full breadth of the festival to flourish with over 15 different distillers ranging from Lowland to Highland, to Speyside and Islands. And whilst whisky may well be the billing, there are ample selections of other spirits, most notably gins, available – The Isle of Harris Distillery’s sugar-kelp gin and the Port of Leith’s Lind & Lime being a few of the highly commendable names that stand out.
Beyond the traditional bastion of Scottish Highland and Speysides, we see new Lowland distilleries in attendance with the likes of The Borders Distillery and local Holyrood Distillery making the roster, whilst from further afield comes the Norwegian Bivrost whose aquavit is a mildly pleasant introduction to the Scandinavian classic.
Reflective of evolving tastes, there is a proliferation of rye whisky on many stalls, including Arbikie’s Single Rye that makes for a much smoother drink compared to its punchier grain-based siblings. Elsewhere, we see Berry Bros champion a range of sumptuous English sherry whiskies, whilst Nc’nean excels with their Botanical Spirit – a beautiful floral beverage that smooths the boundary between gin and whisky.
The stall set up makes for an easy-going atmosphere allowing for guest interaction as they natter away to their hosts over a dram and purchase bottles if tempted. It can, however, border on facile at times, where some proprietors linger too long in conversation and ignore prospective clientele. But this isn’t a whisky tour nor a conventional tasting session. Rather, as the name suggests, a covivial pick and mix of various distillers old and new offering a broad range for aficionados and newbies alike.
