Our first UK festivals of the year. We didn’t let the rain dampen our mood at the Campbeltown Malts Festival. After some heavy downpours and the odd flash of lighting, the clouds cleared and the sun shone in the Watt Whisky HQ courtyard. It was great to be back in Campbeltown and catch up with familiar faces and meet many new ones. The day ended with a town hall style whisky tasting. Honestly this has to be one of the most fun events on the whisky calendar, 6 indie bottlers, a hall full of people who’ve been enjoying whisky for about 4 or 5 days by that point, and it’s just an absolute hilarious riot. We’re all supposed to roast each other and pour a dram with a tenuous link to Campbeltown. We poured our Glen Garioch 1st fill bourbon 2014 and the link was floor malting and direct firing of the wash still, the Springbank of the north!

The next day it was onto Islay for a Bruichladdich day and the Indie Feis day at Ramsay Hall. It’s always a treat to visit the whisky island and there’s no better place with good whisky and great friends. The Indie day was brilliant, flew by and thanks to everyone who stopped by the LBD stand and had a blether with Andrew and Ali. Also thanks to our pals at Dramfool who organise the event and raise a healthy amount of money for charities on Islay.

We hope to be back again next year, make sure to add the event to your diary, it’s mega value and great fun.

Left to right

Sam and Dave Boutique-ey Whisky, Paul Brave New Spirits, Connal Adelphi, Andrew LBD, Ollie Elixir, Marcos North Star.