Tomatin Distillery in the Highlands to hold world’s first virtual Lockdown Whisky Festival during coronavirus pandemic

Tomatin Distillery, near Inverness, is organising the world’s first virtual whisky festival this weekend alongside a number of industry-leading whisky brands.

The award-winning single malt has created the Lockdown Whisky Festival during the current coronavirus pandemic and it will be accessible online.

Brands set to appear include: Adelphi, Arran, BenRiach, Cù Bòcan, GlenAllachie, Glencadam, Glen Moray, Kilkerran, Kilchoman, Paul John, Tomintoul and of course, Tomatin.

The festival will be live-streamed on Tomatin’s own YouTube channel from 2pm until 5pm on Saturday and will be hosted by independent whisky influencer, Aqvavitae.

Scott Adamson, Tomatin's global brands ambassador, said: “The greatest benefit to organising the Lockdown Whisky Festival is that it’s virtual, so we can bring the community together to enjoy and learn from some of the best distilleries in the industry, all from the comfort of home at a time when staying in and staying safe has never been more important.

“It’s exciting to be the first distillery to host a virtual whisky festival and we're thankful for the other distilleries who have chosen to get involved and support it.

"We will be encouraging viewers to use #LockdownWhiskyFestival on social when they raise a dram with us."

Aqvavitae, an independent whisky influencer, will be hosting the entirety of the livestream and a spokesman said: "Following weeks of unfortunate postponements and cancellations, it's really refreshing to be part of the world’s first virtual whisky festival.

"Spearheaded by Tomatin, what we lose in not sharing the same space we gain in global reach and inclusion. It's great to see so many distilleries and producers coming together in the spirit of sharing to realise this. "

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