A surge of interest is expected when Speyside distilleries, which have never opened their doors to the public before, welcome their first tours.
Three sites will host guests for the first time as part of the annual Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival this spring.
Tickets for the events at Speyburn, Knockando and Balmenach are expected to sell out within hours when they go on sale next week.
The distilleries are joining dozens of others to share their once closely-guarded secrets about how their whisky is created.
Festival manager Pery Zakeri said: “If you are a real whisky enthusiast, then you will understand and appreciate just how special it is to be able to access these distilleries – it’s why tickets for these events sell out so quickly.
“It’s almost like belonging to a small and exclusive club because so few people can say that they have stepped across the threshold.
“For those who are truly passionate about Speyside whisky, being able to say they have visited somewhere only a handful of other people have been is like wearing a badge of honour.”
The tours are part of a 500-event programme that stretches from Kingussie to Forres and Buckie over five days, beginning on April 27.
Festival chairman James Campbell added: “For years, Speyside has been a bit of a hidden gem, but we now welcome visitors from all over the world – we are standing by to see yet another increase in international guests.”
Tickets for the tours will go on sale at noon on Tuesday, February 7 online at www.spiritofspeyside.com.
