Homecoming 2009 | A year of top whisky events
In 2009, whisky enthusiasts are invited to Scotland to take part in a year long festival with whisky at its heart. From Speyside smugglers’ trails and whisky dinners to island ceilidhs and malt cruises, 2009 is a whisky aficionado’s dream come true!
Homecoming Scotland marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s national poet (and lover of whisky!) Robert Burns.
More than 100 events will mark the occasion and, of course, it seems only right that Scotland's national drink plays a key role in the celebrations.
So why not join us for a tipple at these top whisky events?
- Burns' 250th Anniversary Weekend
- Speyside Whisky Festival
- Whisky Month
- Spirit of the West
- Isle of Barra Whisky Galore Festival
- Whisky Week
And don't forget to take in these top whisky trails:
Whisky Coast
Scotland's Malt Whisky Trail
Join a toast to the bard
January 24-25
To launch Homecoming 2009, Ayrshire will play host to an official Burns supper to kick off a national celebration of Scotland's national bard at Burns' 250th Anniversary Weekend.
Traditional Burns suppers - of which whisky plays an integral part - live music and general merriment abound to mark this international cultural icon, whose message of friendship and Auld Lang Syne lives on.
The weekend of Robert Burns' 250th anniversary aims to create the world’s biggest (virtual) Burns supper.
Make merry in Speyside: Malt whisky country
May 1-10
Celebrate whisky, music, food and fun at the biggest ever Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.
Whisky lovers can look forward to a 10-day extravaganza across stunning Speyside, a region which produces some of the most famous malts in the world.
The special Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme will mark the event's 10th anniversary, bringing some exciting new events, including a series of distillery open door days, smugglers’ trails and whisky/food matching dining opportunities.
There's also the Scottish Serenade - a dramatic musical celebration of Speyside's heritage and traditions.
And don't forget to take in the way-marked Malt Whisky Trail.
With only three out of the world's 10 best selling malts produced outside Speyside, this is a festival not to be missed.
Watch the masters at work
May 1 -31
The entire month of May is dedicated to the expertise or the stillsmen and master blenders behind Scotland's national tipple.
The events at Whisky Month give visitors an unrivalled opportunity to explore the whisky regions of Scotland - the Lowlands, Highlands (including Speyside and the islands), Campbeltown and Islay.
Kicking off at the biggest ever Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, distilleries will throw open their doors to visitors and locals alike.
From a tasting session at The Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh, to a 3-day whisky course in Fife, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a dram or two.
The month-long celebrations will conclude with Feis Ile, Islay's annual Malt and Music Festival.
Taste the Dram(a)
May 16-17
A weekend celebration of the culture and heritage that dominates the West Coast of Scotland, Spirit of the West has whisky at its heart.
Visit Inveraray Castle and discover this region's special history and traditions.
This event is an absolute must for whisky connoisseurs and novice drinkers alike. Explore the whisky marquee and learn more about the Whisky Coast distilleries - a headline event which presents demonstrations, nosings, tastings and masterclasses.
The Whisky Coast trail is dramatic, mysterious and magical - and this event will showcase the very fabric of that coastline.
Revel in the spirit of Whisky Galore
Sept 18 -20
The first ever Isle of Barra Whisky Galore Festival will bring the spirit of the legendary film to this beautiful Hebridean outpost.
Based on a true story, the film tells of a group of Scottish islanders who raided a shipwreck off the island of Eriskay (later fictionalised as Todday in the 1949 film, Whisky Galore) for its consignment of 24,000 cases of whisky.
Whisky being a rare wartime commodity, the islanders were keen to do whatever it took to save the ship's precious cargo from a watery end.
With a weekend of events celebrating the story and its place in Hebridean history, the 60th anniversary of the film promises to be a great opportunity for those who want to explore this serene part of the world and whisky lovers alike.
Promising to be full of laughs, take part in hunt the whisky, enjoy a round of Golf, or simply have a craic with the locals.
Enjoy a week of whisky as the nights draw in
Nov 6 - 12
A week long celebration of Scotch whisky, finishing with Whisky Live in Glasgow on Sat 12 November. Whisky Week will enjoy dedicated gala whisky dinners in venues across Scotland, so take advantage of a waming dram as the winter draws in across Scotland.
Homecoming Scotland 2009: Don't miss it!
Homecoming is based on 4 key themes (Robert Burns, Whisky, Golf, Great Scottish Minds and innovations and Scottish ancestry).
Find more information about the year-long programme of events taking place across Scotland visit Homecoming Scotland 2009.