Wine, gin and whisky event dates for your diary
Whisky & gin
Sign up for a night of celebration across two venues: both including plenty of drams with The Scotch Malt Whisky Society: Caledonian Hotel, Aberdeen, 22 January and also at Garvock House Hotel, Dunfermline, 22 January. £44 for non-members/£35 members, 0131-555 2929
Enjoy VIP treatment aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia with a four course dinner in the State dining room, address to the haggis and dram tasting, 29 January. £165, 0131-555 5566
An interesting combination for The Scotch Malt Whisky Society – try this fun night out with their £5 Buy in No Limit Texas Hold Em Tournament at The Vaults in Leith on 18 January. 0131-554 3451
Many gins a spring makes Explore the new spring gin line-up at WoodWinters at this tutored gin tasting in their Bridge of Allan store on 5 February. £20, www.woodwinters.com
Valentine chocolate & whisky You find love in unusual places: so why not try the atmospheric vaults of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Leith on 14 February for an indulgent romantic evening matching chocolate and single malts. £44/£35, 0131-555 2929
Wine tastings & dinners
Stay in Scotland to experience a wine walkaround across the Americas from Canada down to Uruguay on 15 February in Perth Concert Hall and 16 February in The Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh with The Wine Society. £28, 01438 740222, www.thewinesociety.com
Down the Danube Valley
Enjoy the tastes of this beautiful valley from the source of the Danube in Baden in Germany, in search of the finest pinot noir. Follow the river through Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Croatia to Moldova at The Scores Hotel, St Andrews on 5 March. £32, 01334 870731
An unusual combo – try deluxe cuvée champagne with your battered fish ‘n’ chips – now an annual tasting in Bridge of Allan Cafe, 18 February. £28, www.woodwinters.com
Wines of Uruguay
Discover the delights of tannat and more from this small South American wine country with Institute of Wines & Spirits Scotland, hosted by Provenance Wines, 1 March at the Royal Scots Club, Edinburgh. £20, email [email protected]
The ‘Big Bang’ masterclass
Learn about the secrets of volcanic soils around the world, which help make wines with wonderful high natural acidity and minerality, from Mount Etna to Madeira, 20 April at 28 Queen Street, Edinburgh. £40, 01334 870731
Enjoy eight classic wines from around the world matched with four courses at Rhubarb, Prestonfield House Hotel, Edinburgh on 12 May. £96pp, www.rosemurraybrown.com
Join wine writer Matthew Jukes to taste a sample of his Top 100 Australian wines as his roadshow heads north to Summerhall in Edinburgh on 15 April. £25, www.woodwinters.com
Sample the best of Scottish produce matched alongside a selection of wines from around the world: including smoked salmon, venison charcuterie, game terrine, cheeses, breads and 13 wines, 1 July at Abode Hotel, 129 Bath Street, Glasgow. £40, www.rosemurraybrown.com
Take a seat at St Fillans Hotel for its wine dinner in Perthshire with Great Grog on 11 March. £62, www.greatgrog.co.uk
Fairs & festivals
Nip Festival Drumossie, Inverness: 29 March-2 April, £30, www.thenip.scot
Grog Spring Wine Festival Merchants Hall, Edinburgh: 6 May, £17, www.greatgrog.co.uk
Spirit of Speyside Festival Speyside: 28 April-2 May, www.spiritofspeyside.com
Islay Festival of Music & Malt Islay: 20-28 May, www.islayfestival.com
Orkney Fine Wine Festival Kirkwall, Orkney: 29 May-5 June, www.thelongship.co.uk
Mhor Festival Lochearnhead, Perthshire 29 May, tel: 01877 384622
Whisky Stramash Surgeons Hall, Edinburgh: 28-29 May, www.thewhiskystramash.com
The Whisky Fringe Mansfield Traquair, Edinburgh: August, £25, tel: 0131-524 9380, www.royalmilewhiskies.com or www.whiskyfringe.com
Foodies Festival Inverleith Park, Edinburgh: 5-7 August, www.foodiesfestival.com