Thursday, September 14, 2017

SPIRIT OF SPEYSIDE WHISKY FESTIVAL ORGANISERS APPOINT NEW FESTIVAL MANAGER

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival organisers, have today officially announced the appointment of its new Festival Manager.

John Blyth, will take over the helm of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival next month, and will be tasked with introducing the event to an even bigger audience at home and abroad.

New Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Manager - John Blyth

John, who latterly worked in marketing and events in the financial services sector, joins the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, as it prepares to expand its international reach and grow its fledgling mini-festival, Spirit of Speyside: Distilled.

He has extensive experience in delivering consumer events, having delivered one of the UK’s biggest retail event programmes for Royal Bank of Scotland, engaging with over 1.5m branch customers at a series of 700 events nationwide.

John, from Penicuik in Midlothian, has developed a considerable passion for whisky outside his career, having visited over 80 Scotch whisky distilleries, including 29 in Speyside.

A graduate of the popular John Lamond Whisky Trail Certificate Course – the world’s first Scotch whisky evening class - he also shares his knowledge about Scotland’s national drink by delivering tasting events.

Commenting on the news, John Blyth, said: “Whisky has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember,” says John. “I always knew it was a special occasion when Dad got a bottle of malt out to share among family and friends: it was always held in such high regard and I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to drink it. I may have started out as an amateur enthusiast, but as that interest has developed so too have my aspirations to become something of a whisky expert.”

He went onto say: “Even those with a very basic knowledge of Scotch whisky know that the true spiritual home of this drink is in Speyside, and I am both honoured and excited to be joining the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival team at such a critical stage in its development. Scotch whisky has grown in popularity both in the UK and overseas in recent years, and there has never been a better time to capitalise on that interest and to draw even more visitors to the Festival to learn about the region’s outstanding product.”

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2018, will take place between May 3rd to 7th. Details of the international judging sessions for the whisky awards will be announced later this year. The full programme for the 2018 Festival is currently being developed and will be unveiled early in the new year.

Posted by Steve Rush