Dornoch Whisky Festival

02/11/2021

Hello! We are back again to say thank you - which I know, we have said a lot this weekend but we honestly cannot thank those of you who have supported us enough. 🧡
That goes to you, our wonderful attendees, our amazing exhibitors who supported us and everybody who sent us well wishes for this year. We've said it once and we'll say it a million times more, we are blown away by your support for this wee festival 🥰
You have made this year - which could've gone either way - such a cracking event and we hope you all enjoyed yourselves!
We'll be back again on the 28th - 30th October 2022, so get that date in your diary as we can't wait already! 🥃

30/10/2021

Good morning!!

We are on to day two of the Dornoch Whisky Festival after a great start yesterday! 😁

There are a couple of tickets left for our Personal Collection Whisky Tasting this afternoon if anyone hasn't booked yet! 🥃

https://dornochwhiskyfestival.com/events/personal-collection-whisky-tasting-saturday/

27/10/2021

Not long to go and we only have four events that still have tickets remaining!
Don't miss out, book here: https://dornochwhiskyfestival.com/events

23/10/2021

How's everybody's Saturday night going? This is how we've spent ours - decanting just some of the Pick 'N' Mix bottles that is, not just spending ages trying to photograph them in such an original way 😉 It's been awesome seeing everyone's selections so now, because of dram envy, we're gunna go enjoy a dram ourselves.
If you want your Pick 'N' Mix packs to arrive in time for the festival, get your order in tomorrow, but you can order all the way up to the 31st.
Happy Saturday night!

20/10/2021

Products – Dornoch Whisky Festival

We sent some Pick 'N' Mix orders across the Atlantic yesterday! 🥳
To make sure you get your UK delivery Pick 'N' Mix drams delivered in time for this years Dornoch Whisky Festival, pop an order in by Sunday!
We start shipping on Monday 🧡
https://dornochwhiskyfestival.com/shop/

You may purchase more than one pack but will have to add the first set of drams, click add to basket, then go back and select the second set.

07/10/2021

Hello, whisky lovers!
Our Pick ‘N’ Mix is ready to go!
If you could please make your way in an orderly fashion to our Pick ‘N’ Mix page where you will be able to select 6 drams (out of over 80!) for this years’ stand-in of the Grand Tasting. 🧡
https://buff.ly/3uNZ7OW

02/10/2021

Hello Whisky Lovers!
We are back with events! We have in-person tastings, zooms and although we don't have a Grand Tasting this year, we are delighted to introduce our first ever Pick 'N' Mix! 🥃
More details on the website but if you have any questions whatsoever, just drop us a line! 🧡
www.dornochwhiskyfestival.com

26/07/2021

2021 Updates – Dornoch Whisky Festival

With the announcement of Scotland going into Level 0, we realised we couldn't hold out any longer and we would update you on the plans for this years Dornoch Whisky Festival – or, as it is currently known as, the ‘Not Quite the Dornoch Whisky Festival’, as once again, sadly, it will not quite be what we know and love.

Our website has the full details and can be seen here: https://dornochwhiskyfestival.com/2021-updates/

With last week’s announcement of Scotland going into Level 0, we realised we couldn’t hold out any longer and we would update you on the plans for this years Dornoch Whisky Festival – or, as it is currently known as, the ‘Not Quite the Dornoch Whisky Festival’, as once again, sadly, it wi...

31/10/2020

Another massive thank you is in order for this evenings tasing! A very stormy night in Dornoch and we thought we may have a power cut, but thankfully not! There were some fantastic guesses for tonight's blind tasting & we hope a couple of surprises for the reveal! Like last night, we'll do a proper update after this weekend but just a thank you again 😊

30/10/2020

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who attended the first of our Not Quite The Dornoch Whisky Festival 2020 Thompson Bro's event - try saying that 5 times with their drams in you! It was so great to have you all there and with an amazing selection of drams, great questions & fantastic insight from everyone it really did make the night wonderful!
We'll give more of an update about tonight's tasting later, but just wanted to say a quick thank you from all of us 😊

22/10/2020

Blind Tasting Tour Around Scotland - 7pm Saturday 31st October | Dornoch Whisky Festival

Well, we're sad (yet not surprised) to find out that we won't be able to go ahead with any of our in-person events.
Thankfully, we do have the golf this weekend to enjoy! ⛳️ A sold-out Thompson Bro’s Tasting on the 30th 🤩 and a few tickets to the Blind Tasting Tour Around Scotland (31st) still available to give us our whisky and travel fix! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🥳
Shipping deadline is Friday (22nd) for outside the UK & Monday (26th) for UK deliveries. 📦
Local pickups at The Carnegie Whisky Cellars are available up until the event! 🧡
www.dornochwhiskyfestival.co.uk/product-page/blind-tasting-tour-around-scotland

Join General Manager, Michael Hanratty of the Carnegie Whisky Cellars for a blind whisky tasting that takes in a 2cl (20ml) dram from each of the six whisky regions of Scotland. We haven't been able to travel as much this year to our favourite whisky destinations, so join us to do so virtually! Join...

12/10/2020

Good afternoon!

We hope your Monday is going well – if not, we have something that should make it better!

We have tickets available for the Not Quite The Dornoch Whisky Festival, 2020! 🥳🤩🥳🥰🥳🧡
To get your tickets, just follow the link: http://www.dornochwhiskyfestival.co.uk/events

06/07/2020

Dornoch Whisky Festival 2020: COVID-19 Update

Hello! We missed you! 🧡

Looking back at our last post we feel so naïve, so blindsided! We had such great plans for this year, a few were already in place by the time we wrote that happy go lucky Hogmanay post! Alas, 2020 has not turned out to be quite the year that we had hoped here at DWFHQ and across the world!

Now, unfortunately, due to everything that’s been going on and the pure uncertainty of it all, we have made the very (VERY) difficult decision to cancel this year's Grand Tasting and ultimately, the Dornoch Whisky Festival as you know it. The heath and safety of you, our community and everyone involved in the Dornoch Whisky Festival is paramount to us.

We had hoped that we could wait it out and still be able to bring you our event with only a few minor changes but at this late a stage and the governmental advice we’ve been given, this just isn’t possible. We hope you understand. 😔

But what we will say is we are working extremely hard to bring you something special so that you can still get your Dornoch Whisky Festival fix and we’ll let you know about that as soon as we have it all finalised.

Of course, to end on a high note, we will be back in full force with all the events you love with and some amazing additions next year between the 22nd – 24th of October! Mark it in the diaries and we’ll see you then!

So, we ask, for a little bit longer, leave it with us and we’ll update you when we’ve figured everything out. We’ve written a post for those of you who want to know a little bit more and you can see it on our website.

Stay safe 🧡

Dornoch Whisky Festival update on the COVID-19 pandemic.

01/01/2020

Happy New Year!! 🥳🤩🥃

Welcome to a new year and a new decade! We'll always love the 10's because it was the decade we started our wee festival and the decade we met you! But here's to 2020 and making new friends, new memories and bringing you the best events we possibly can!

Have a good one, wherever you are 🧡

#HappyNewYear #HeresTo2020 #Dornoch #Whisky

25/12/2019

Merry Christmas to all our friends - old, new and still to be made! We hope you're having a wonderful day! 🎄🛷❄️🧡

02/11/2019

Dornoch Whisky Festival's cover photo

02/11/2019

Dornoch Castle wins best Whisky Bar in Scotland - Scottish Field

We really do have some of the best whisky venues 🥰🥰 Can't believe it's already been a week since we were in the Dornoch Castle Hotel for our Grand Tasting! Oh well, only another 363 days to go till we get to do it again...

https://www.scottishfield.co.uk/food-and-drink-2/whisky/dornoch-castle-wins-best-whisky-bar-in-scotland/

Scottish Field - Scotland's Quality Lifestyle Magazine

31/10/2019

So, we put off writing this post for a little while just because we didn’t want this years Dornoch Whisky Festival to be over – but we’ve finally accepted it now, and really cannot thank all of you who have supported us enough!

We wrote a list of everyone who we’d like to thank, but really it got too long since this festival is not put together by one group of people, but by a whole host of teams, supporters and our wonderful community that all contribute to making our wee festival what it is.

A few people who we would like to mention include our remarkable Dornoch venues for their high calibre of events, impressive knowledge and creators of a wonderful atmosphere; the amazing and innovative exhibitors who attended our most successful Grand Tasting yet; the truly amazing BlackRock Ceilidh Band that kept our energy sky high on Saturday night; the phenomenal exhibitors of our Community Market who brought a whole host of fantastic products and produce to our town, and of course, our thanks to the legendary whisky makers of The Macallan, Polly, Russell and Steven for joining us this year and sharing their knowledge.

We can't wait to do it all over again next year, so we'll hopefully see you all in 2020!

Sláinte

27/10/2019

We've had a cracking weekend so far & now for the final marquee event, our community market! We're all set up and ready to go so come look at some wonderful products from Highland Candles, Alsorts Arts & Crafts, Astle Honey, D Lish, PERK Coffee & Doughnuts, Pitcalzean House Highlands, Jumping Goats Dairy, Let's Go Equestrian, Orkney Finest, Diamond Paintings by Jo, The Carnegie Whisky Cellars, Highland Whisky Chocolates, KA Images, Eco Ness, Dornoch Social Club - DADCA, StarDreme, Get Fudged Highland, The Peedie Thistle
Come say Hi! 🎉🤩😍

25/10/2019

Today is the day!! The Dornoch Whisky Festival officially begins at 1pm today! Make sure to grab a programme from any of the fantastic venues hosting events or in the Dornoch Visitor Centre located in the Carnegie Courthouse.
Remember we're here to help if you need us! :)

24/10/2019

It's tomorrow! The Dornoch Whisky Festival begins tomorrow! This time in 24 hours, Julie from Elixir Distillers will be kicking off the 2019 Dornoch Whisky Festival with her Port Askaig Tasting!
We cannot wait to see you all! If you need anything over the weekend, be sure to give us a shout on any of the social medias or through the website - we'll have our phones charged and ready to help if you need us!

24/10/2019

Beautiful day in #Dornoch to be getting the @northofscotlandmarquees marquee up for this weekend at the gorgeous @dornochcastlehotel

Not long now!!!

#DornochWhiskyFestival #DWF #WhiskyWeekend #WeekendPland #ScotchSunday #Whiskey

24/10/2019

Links House at Royal Dornoch

Links House at Royal Dornoch

Our weekend plans for the Dornoch Whisky Festival have made it into the prestigious Robb Report.

"If a spot of spontaneity suits in the coming days, as part of the annual Dornoch Whisky Festival, Links House is hosting three events, in addition to all the other events taking place in Dornoch, during the weekend of 25 to 28 October. The weekend includes two whisky dinners in the Links House restaurant, the first being an eight-course tasting menu and the second dinner being a sensory event with a five-course tasting menu, both hosted by experts from Macallan and Clynelish. On the Sunday, Links House are teaming up with Mac and Wild and Dunnet Bay Distillers, to provide a Sunday BBQ brunch showcasing ‘Red Snappers’ – the delicious Rock Rose Gin-based bloody Marys"

23/10/2019

Look what we've got! 🧡🥃🎉
The Dornoch Whisky Festival bottling & some programmes for the weekend!
This bottle is number 5 of only 175 and this one will be part of the Dornoch Whisky Festival #raffle draw! Bottle number five for our fifth year, of course 😉

For the other 174 bottles, unfortunately they cannot be pre-ordered but can be purchased (maximum of 2 per customer) from 11am on Saturday 26th October from the @carnegiewhiskycellars
The programme, however, can be picked up now in various Dornoch venues with no maximum per customer and pre-orders are welcome! 😁

#DornochWhiskyFestival
#DWF #independentbottling #singlecask #festival #festivalbottle #raffleprizes #thisweekend #Dornoch

23/10/2019

The Grand Tasting, 2019!

We wrote another blog post! This one is for those of you attending the Grand Tasting 🥃 & the changes that have been made for this year 😊

https://www.dornochwhiskyfestival.com/post/the-grand-tasting-2019

Some final details for the grand tasting!

23/10/2019

Can't wait for these events over the weekend! 🤩🥃😊
Make sure you've booked your tickets: https://www.dornochwhiskyfestival.com/buy-tickets

These weekend we have the following events on -
Friday Gin Tasting @8pm - £15 a ticket for 4 gins with mixers- call or message us to book your place
Friday 9.30pm - Entertainment with local singer David Munro

Sunday 1.30pm - a tasting of some fantastic local malts - 4 great whiskies for £25! Tickets can be booked either by calling or messaging us at the Eagle!

22/10/2019

We put together a wee post for those of you who are designated drivers, or non whisky drinkers or just don't drink alcohol. Here's what you can do for at Dornoch Whisky Festival and for more suggestions outside of the Dornoch Whisky Festival events, check out Visit Dornoch

https://www.dornochwhiskyfestival.com/post/dornoch-whisky-festival-for-the-non-drinkers

21/10/2019

Would the DWF really be the same without the glorious Old & Rare? It's a Dornoch Whisky Festival staple after all! Join the Thompson Bros, Phil & Simon Thompson, whilst they guide you in a tasting of old, rare and vintage whiskies held in The Vault @ Dornoch Castle!
The drams of the afternoon will be:
Chichibu Bar Kitchen Cask | Springbank 1974 | Miltonduff 40 year old | Speyside Region 1973 | Laphroaig 1989 | Glen Moray 1971 http://bit.ly/2AYPRMY

21/10/2019

Links House at Royal Dornoch

We are delighted to announce that in addition to our incredible celebrations at Links House across the weekend of the Dornoch Whisky Festival we will be joined by special guest Stewart Bowman who is the Distillery Manager at Brora for our Sensory Tasting Dinner on Saturday 26th October.

This is a unique event where you can immerse yourself in the comfortable luxury of Links House and learn all about one of our finest highland whiskies from those that know it best.

https://www.linkshousedornoch.com/offers/dornoch-whisky-festival-weekend-at-links-house/

21/10/2019

Teaming up with local BBQ wiz kids and Dunnet Bay Distillers to brighten up Sunday Brunch! Enjoy an elegant Sunday Brunch with attitude and Red Snappers! (Gin Based Bloody Mary’s - first one on us!)
Chef Javi’s Food, Mac & Wild Fire and Rock Rose Spice – The perfect Sunday Brunch! http://bit.ly/2IEtbG1

20/10/2019

A main stay at the Dornoch Whisky Festival, this Independent Bottling Master Class hosted by Michael Hanratty, General Manager at the Carnegie Whisky Cellars. Michael puts single cask bottlings from a range of independent bottlers
head to head in this blind tasting. Each of the Carnegie Whisky Cellars independent bottlers are invited to put a bottle forward that showcases their companies core values and cask selection. A description for each whisky and company is given by Michael as he looks to highlight each company unique features. All whiskies are scored during the tasting with feedback being provided back to each of the companies involved, this has been popular with our Independent bottlers as the look to showcase a specific item against their competition. This tasting has sold out each year with last year’s customers tasting 141 years’ worth of whisky in one sitting. http://bit.ly/2pfQwH5