Scotland Serves Up First Whiskey Fest

One wonders why it hasn’t been done before, and yet organizers say that the International Scotch Whiskey Festival, Oct. 27 through Nov. 2, will be a first for Scotland.

It’s sponsored by the Scottish Tourist Board and various distilleries, and more than 40 events are scheduled so far for the weeklong festival in the Speyside region and in Edinburgh. They include tours and tastings at the Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Glenfarcias, Glen Grant and Cragganmore distilleries; blending demonstrations; hikes to ruins of illegal 19th century stills; dinners; and a food fair. Prices range from about $5 to $123 per event.

For information, contact a travel agent or festival offices; tel. 011-44-131-556-7441, fax 011-44-131-556-9818. Among those organizing tours is San Diego-based Sterling Tours (tel. [800] 727-4359 and Pittsburgh-based Aspects of Britain (tel. [800] 866-7526, Ext. 611).