We especially enjoyed our tour of the seven still of Dufftown, guided by Ian Millar, Manager at Glenfiddich and Martine Nouet, which included a unique nip in the Solera vat.  A nosing at Macallan by Malt Master Bob Dalgano featured rare 1946 and 1948 malts, their Millennium decanter edition and other rare single cask Macallan malts from the 70s and 80s.  A special evening highlight was the Scottish Country Ball at the Huntly Castle Hotel, featuring the Huntly Pipe Band and a traditional ceilidh.

Another success was the Land of Spirit Tour, hosted by Yvonne Thackeray of Chivas Bros and guided through the castles, abbeys and distilleries of Speyside by muse and writer Ron Reid, with warm hospitality provided by Glen Grant and Strathisla distilleries.  The Festival concluded with a combined tour of Johnston's of Elgin cashmere mill, lunch at the mill, and a tour of Glen Moray distillery hosted by Tracey Davidson and Manager Ed Dodson - fabulous value at £6.

Our first presentation of "Whisky Classified" at the Cluny Bank Hotel, Forres was well attended, with some guests staying until well after midnight.  The range of malt whiskies by flavour was illustrated by a sponsored malt whisky tasting, followed by a whisky-themed dinner created by resident chef Pamela van Ankeren. 

From the Forres Gazette, May 16, 2001 They "nose" their stuff!      One of Scotland's leading experts on classifying malt whiskies by their flavour, Dr David Wishart (left), passes on some of the secrets to Cluny Bank Hotel owner Mr René Looper during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.2001       Dr Wishart, of the School of Management at the University of St Andrews is writing a book on whisky classification which is due to be published next year.       His talk to a small audience at Cluny Bank described the differences between each malt and provided an opportunity to taste some of the most distinctive of malts including the Macallan, Glenfiddich Special Reserve, Glengoyne, Highland Park, Laphroaig, and the Balvenie Founders Reserve.