Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival launches 2025 events preview - what to look out for

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has established itself as one of the world’s largest, with almost 500 events across 89 venues in six days kicking off this year from April 30.

A preview of all the events launched on Friday 24 January, with tickets going on sale from 12 noon on Monday 3 February.

Now in its 26th year, reflecting on last year’s record-breaking event, sales were up 23% with just over 8,400 tickets sold and visitors coming far and wide from 39 different countries.

An economic impact assessment revealed that the 2024 Festival generated over £2.2million to the local economy during the festival and supported around 20 full-time jobs.

Henry Angus is to take over the tenure as Chair from George McNeil for this year’s Festival. A well-respected figure in Speyside, his career spans across established companies in Morayshire and Aberdeenshire.

After a long-standing relationship with the Festival, he recently joined the Board and is looking forward to taking the helm and helping further elevate its stature.

Henry said: “Last year was record-breaking and the spotlight was firmly on Speyside. This is the most populous whisky region with the greatest array of distilleries at any festival globally.

"It brings together whisky fans, distillers and visitors that love this beautiful part of the world. From masterclasses to music, from quizzes to fireside gatherings, from culture to history the calendar is full of opportunities to share the water of life with fellow whisky lovers, aficionados and people that just enjoy a dram.”

With 28 villages and towns in Moray Speyside, many of the 51 distilleries will throw open their doors including a number that are usually closed to the public.

Characterised by rolling patchwork hills, a terrain that epitomises the whisky produced and the meandering River Spey that lends its waters to making some of the world’s finest whisky, this Festival has it all.

The event will kick off with an industry dinner on Wed 30 April, co-hosted by Speyside Distillers Ltd followed by the annual ceilidh on 2 May for visitors to the Festival.

Both events will take place for the first time at the Macdonald Highlands Hotel, in Aviemore.

Usually pre-sold, a rare opportunity to secure a spot at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky School will launch this year, along with the ticket sales.

Some events at the 2025 Spirit of Speyside festival

• Spirit of Speyside Whisky School – a 3-and-a-half-day programme where visitors can explore the history, science, and craftsmanship behind Scotch whisky.
• Whisky & Waves – join Murray McDavid at their beach huts in Findhorn where you can paint the scenery and sip on drams.
• The Cabrach Land of The Wild Spirit – Speyside’s newest distillery for an intimate tour.
• The Malt Master Tour hosted by Brian Kinsman - tour the Glenfiddich Distillery with Brian and enjoy a tutored master class with the man himself.
• The Mastery of the Macallan – six-course tasting menu served in the new TimeSpirit restaurant and a guided production experience through the distillery with a tutored tasting.
• Cask Confidential – an exclusive Glen Moray & Whisky Talks Experience – hosted by Fraser Campbell with a panel of special guest speakers and where attendees can find out about new releases.
• Fire at the Fiddich - New for this years festival, this is less of an event and more of a central hub with music, amazing food and a pop-up bar, open throughout the festival. Created by two festival partners, Right to Roam and Larkfire, it's a chance to mix with other festival goers and enjoy some great food, a dram or two, and listen to great live music.
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