Now going into its second year, GIN FESTIVAL : NORTH EAST announced today that it is returning to the Inverurie on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 February 2019.
The Gin Festival, known locally as GIN:NE, became an instant success when it opened earlier this year at Inverurie Town Hall. It featured over 30 exhibitor stands and well over 60 different products of gin, beers, whisky, soft drinks, vodka, liqueurs and absinthe – to name but a few. The success was shown in the exhibitors running low or selling out of their products.
The team behind GIN:NE are Mike Stuart from the Inverurie Whisky Shop and Peter Sim from Peaty Nose Ltd, both AGCC members, along with Scott Rose from Dutch Courage Spirits. They are all delighted with the support that they received from the spirits industry and from the great Scottish public, who travelled from all over Scotland to attend.
The Festival also featured MasterClasses on specialist gins through to a Cocktail Circus from Dusk Bar in Aberdeen; an in-house Café by renowned Inverurie restaurant Fennel and a Beer Bar courtesy of Deeside Brewery.
Peter Sim commented: “Next year will be better than ever. We have spoken to exhibitors and visitors to find out what they liked and what more we can do to improve the Festival. This feedback has been great for planning next year.”
The support that was given by Aberdeenshire Council and other local organisations made GIN:NE a good focus for bringing in visitors to Inverurie and the North East and it is hoped to capitalise on this and grow it.
Interest from the Scottish Gin Society, The Gin Cooperative and many other industry bodies and bloggers helped bring the Festival to a large audience across the country and with the launch of Twin River Naked Gin ‘Uncut’ and eeNoo Gin from Lost Loch happening at GIN:NE the attention went not just national but international.
The North-east of Scotland is home to many premium gins and GIN:NE is the ideal showcase festival to bring them to a wider audience and in their home setting. Visitors were delighted with GIN:NE saying: “We were all very well looked after by Festival staff the exhibitors and caterers alike. It was so well organised, and the atmosphere was extremely relaxed and friendly. We will definitely be looking to come back again next year." And Nick Smalley from Teasmiths commenting: “It was a cracking event! We’ve seen a big boost due to GIN:NE.”
With the bigger emphasis being put on the food and drink sector of the North East and its contribution to tourism GIN FESTIVAL : NORTH EAST is certainly a welcome addition to the mix - organised by a trio of local businesses, showcasing many local and national business to an eager and welcoming public.
This is one home-grown festival that deserves support for championing the work of so many business, both local and national.
The GIN:NE website will announce when tickets will be available to purchase later in the year, along with details of the available MasterClasses.