Behind the headline Scottish whisky festivals is an army of smaller events that keep the whisky celebration going year-round

The queues start early for the daddy of all Scottish whisky festivals – Islay. It’s a huge event that sees the entire island open to visitors from all over the world. Snagging accommodation is the first goal of anyone who wants to visit, and more recently, the number of ferries to the island struggled to keep up with the 20,000-plus visitors who wanted to arrive in the same week for the festival.

So, if the crowds that throng Islay aren’t to your liking, then where else might you bring your palate? Luckily, there is no shortage of alternatives. Here’s a roundup of some lesser-spotted events and some great city options that will make arrivals and check-in easier than others.

Clackmannanshire Whisky Festival
April 6th 2024

You’ll need to be fast to get to the first on our list as it starts this weekend (April 6th) but at least it’s easy to reach. It’s less than an hour’s drive from Edinburgh to Clackmannanshire and you will travel much more than mere distance when getting there. Crossing the River Forth across the Clackmannanshire Bridge you’ll discover a town steeped in whisky history at a festival run by Graham and Serena of Slanj events (pictured above). 

Visitors will find the event in Alloa town hall where some 50 distilleries and whisky makers will gather to offer their wares. Also on the bill are whisky writers, coopers,  master distillers and the wellness strand – a key part of the organiser’s approach. This is the third year of the Clackmannanshire Festival and it’s bigger than ever.

Visit the Clackmannanshire Festival page for more.

Campbeltown Malts Fest
May 20th-25th 2024 

Some use this four-day whisky extravaganza as a warmup to Islay. Still, it really deserves the major detour required to get to the heart of Scotland’s possibly least-visited whisky region. Run by local and renowned distilleries Glen Scotia, Springbank, Glengyle, and Watt’s Whisky, it is designed to celebrate whisky’s role on the Kintyre peninsula. Scotland’s oldest independent bottler, Cadenhead, also plays a starring role in the event. 

Music plays a big part in the festivities here, as do all the masterclasses, special tastings, food pairings, dinners and once-off bottlings you could possibly want. The town of Campbeltown is entirely open to visitors and is a fantastic place to be. 

Visit the Glen Scotia or Springbank pages for more.

Whisky Fringe, Edinburgh
Aug 9th, 10th, 11th

The Edinburgh location for this hugely popular show gives it billing on this list. Easy to reach from anywhere in the world, this three-day city festival is a surefire sellout. So get ready to buy your tickets: they go on sale on April 17th at 11 am GMT.

Running for three days in Edinburgh’s magnificent Mansfield Traquair, you can expect to meet all the greats of Scottish distilling, as well as many new entrants, special appearances, and record-breaking vintages. 

For more, visit Whisky Fringe on Instagram.

Hebridean Whisky Festival
Sept 9th – 14th

This is a terrific week of festivities spread across the Hebridean Whisky Trail, a route that takes you to six distilleries across the Hebrides island: Isle of Harris Distillery; North Uist Distillery; Talisker Distillery; Torabhaig Distillery; Isle of Raaseay Distillery; Jura Distillery. 

You will need to organise travel between the islands, and it’s particularly well-suited to those who enjoy outdoor adventures. However, this is a truly special festival. You can of course drop in on any of the days, with the finale taking place at Torabhaig on September 14th.

For more, see Hebridean Whisky Festival

Dornach Whisky Festival
Oct 25th-27th 2024

If you trek to Dornach in October, you will make whisky friends for life. This north Highland town, just 8 miles from Glenmorangie, is no stranger to the world of whisky. Best known for its Grand Tasting, held in Dornach Castle Hotel, the festival is hosted by businesses and bars throughout the coastal town and guarantees a warm welcome from its 30-plus exhibitors and special events.

For more visit Dornach Whisky Festival 

Stirling Whisky Festival – Spiritfest
Nov 2nd

Stirling turns 900 years old this year, so what better reason to visit? Well, maybe for their whisky festival, Spiritfest, now in its 12th year. Only an hour’s drive from Edinburgh, the town brings around 20 whisky makers and hundreds of their drams together for tastings, masterclasses, and special events.  

Stirling Distillery is the driving force behind the two-day event.

For more, see stirlingdistillery.com