Great news! All our events are now ready and available for ticket purchase.
Please note numbers are limited and demand is high – be sure to book your tickets early to avoid disappointment!
BWF at St Margaret’s!
Date and time:
Saturday, October 26 · 12 noon – 4:30/5:00pm
Ticket price:
£15
Location:
St Margaret’s Braemar
St Margaret’s Hall, in the centre of the village is the beating heart of the Braemar Whisky Festival! This hub will showcase, Bacardi’s core range, Aberfeldy, Craigellachie, Glen Deveron, Aultmore and the most rewarded blended Scotch whisky of all time, Dewar’s! Other wonderful whiskies presented here include Fettercairn, the Independent whisky and whisky Merchant The Strong Water Co and many more. With live music, cash bar and a Q&A session with industry leaders.
The Balvenie Dinner,
presented by David C Stewart MBE
Friday, October 25 · 7 - 11:30pm
The Royal Salute Coronation Masterclass
Saturday, October 26 · 3:30 - 6pm
The Best of the GlenAllachie Dinner presented by Billy Walker
Saturday, October 26 · 7 - 11:30pm
Rosebank
Reawakened
Saturday October 26 • 3.30pm - 5pm
Rare and Exceptional at Royal Lochnagar
Friday October 25 • 12 noon – 3pm
Saturday October 26 • 12 noon – 3pm
Introducing Wildmoor:
‘A Whisky More Wild’
Friday, October 25 • 3.30pm to 6pm
Retrace the steps of the illicit distillers around Braemar with Highland ponies and drams
Saturday October 26 • 3.30pm - 5pm
GlenAllachie Distillers Masterclass hosted by Master Blender Billy Walker
Friday, October 25 · 3:00 - 4:30pm
The Dalmore Distillery Select Exclusive Tasting
Friday, October 25 · 3:00 - 4:30pm
EVENTS LIST
The Balvenie Dinner,
presented by David C Stewart MBE
Friday, October 25 · 7 – 11:30pm
Ticket price
£350.00
Location
The Fife Arms, Mar Road Braemar AB35 5YN
About this event
As the industry’s longest-serving Malt Master, David Stewart’s six decades of service at The Balvenie represent one of Scotch whisky’s truly great careers. Tracing his early days as a humble stocks clerk, via his pioneering of cask finishing in the 1980s, to the stunning release of his life’s work, a single cask 60-year-old in 2022, David shares stories and drams in the luxurious surroundings of The Fife Arms’ Fog House, alongside The Balvenie’s Global and UK Ambassadors, Charlie Metcalfe and Sean Fennelly. An unmissable evening in the company of an industry icon.
This bespoke three course dinner will be paired with the folllowing whiskies;
Drams
- The Balvenie Doublewood 12yr
- The Balvenie Portwood 21yr
- The Balvenie Tun 1509
- The Balvenie Stories ‘A Rare Discovery From Distant Shores’ 27yr
- An unreleased cask sample, specially chosen by David for this evening alone
Berties Bar has been excluslvely booked off for guests of this private dinner from 10pm onwards for those who wish for the evening to be continued.
Dress code: Smart casual
The Royal Salute Coronation Masterclass
Saturday, October 26 · 3:30 – 6pm
Ticket price
£150.00
Location
Braemar Castle, Braemar, Aberdeenshire AB35 5XR
About this event
A magical tasting of spectacularly crafted Royal Salute Scotch whiskies representing the art of aged blending at its brilliant best. Originally created as a bespoke gift and tribute to the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth on 2nd June 1953, the enchanting Royal Salute Collection is steeped in history and recognised by many as the Holy Grail in the world of ultra-luxury Scotch whisky.
Hosted by Peter Prentice with many tales to tell from his 38 years of whiskying adventure, this is an opportunity of a lifetime to live the Royal Salute dream as the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ of the Chivas Bros portfolio. This tantalising collection of Royal Salute whiskies has been hand-selected by Peter to bring the very best out of Braemar. Fit for Kings & Queens and Maharajas & Maharanis, come and indulge yourself in this bewitching feast of magnificent drams and stories. We promise you’ll never forget it, especially with the accompanying iconic Royal Salute Quaich Toast ritual…‘God Save the King!’
- The Royal Salute 21yo Signature Blend, 40% abv
- The Royal Salute 21yo Malts Blend, 40% abv
- The Royal Salute 21yo Miami Polo Edition, 40% abv
- The Strathisla 18yo 2024 Distillery Exclusive, 48% abv
- The Royal Salute 32yo, Union of Crowns, 40% abv
- The Royal Salute 38yo, Stone of Destiny, 40% abv
- The Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute – Original Reserve, 43% abv
- The Royal Salute Vault Dram, drawn directly from one Chivas Bros most precious old casks, at cask strength.
The Best of the GlenAllachie Dinner presented by Billy Walker
Saturday, October 26 · 7 – 11:30pm
Ticket price
£350.00
Location
The Fife Arms, Mar Road, Braemar AB35 5YN
About this event
Enjoy a whisky cocktail inspired by GlenAllachie on arrival at the Fog House, the private dining room in the heart of the Fife Arms Hotel, Braemar. Mingle with senior Scotch whisky industry figures before sitting down to a bespoke three-course dinner expertly made by award winning chefs paired with wine for each course. During dinner, the whisky legend Billy Walker will present his chosen expressions from The GlenAllachie Distillery with an explanation of how and why each was created.
The GlenAllachie dinner hosted by Billy Walker is strictly limited to 40 covers. Tickets are essential and sold on a first come, first served basis.
Whiskies presented by Billy Walker
GlenAllachie 10yo Cask Strength
GlenAllachie 12yo
GlenAllachie 15yo
GlenAllachie 30yo Batch 4
White Heather 21yo
GlenAllachie Mizunara
Oloroso Wood Finish 17yo
“At the helm of The GlenAllachie Distillers Company is celebrated Master Distiller Billy Walker who boasts over 50 years in the Scotch whisky industry. Having worked across household-name brands throughout his illustrious career, his learned philosophies are at the heart of everything we do at The GlenAllachie.”
Dress code: Smart casual.
Rosebank Reawakened
Saturday October 26 • 3.30pm – 5pm
Ticket price
£185.00
Location
Berties Bar, The Fife Arms, Mar Road, Braemar AB35 5YN
About this event
Join us for a unique opportunity to experience the Rosebank range with Gordon Dundas.
The long-awaited revival of Rosebank Distillery in the heart of the Lowlands happened in 2023, when spirit began to flow again for the first time in over 30 years. When the distillery was acquired by Ian Macleod Distillers in 2017, a small and precious pocket of stock from the late 1980s and early 1990s came with it. These casks were amongst the last to be filled before the distillery closed in 1993.
Here is your unique opportunity to hear about the miraculous survival and reawakening of the “King of the Lowlands” whilst enjoying some special whiskies. Gordon will talk you through the 31 and 32 year old releases, as well as our oldest release to date, the 1989 Distillery Exclusive. Also included in the line up is a sample of our new make spirit which showcases the triple distillation which faithfully replicates how things were done when the distillery first operated in 1840.
Along with this ticket we are offering a free tour and invitation to Rosebank Distillery which can be redeemed after this event.
Rare and Exceptional at Royal Lochnagar
Friday October 25 • 12 noon – 3pm
Saturday October 26 • 12 noon – 3pm
Ticket price
£300 per person, 8 places per day available
Location
Royal Lochnagar Distillery, Crathie, Balmoral, Ballater AB35 5TB
About this event
Join the Diageo Rare & Exceptional team for a celebration of the inaugural Braemar Whisky Festival experience in the peaceful surroundings of Royal Lochnagar distillery. Led by Dr. Craig Wilson, a senior member of Diageo’s Whisky Specialist team, you will have the opportunity to sample some of the rarest liquids produced at the acclaimed Royal Lochnagar distillery.
The afternoon will begin with a welcome cocktail and a light lunch of locally sourced produce while chatting with Craig, before being led on a private tour of the production site by our Distillery Manager Andrew Thain. Once the tour is complete, Andrew & Craig will lead you to our duty-paid warehouse on site, where you will have the opportunity to sample rare drams straight from the cask. Then, returning to the comfort of our private tasting room you will sample four rare & exclusive Royal Lochnagar single malt whiskies – including a highly coveted dram from the exclusive Prima and Ultima collection. This tutored tasting, led by Dr Wilson, will offer significant insight into the moments in time that give these bottlings their significance in Royal Lochnagar rich whisky history. Drawn from a collection of the rarest and most unique expressions to hail from Royal Lochnagar distillery, the chance to enjoy these drams ought not to be missed.
We invite our guests to enjoy our experience responsibly and non-alcoholic options will be provided upon request. Please make us aware of any dietary requirements.
Friday, October 25 • 3.30pm to 6pm
Ticket price
£95
Location
Braemar Castle, Braemar, Aberdeenshire AB35 5XR
About this event
WILDMOOR is a new and epic range of blended Scotch whiskies from William Grant & Sons, inspired by the Scottish wilderness. Drawn from the William Grant & Sons family private reserve of whiskies – considered to be the widest and most extensive in the industry – these are extremely rare and prestige liquids from across Scotland.
WILDMOOR combines malt and grain whiskies, some of which are finished to intensify the flavour further, richly and powerfully, encapsulating the elemental majesty of the Scottish wilds in an unprecedented way. A journey into uncharted flavour. A whisky more wild.
The range consists of
WILDMOOR Dark Moorland: 23 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky
WILDMOOR Rugged Coast: 30 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky
WILDMOOR Black Mountain: 40 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky
Saturday, October 26 • 11.00am to 3pm
Ticket price
POA
Location
Braemar
About this event
Join Alan Winchester, with 50 year’s experience of whisky making and world renowned expert on illicit distilling (your article will be available in the ‘read more’ section) to step back in time tracing the routes of the Highland whisky smugglers and illicit distillers around the hills surrounding Braemar. Two Highland ponies, the traditional mode of transport across Scotland and still used today to bring deer off the hill, will carry drams in kegs with lunch, literally on the hoof! Illicit distilling was a byproduct of agriculture across Scotland and a means of supplementing the Highlander’s income or as a recognised and highly prized currency for centuries and arguably still such today!
A gentle hike round the hills with frequent dramming and picnic lunch, regaled with tales of these ingenious Highlanders.
Alan has dedicated almost half a century to the Scotch whisky industry. It began with a summer job as a distillery guide in 1975, which quickly progressed to a full-time production role. During the ensuing 47 years, Alan has been involved with more than 21 distilleries.
This including taking responsibility for 14 malt distilleries when he was named distillery manager for Chivas Brothers in 2002, a role in which he also oversaw the re-opening of Glen Keith and the development of a new distillery in Speyside, Dalmunach.
During this time, Alan extended his influence beyond the distilleries and represented Chivas on a number of industry bodies, including as president of the management committee of the Malt Distillers Association of Scotland and as chairman of the Scottish section of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling. Upon leaving his role at Chivas Brothers in 2018, Alan moved to The Glenlivet, where he served as master distiller until his retirement in 2022. But this is not the end of the story: Alan is continuing his involvement with the industry as a distillery advisor, serving as a director at the Cabrach Distillery, supporting the owners of the Isle of Barra distillery in their mission to make whisky.
In 2017 he was named master distiller of the year in the Scottish regional round of the Icons of Whisky awards. He is a master of the Keepers of the Quaich, holds a fellowship from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling, and has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Spirit of Speyside and the International Spirits Challenge.
Throughout his career, one of Alan’s strongest interests has been in the history of the whisky industry, trading thoughts and discoveries with colleagues and journalists around the world. For many of his peers, Alan’s knowledge of and passion for the industry is second to none.
Interest in the History of Scotland, has led to investigation of the illicit distilling industry and its locations, working as a volunteer in the Pioneering Spirit collaboration between the National Trust of Scotland and The Glenlivet, looking at the archaeological remains of early distilling.
Alan has dedicated almost half a century to the Scotch whisky industry. It began with a summer job as a distillery guide in 1975, which quickly progressed to a full-time production role. During the ensuing 47 years, Alan has been involved with more than 21 distilleries.
This including taking responsibility for 14 malt distilleries when he was named distillery manager for Chivas Brothers in 2002, a role in which he also oversaw the re-opening of Glen Keith and the development of a new distillery in Speyside, Dalmunach.
During this time, Alan extended his influence beyond the distilleries and represented Chivas on a number of industry bodies, including as president of the management committee of the Malt Distillers Association of Scotland and as chairman of the Scottish section of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling. Upon leaving his role at Chivas Brothers in 2018, Alan moved to The Glenlivet, where he served as master distiller until his retirement in 2022. But this is not the end of the story: Alan is continuing his involvement with the industry as a distillery advisor, serving as a director at the Cabrach Distillery, supporting the owners of the Isle of Barra distillery in their mission to make whisky.
In 2017 he was named master distiller of the year in the Scottish regional round of the Icons of Whisky awards. He is a master of the Keepers of the Quaich, holds a fellowship from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling, and has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Spirit of Speyside and the International Spirits Challenge.
Throughout his career, one of Alan’s strongest interests has been in the history of the whisky industry, trading thoughts and discoveries with colleagues and journalists around the world. For many of his peers, Alan’s knowledge of and passion for the industry is second to none.
Interest in the History of Scotland, has led to investigation of the illicit distilling industry and its locations, working as a volunteer in the Pioneering Spirit collaboration between the National Trust of Scotland and The Glenlivet, looking at the archaeological remains of early distilling.
GlenAllachie Distillers Masterclass hosted by Master Blender Billy Walker
Friday, October 25 · 3:00 – 4:30pm
Ticket price
£45
Location
Tor Workshop, Braemar Mews
Braemar AB35 5YL
About this event
At The GlenAllachie, each decision in creating our award-winning Speyside single malt Scotch whisky merges logic with instinct. In the experienced hands of legendary whisky maker Billy Walker, a culture of precision, patience and perseverance has been instilled in his small yet accomplished team of whisky experts.
This Masterclass hosted by Billy Walker will include;
GlenAllachie Sauternes 12yo
GlenAllachie 15yo
GlenAllachie 10yo Cask Strength Batch 11
GlenAllachie 18yo
White Heather 21yo
Meikle Toir 2024 Turbo Edition
The Dalmore Distillery Select Exclusive Tasting
Friday, October 25 · 3:00 – 4:30pm
Ticket price
£150
Location
Bertie’s Bar, The Fife Arms, Braemar, AB35 5YN
About this event
The Dalmore is the iconic Highland Distillery, founded to reimagine what it is to create an exceptional Single Malt Whisky. Surrounded by Scotland’s natural beauty, the precious whisky is laid down in carefully curated casks, to develop in character through time under the watchful eye of The Dalmore’s whisky makers.
Join us for an exclusive guided tasting of The Dalmore Distillery Select Series with The Dalmore Global Specialist, Craig Swindell as part of the Braemar Whisky Festival.
This collection of whiskies has been hand-selected by The Dalmore’s Whisky Makers in celebration of The Dalmore’s Highland home.
Featuring very rare parcels of spirit laid down in specific casks hand-selected by The Dalmore’s whisky makers, each expression has been selected to highlight how the casks enhance, complement or contrast an element of our signature house style to create a masterpiece of malt.
The tasting will feature:
The Dalmore Distillery Select 2009 Vintage Sherry Cask Finish
The Dalmore Distillery Select 2007 Amarone and Port Cask Finishes
The Dalmore Distillery Select 2000 Vintage Calvados Finish
The Dalmore Cask Curation Port Edition
Supporting the Maclean Foundation
We will be making a donation from ticket sales to the Maclean Foundation, whose mission is to create positive change through compassion and the spirit of adventure.
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