Whisky Focus - Whisky Leaders Celebrate Industry's Resilience On World Whisky Day

Leading lights across the Scotch sector have come together for World Whisky Day, this coming Saturday 16th May, to affirm their confidence in Scotland’s iconic whisky industry and resilient spirit demonstrated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Everyone from whisky makers to festival organisers and marketeers behind putting Scotch on the map, have rallied together since the start of pandemic. Initiatives have included fundraising drives for the hospitality sector, making hand sanitiser and holding virtual tastings and events.

Whisky author and consultant Blair Bowman, who founded World Whisky Day, has applauded the whisky community for how it has continued to connect virtually and support the hard hit hospitality sector in its time of need. He said: “The support being offered by the major distillers to the on-trade in its time of need has been wonderful to see. Whether it be through charitable donations to funds supporting hospitality workers or distillers sharing supplies with one another to make hand sanitiser, the global whisky industry has once again proven itself to be a phenomenally collaborative and supportive community.

"For me, whisky is ultimately more about the shared experience than the contents of the glass. So, when we are able to come together and raise a dram once more, I’m sure it will be a very special experience. It is something we can all look forward to."

James Campbell, chairman of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, added: "In the whisky industry, what I’ve noticed is a collective sense of hope, resilience and a strong Scottish can-do attitude. We will adapt and move forward as best we can. Our whisky distilleries will reopen, glasses will be raised to good health and visitors will return to visit globally significant whisky regions such as Speyside and experience the very best of hospitality Scots are renowned for."

Dr. Rachel Barrie, Master Blender for GlenDronach, BenRiach and Glenglassaugh distilleries said: "Our three distilleries, GlenDronach, BenRiach and Glenglassaugh, have rallied together with the rest of the industry to help produce gallons of hand sanitiser to help fight the spread of COVID-19. We’ve had to change the way things are done, adhering to a strict social distancing policy where minimal workers are keeping production ticking over.

"As we can’t currently engage face to face with people around the world or welcome them to our visitor centres, we’ve taken to our Instagram channels to help the whisky curious experiment. We’ve tried to make this educational and engaging, so that people can enjoy learning a thing or two about how we make whisky with this extra time at home, as well as how to enjoy drinking it!

"When restrictions are lifted and it is safe to do so, we look forward to being able to welcome people back to our distilleries to experience and learn about the wonder of whisky making."

Richard Paterson, master distiller at Whyte & Mackay, said: "May is a time when we would normally welcome the world to Scotland, to festivals at our whisky distilleries, and whisky festivals around the world. Whilst it is a difficult time for all of us, we look forward to the day when we can welcome you here once more.

"World Whisky Day is a day where we hope we may perhaps be able to take a small moment to raise a glass to each other, and the people around us, who do so much to support their community."

World Whisky Day is a global day of whisky celebration that will take place on Saturday 16th May. For more information please visit worldwhiskyday.com

Even in these changed times Single Malt Scotch Whisky continues to experience demand, with an increasing number of whisky specialist websites delivering whisky at home, including The Whisky Exchange, The Whisky Shop and Master of Malt
 

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