Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival

Build your own Whisky Cask with Murray McDavid’s Cooper

Have a go at building your own whisky barrel with Jason Taylor, the cooper at Murray McDavid’s Coleburn Distillery Whisky Warehouses. Casks are at the beating heart of what gives the whisky its flavour and Coleburn Warehouse’s very own experienced Cooper will guide you on how to make yours. At the end of your gallant efforts to construct your cask, you will toast your efforts with a few drams, and enjoy a good chat with Jason about the craft of cask-making.

Drams from the Cask with Murray McDavid’s Head of Whisky Creation

Join whisky expert, Dean Jode, Head of Whisky Creations at Murray McDavid, for a special cask tasting. Dean will be opening casks at Murray McDavid’s traditional Victorian Whisky Warehouses at Coleburn Distillery. He will describe his pioneering approach to the Art of Maturation whilst sharing a few drams from some of his favourite casks with you. With single malt and grain whiskies from over 80 different distilleries (possibly the largest variety of cask whisky under one roof in Scotland!), this tour gives a behind-the-scenes view of the innovative maturation techniques that go into creating Murray McDavid’s inspired Scotch whisky.

Inside the unique Coleburn Distillery Whisky Warehouse

Enjoy a tour of the Coleburn Distillery Whisky Warehouses. A highly experienced team will guide you around the truly exceptional Victorian dunnage warehouse with its unique collection of cask whisky. You will hear about the Art of Maturation and how the Murray McDavid brand develops its impressive range of inspired Scotch whisky.

Fact: Coleburn Distillery Whisky Warehouse is the home of Murray McDavid, where they store their most prized and precious rare casks. It has whiskies from over 80 different whisky distilleries – perhaps the largest variety of Scotch under one roof in the whole of Scotland. Included in the tour is the chance to try a very special dram from the latest Murray McDavid range of independent bottlings.

Fine Dining at Dallas Dhu House – Murray McDavid

Join Murray McDavid at Dallas Dhu House, their impressive Victorian mansion in Forres, for a convivial evening of fine dining, superb whisky in a candlelit setting. You will be presented with a seasonal selection from Scotland’s natural larder which will be paired with very special whiskies selected from the Murray McDavid archives. This is a chance to enjoy some fine food, rare whiskies, and good conversation in the company of fellow whisky lovers. Each table will be hosted by a member of The Murray McDavid Team.

Lunch with Fine Drams at a Salmon Fishing Hut with Murray McDavid + a Fly-Fishing Demonstration

Enjoy some fine drams and lunch on the banks of the world-famous salmon river, the River Spey, with the Murray McDavid Team. This whisky-tasting event includes a fly-fishing demonstration with a local fishing ghillie. Guests will have an opportunity to do a bit casting themselves. All in all, an incredible way to spend an afternoon in the heart of the Speyside countryside.

Wildlife Walk and Whisky with Murray McDavid

Join Murray McDavid’s MD, Edward Odim, on a whisky and wildlife walk. Starting with tea and a bacon roll at Dallas Dhu House, before setting off on a gentle nature walk through the Sanquhar Forest. Your guide Edward is an ex-BBC Natural History Producer and an avid wildlife and bird enthusiast. There will be stops along the way to enjoy a very special selection of old and rare drams from the Murray McDavid archives. Returning from the walk, guests will be served a farewell dram at Dallas Dhu House to set them on their way! Speyside offers a wide variety of flora, fauna, and interesting birds, so, with Spring in the air, it’s a perfect time to explore the Sanquhar Woods with a fine dram. The walk will include a stop at the old Dallas Dhu Distillery.

Blend your own whisky at Dallas Dhu Distillery with Murray McDavid

90% of Scotch whisky is a blend of grain and single malt whiskies. Do you want to learn the secrets of the art of whisky blending and create your very own blend? If so, join Dean Jode, Head of Murray McDavid’s Whisky Creations at the picturesque Dallas Dhu Distillery, and he and his team will show you how. Making your blend will involve sampling and selecting from a range of whiskies to create your own one-off bottle of Scotch Whisky.

Lunchtime Whisky Picnic at Murray McDavid’s Beach Huts, Findhorn Beach

Enjoy a light lunch with whisky and nibbles provided by the Murray McDavid Team at their charming beach huts on the beautiful Findhorn Beach overlooking the Moray Firth. There will be freshly made sandwiches and light bites, while members of the Murray McDavid Team will present three lovely whiskies. So, why not pop along to sit back, and enjoy lunch at this idyllic spot. Findhorn Beach is famous for wildlife watching and, if you are lucky, you may see dolphins, seals, and a range of seabirds. So, why not bring your binoculars along!

Murray McDavid’s Greatest Hits – Old & Rare Masterclass

Join Murray McDavid’s Head of Whisky Creations, Dean Jode, for a tour of the traditional Coleburn Whisky Warehouses and an engaging masterclass that demonstrates Murray McDavid’s innovative approach to whisky maturation. Dean will share his favourite old and rare whiskies that he has personally selected from the Murray McDavid whisky archives. This is an opportunity to taste some incredibly rare whiskies, learn more about single malt and grain whiskies and the distilleries that produce them, whilst gaining an insight into the Art of Maturation. Amongst the stunning drams in the Masterclass will be:

Bunnahabhain 31-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Fino Sherry cask, Macallan, 16-year-old single malt Scotch whisky, Oloroso Sherry Cask, Tomintoul 49-year-old single malt Scotch whisky.