The 'truly special' Scottish whisky festival this May featuring tastings and kayaking

This May will see a new whisky festival held on a beautiful Scottish island, organised by one of the country's oldest working distilleries.

Beginning May 20, Talisker Distillery on the Isle of Skye will be hosting the Island Awakening Festival. As well as allowing visitors to taste and learn more about its world-renowned whisky, the distillery will be hosting a range of events that celebrate Skye's natural beauty.

The distillery team at Talisker have worked alongside local creatives, chefs, and adventurers to create three unique experiences showcasing the island's stunning landscapes and natural larder. Each one has been designed to leave guests with a greater appreciation of the wonders of Skye, as well as the role it plays in the creation of the distillery's legendary whisky.

The first of these experiences, Taste the Wild, will be hosted alongside outdoor company Skye Ghillie and renowned restaurant The Three Chimneys. It will see guests head out on a guided foraging walk in the village of Carbost, followed by a whisky tasting, cocktails, and canapes at The Three Chimneys at Talisker.

Taste the Wild will be presented by Mitchell Partridge from Skye Ghillie, who will demonstrate how to sustainably and responsibly harvest ingredients. After this, visitors will journey to The Three Chimneys at Talisker, where the team will turn one of the simple foraged ingredients into an edible delight.

Elsewhere, the Snapshot of Skye experience has been created in partnership with Skye Photo Academy and will showcase some of the most beautiful places on the island. A skilled professional photographer will help guests hone their photography skills, whether that be on a smartphone or camera, before a tasting of one cocktail and two drams brings the day to a close.

Finally, Adventurous Spirit is hosted alongside South Skye Sea Kayak and offers visitors an opportunity to take to the water and experience the rugged coastline around the shores of Loch Harport. Paddling along the Loch in a double kayak, guests will take in the one-of-a-kind views of Talisker and the surrounding land and seascapes.

The experience will conclude back on dry land where a Talisker host will greet guests with a warming hot toddy. It will cap off with a guided tasting of two specially selected Talisker drams inspired by the landscape of Skye.

Talisker Brand Home Manager Leigh Aitken commented: "We’re privileged at Talisker to be able to draw inspiration from Skye itself, and work with an outstanding list of local suppliers and partners to provide unforgettable experiences for our guests. The response to The Three Chimneys at Talisker has been incredible, and we’re hugely excited to have the team involved in this special series of events.

"Our Island Awakening Festival experiences represent something truly special, and we can’t wait to see the reaction of our guests when they arrive from 20 May. We’ve worked with some of Skye’s most exciting creatives, adventurers, foragers and of course the Three Chimneys team to give an unforgettable taste of the island we’re so proud to call home."

More information and ticket details can be found on the Talisker website.

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