Press release -
A dram fine month of events
A brand new event on Lewis will feature in the nationwide Whisky Month celebrations in May, part of Homecoming Scotland 2014, it has been announced.
Abhainn Dearg, Scotland’s most westerly distillery, will be hosting special whisky-tasting sessions from 26-31 May, opening on a Saturday for the very first time in the process.
Dr Alasdair Allan, the Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland's Languages, made the announcement during a special visit to the Uig-based distillery, where he met with founder Mark Tayburn and other members of Abhainn Dearg staff.
Dr Allan, a Lewis resident, was speaking ahead of the Scottish Government Cabinet meeting in Stornoway. Highlighting the programme for Whisky Month at Abhainn Dearg Distillery, Dr Allan said: “Scotland is a modern, dynamic nation with a rich heritage, a global reach and confident of our place in the world and with that Scotch Whisky is one of our most iconic products with a huge global demand.
“I’m particularly happy to be able visit one of Scotland’s newest and most rural distilleries in advance of next month’s Whisky Month. Whisky-based tourism is very important to Scotland’s visitor economy and with Abhainn Dearg already open and another distillery on the way, I am sure the Western Isles will take their place on the uisge beatha trail.
“This exciting range of unmissable whisky events, fantastic festivals, special tours and tastings, Whisky Month invites visitors and locals to sample Scotland’s national drink as well as explore both the traditional and contemporary blend of stories, circumstances, provenance and science behind our vast array of marvellous malts.
“It’s estimated that up to 50 million people world-wide can claim Scottish ancestry, and many more have a connection with Scotland through visiting, working or studying in Scotland. I have no doubt that some of them will be raising a glass of Scotland’s especially as we welcome the world through Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Commonwealth Games and The Ryder Cup.”
The Whisky Month tasting sessions will coincide with the opening of a new shop at Abhainn Dearg, allowing ‘Water of Life’ aficionados to buy high-quality single malts on site.
Abhainn Dearg exported its first whisky from the Outer Hebrides in 2010 and, although production is relatively new, the philosophy and distilling processes are based on hundreds of years of Hebridean tradition.
Alan MacKenzie, VisitScotland Island Manager, said: “We are delighted to see the continued success and growth of the Abhainn Dearg Distillery and it is great that, in the year of Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Outer Hebrides are featuring in the Whisky Month programme. Next year is the year of Food & Drink – an area in which the Outer Hebrides excels, and I am sure that Abhainn Dearg and other local businesses will have a big part to play in 2015.”
Whisky Month incorporates events throughout Scotland, starting with the Spirit of Speyside Festival, taking in Edinburgh’s Whisky Strammach and the international celebrations around World Whisky Day and ends with the blissful surroundings of Feis Ile – The Islay Festival.
For further information on the Whisky Month programme and for further information on Homecoming Scotland 2014 visit www.homecomingscotland.com/whiskymonth For more information on the Abhainn Dearg Distillery and for event times, go to: www.abhainndearg.co.uk
ENDS
For further information contact:
Tom Maxwell
Corporate Press Officer
0131 472 2409
Out of hours media enquiries: 07699 766986
Topics
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- homecoming 2014
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Notes to Editors:
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- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation has three key roles:
- To market Scotland to all parts of the world to attract visitors
- To provide information – and inspiration – to visitors and potential visitors so they get the best out of a visit to Scotland
- To provide quality assurance to visitors and quality advice to the industry and partners to help the industry meet and strive to exceed customer expectations
- VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- 2014 is the year Scotland welcomes the world, when it hosts the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and more than 800 Homecoming events throughout the country.For more information on Homecoming Scotland 2014, go to www.visitscotland.com
- The VisitScotland Information Centre network is a unique face-to-face channel engaging with around five million visitors and locals each year. Everyone who uses a VisitScotland Information Centre goes on to spend an additional £5.35, generating over £24 million for Scotland’s economy.
- According to a recent Deloitte study, tourism employs 270,000 people in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses. The same study calculates that the industry contributes £11 billion annually (direct and indirect impact, including day visits) and supports around 10 per cent of employment in Scotland. Almost 16 million tourists take overnight trips to Scotland.
- Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
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