May is the month that is always jam-packed full of Scotch Whisky Festivals, starting with The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival and finishing with the eight-day long endurance test that is known as Feis Ile - The Islay Festival of Music and Whisky. 

From the 1st of May until 6th of May, Speyside is awash with distillery events, dinners, outdoor entertainment and whisky tastings. In an area of Scotland where every signpost mentions a distillery, this festival will satisfy the novice whisky enthusiast to the seasoned.

Next is the Stirling Whisky Festival, a one-day event held in the centre of town at The Stirling Highland Hotel on the 11th May. A traditional affair with many exhibitors and even more attendees, it's a great chance to sample some drams that are out of reach at your local bar.

The first round of the Whisky Olympics is next - The Campbeltown Malts Festival is a three-day event hosted in Scotland's smallest whisky region from 21st to the 23rd.  All three distilleries, Springbank, Glen Gyle and Glen Scotia take part and between them compile a full schedule of whisky, music and ceilidh.

Campbeltown Malts Festival 2019

Conveniently the Campbeltown festival is hosted on the days directly preceding the big one... The Islay Festival of Music and Malt and geographically Campbeltown is a handy place to venture to Islay from, it is just 30 minutes from the Islay ferry. 

Feis Ile is round two of the whisky Olympics (if you have the stamina to attend Campbeltown and Islay back to back), running from Friday 24th May until Saturday 1st June. Every distillery on the island has an open day, including Jura. Check out the full programme details at islayfestival.com. Also worth noting is that even the hotels and local halls have their own ceilidhs, concerts and dances to celebrate the islands busiest week of the year.

Feis Ile

Handy tip, if you are attending any of the events listed above you will need a travelling whisky water dropper, click here to read more.

 

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