'Biggest ever' Scottish whisky festival returns to Glasgow this Saturday

The “biggest ever” edition of the Scottish National Whisky Festival returns to Glasgow this weekend just days after the industry was “disappointed” by new US import tariffs.

The Glasgow leg of the festival, postponed in January due to Storm Eowyn, has been rescheduled to take place at the city’s SEC, increasing the size and capacity of the event by 30%.

“We were devastated to have to postpone January’s festival in [Glasgow] due to Storm Eowyn, however, we’ve turned it into a positive and with the space available in SEC the overall size of our event has in fact grown,” festival coordinator Gareth Croll said.

“We are all raring to go and can’t wait to deliver a landmark day for Scottish whisky, music and culture.”

Organisers said the event will give people the opportunity to sample “hundreds of incredible whiskies from world-renowned distilleries and esteemed independent bottlers”.

But it comes just days after the Scottish Whisky Association was left “disappointed” by President Donald Trump decision to slap a 10% tariff on US imports of UK goods.

Spirits and other alcoholic drinks are among the UK’s most significant export sectors, particularly in Scotland due to global demand for scotch whisky.

First Minister John Swinney was asked how he would be feeling if he ran a whisky distillery.

He said he would be “really worried”, adding: “I know just how much commitment and sacrifice has been made by the Scotch whisky industry to get to position it’s now in.

“It will be feeling sore this morning because it’s obviously just had another big hurdle put in its way in one of its most significant markets.”

Swinney travels to the US on Friday to take part in New York’s Tartan week.

He said he would be engaging with the trade association during his trip to the US.

He continued: “Am I confident the UK Government can secure a deal from the United States? No, I’m not.”

Asked later if the First Minister’s lack of confidence came from a lack of trust in the UK Government’s ability to secure a deal, or the Trump administration’s desire not to yield on tariffs, his spokesman did not provide an answer.