A new gin festival is due to be launched in the heart of malt whisky country to celebrate other distilling producers in the area.
Speyside has developed a global reputation during the last 200 years for serving some of the finest drams in the world.
However, now the region’s 13 new gin producers will step into the spotlight as part of an event to take place during the summer.
The extravaganza is being driven by the organisers of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, which has attracted thousands of people to the area every May for 20 years.
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Now a fresh programme of events is being drawn up for July featuring events spread across the region at locations including Elgin, Aberlour, Keith, Forres, Grantown and Dufftown.
Festival chairman James Campbell said: “It’s been impossible to ignore the huge growth in gin production in recent years and we are incredibly proud of the high-quality product being made here on Speyside.
“Our rich heritage and tradition in the art of distilling has fuelled the knowledge and skill of these producers, who are creating some of the best gin that Scotland has to offer.
“Just as the drinks industry on Speyside is diversifying, we felt the time was right for the Spirit of Speyside to evolve and add another string to its bow.”
The new event, which has been christened Spirit of Speyside: The Gin Experience, will feature a garden party at Gordon Castle in Fochabers on July 13 with further events due to be added on the preceding and following day.
The attraction’s own gin will feature at the event as well as other producers including Avva, El-gin, Caorunn and Red Door.
Other events being organised as part of the programme include opportunities to meet the distillers as well as masterclasses to make cocktails.
The drink makers have already featured as part of the Spirit of Speyside’s Distilled event, which has been held in Elgin Town Hall in recent years.
Mr Campbell added: “We anticipate that in the early years the event will attract a relatively local audience but we hope that one day The Gin Experience will grow to be every bit as popular as our flagship whisky event.”
The Gin Experience will run from July 12 to 14.
