While a lot of whisky festivals take place in the spring and early summer, there are a few that take place in the early autumn. One of these is the Hebridean Whisky Festival, which is a week-long celebration of whisky and whisky making in the Hebridean islands of Benbecula, Harris, Jura, Raasay and Skye.
It’s an ideal time to soak up the beautiful scenery and hospitality in these lovely places, while enjoying the change in season.
This year’s festival takes place from 9-14 September, with each distillery having their own events for visitors to enjoy.
The festival showcases the seven Hebridean distilleries - Benbecula, Isle of Harris, Isle of Raasay, Jura, North Uist, Talisker and Tarabhaig.
Visitors for the festival can expect to enjoy a dram or two, local food, tours, behind the scenes, live music, tastings and masterclasses.
Kicking off with Jura on 9 September, visitors can book in for a manager’s tour which includes an in-depth tour of the production processes, three drams, a complimentary glass and a 70cl Single Cask Distillery Exclusive bottling – matured and bottled on Jura.
On Wednesday 11 September it’s North Uist Distillery’s day where whisky fans can tour the brand new production hall at the historic Nunton Steadings. Visitors can enjoy gin samples, whisky cocktails, delicious food from the Lochmaddy Bay prawns food truck and live music. There will also be a Hebridean whisky tasting and autumn wreath making with Sian Swinton, which includes a Downpour G&T.
Also on 11 September is the Benbecula distillery day The latest distillery to the Hebridean Whisky Trail, this beautiful distillery, modelled on a lighthouse, will be offering tours, new make spirit and MacMillan spirits sensory experience, a chance to meet staff and a giveaway.
On Thursday 12 September is the Isle of Harris distillery day, which is set to be a busy one. From 10am the team will be launching their single cask festival release. Then there’s guided warehouse tours from 10-12pm, complementary mini tours of the distillery where visitors can try the Hearach and festival release, guided tastings of Hebridean Whisky Trail spirits, a Hearach Q&A, live music with Anna Macleod, food and drink from the car and cafe, finishing with a famous Harris ceilidh.
On Friday 13 is Talisker distillery and Isle of Raasay distillery day. At Talisker visitors can fill their own bottle of the festival release - 9-Year-Old Recharred Red Wine Cask. There’s also a behind the scenes tour, distillery tours, a sensory tasting of three Talisker drams and a chance to go kayaking with South Skye Sea Kayak. This experience takes participants on a kayaking adventure along the rugged coastline of Loch Harport and includes two drams.
Across the water on Raasay visitors can book into two special tours - a whisky and chocolate tasting, with Chocolates of Glenshiel, and a dunnage warehouse tour and tasting
Finally the last day of the festival, Saturday 14 September, is Torabhaig’s. Here there will be a Hebridean whisky trail panel discussion where guests can ask questions and hear from distillery leaders. There will also be hot food, live music, a distillery festival reserve bottling, a festival masterclass that includes three cask strength whiskies, whisky festival pairing and a festival finale cèilidh at An Crùbh.
Each distillery is selling tickets to events, although some are free and you can visit each without buying tickets although you won’t be able to attend certain events.
Tours are from about £20, the finale ceilidh is £15 for adults and £5 for children.
Find out more and buy tickets at the Hebridean Whisky Festival website.
