1. This is a fairly well-known fact but Speyside is home to more than half of Scotland's active distilleries. As a result, there were 500 events across the whole region in only 5 days and even whisky connoisseurs will be able to taste drams that they may have never seen or tasted before (Inchgower 14Y Flora & Fauna was my most memorable 1st time dram, the Benromach's smokiness packs a punch, also see #8)
   
   
2. The festival transport arrangements were absolutely top notch. Not only was the Stagecoach bus 36 from Elgin to Dufftown through the "Malt Whisky trail" running through the whole festival including on Sunday! More so, there was a special all day bus pass pricing for festival goers for only £4 on showing a ticket. Apart from public transport, my favourite distillery (Glenlivet) raised the bar by providing a Free Bus from both Keith and Elgin for their Open Day on Sat 5th May where I met fellow Glenlivet fans from Japan, Norway and the USA. Of course, I took the front row seat on a spectacularly sunny day I will leave my full trip map and public transport connections in a comment  
3. The festival whisky awards are truly democratic as the public actually gets to vote for the winner through blind tastings and ballot papers! I got to taste 4 of the finalists at the spectacular Rothes Station Hotel (it has its own Spirit safe!) and I must say that the Cragganmore 25 was exceptional (and the overall winner!) There are judging events across the 5 days of the festival and are exceptionally popular.
4. There are so many events that are not whisky related at all! (hence I highlighted that the festival is guaranteed to be fun for all) I sat on a 8-wheeler operated by the Glenlivet Hill Trek company to climb up a hill! The Cairngorms National Park was looking just stunning from the top and I felt like an astronaut. Both the opening and closing ceremonies had Ceilidhs and Craigellachie comes alive with bands playing during the festival. There were also some spectacular food-related events. Alchemy restaurant at Dufftown was fine dining at its best with its 7 courses + whisky pairing. The venison with chocolate and sherry poached pair was magic!  
   
5. The festival has some super-exclusive, once a year events (such as a tour of the Craigellachie distillery which is one of my faves along with Tamdhu, Knockando, Longmore, Tormore, Speyside, Speyburn, Knockdhu, Balmenach and Dalmunach which are generally closed to the public). Thanks to the festival chairman Mr James Campbell, I also got to see the erstwhile Tamdhu railway platform with the Spey in view. This should tell you how important whisky was the area.
6. 
   

Fish in crispy batter, plump chips, with salt ‘n’ sauce if you’re in Edinburgh, salt ‘n’ vinegar in Glasgow. Guzzled outside in the cool of the evening, washed down with a glug of Irn Bru.

Best.

Food.

Ever.

Here are 10 great chippies that your tastebuds will thank you for visiting:

There’s Bay Fish and Chips in Stonehaven. It was UK ‘chippy of the year’ in 2013.

At Anstruther Fish Bar you can polish off your fish supper overlooking the harbour.  Watch out for the hungry seagulls though.

The most northerly fish and chips in the UK are at Frankie’s in Shetland. Oban Fish and Chip Shop in the town’s George Street is a stone’s throw from postcard scenery of Oban Bay.

Hungry? Ashvale Fish Restaurant in Aberdeen serves the Ashvale Whale - 1lb of haddock fillet.

Glaswegians smother their suppers from the Merchant Chippie in the High Street with salt ‘n’ vinegar.

It’s salt ‘n’ sauce at Edinburgh favourite, L’Alba D’oro in Henderson Row.

Walking in The Trossachs is great for working up an appetite. Sort it with a fish supper at Mhor Fish in Callendar. Or head ‘doon that watter’ to the Isle of Bute, and Rothesay’s traditional West End Café.

In the mood for a fish supper now. But where’s the best?

·        then head to the Whalsay Heritage Centre for their new exhibition , a further 5-10 minute walk

·         follow the road towards Isbister , a casual 20-30 minute later will bring you to Loch of Huxter where there is an Iron Age fortification dating back to around 300BC.

·        Stop off for tea and homebaked fancies or just a light lunch  at the Aairvhous Cafe

Where you can see an exhibition by Susan Pearson the illustrator

The first one is Spirit of Speyside from 3rd – 7th May. The Speyside region is home to some of the world's best selling and famous Scottish whiskies like Glenlivet and Glenfiddich but also home to HALF the distilleries there are in Scotland! Here's the link to all the events that still have availability (distilleries normally have strict limits on the number of people for H&S reasons) Here's a couple of shots from my 2016 Speyside trip. As with most places in Scotland, the natural beauty is reason enough to visit!

Bonus: There's public transport and subsidized taxi vouchers available on the festival website. I am a public transport traveller and that is all I know but there are enough services running all through the festival to leave your car at home. Get to Elgin by train (on the Aberdeen-Inverness line) and bus 36 leaving Elgin runs through the Malt whisky line once an hour via Rothes, Craigellachie, Aberlour and terminating at Dufftown (I used this bus a lot in 2016).

The second is Feis Ile from 25th May to 2nd June. I wanted to bring the dates and locations to the attention to the many single malt lovers in the office.