Book Week Scotland – Alexander McCall Smith comes to The Malt Whisky Trail

The Malt Whisky Trail is preparing to virtually welcome the prolific Alexander McCall Smith during Book Week Scotland when he collaborates with The Glenlivet Distillery in Speyside next week, bringing literature and laughter to the heart of Malt Whisky Country.

Known and loved across the world for his No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency and 44 Scotland Street series, master story-teller Alexander McCall Smith will narrate stories and poetry from his home in Edinburgh. This unprecedented Book Week Scotland event will be live streamed on The Malt Whisky Trail Instagram channel on 17th of November at 1pm (GMT).

Alexander McCall Smith, said: 

“Visiting The Malt Whisky Trail is a marvellous way for visitors to Scotland, as well as Scots themselves, to discover a part of the country rich in historical associations. Whisky and storytelling in Scotland have more than a passing acquaintanceship. Book Week Scotland and the Malt Whisky Trail are natural partners, and I am really looking forward to being a part of this.”

With a warming autumnal Glenlivet dram, Alexander will roam the world – sharing first his love for Scotland with its rich heritage of storytelling and finishing with a very special treat in the form of a poem from his new collection, In a Time of Distance, which perfectly captures travel and home amidst a time of isolation. More information regarding this event can be found at scottishbooktrust.com.

The Glenlivet is one of the nine iconic whisky sites that make up The Malt Whisky Trail in the picturesque Moray Speyside region, a Trail that prides itself on taking visitors on a journey to discover the best of Malt Whisky Country including its landscape, larder, stories, and whisky.

Lyndsey Gray, Experience Leader at The Glenlivet Distillery commented:

“Alexander shares our love for Scottish heritage and storytelling so it’s a real honour to be collaborating with him as part of the Malt Whisky Trail and Book Week Scotland. We are proud to be one of the nine sites that make up The Malt Whisky Trail as it’s an amazing way for people to discover Scotland, its whiskies and stories behind them. We hope Alexander enjoys his virtual visit to the distillery and we can’t wait for him to be able to visit in person soon.”

The event is in partnership and coincides with Book Week Scotland which takes place Monday 16 to Sunday 22 November.  A full list of 2020’s eclectic programme can be found on the Scottish Book Trust website.

The Malt Whisky Trail has also partnered with local independent bookstore The Bookmark in Grantown-on-Spey to sell Alexander’s latest works for the duration of Book Week Scotland, encouraging locals to get involved and enter the bookworm spirit. Alexander’s books will be available at Thebookmark.co.uk