SCOTTISH cyclist Mark Beaumont is gearing up for his latest challenge – as guest of honour at the first Fife Whisky Festival.

The endurance cyclist will open the showcase event on Saturday, March 10 at the Corn Exchange in Cupar.

Beaumont, who holds the record for cycling around the world, is delighted to have the chance to sample a dram or two at the festival. He said: “As an athlete I drink modestly but have always enjoyed a dram on the right occasion ever since I lived around the corner from The Ben Nevis - a famous whisky and folk music bar in Glasgow.”

The Herald:

He will open the event – which he describes as an important boost to the local economy - at 1pm before mingling with festival-goers and enjoying the entertainment. He added: “Having partly grown up in Fife, I am proud of all the Kingdom has to offer and look forward to coming back.

“I’m aware of all the fantastic developments with distilling in the area and, for those who are new to Fife, this festival and events like it are so important in putting Fife firms on the map for travel and business.”

The inaugural festival was launched by businesswomen Justine Hazlehurst, founder of Kask Whisky, and Karen Somerville, managing director of Angels’ Share Glass.

They joined forces to organise the festival in a bid to bring whisky back to the Kingdom of Fife.

Ms Somerville said: “After years of attending whisky festivals around the world, Justine and I were delighted to have the chance to bring an exciting new event to Scotland."

The Herald:

Ms Hazlehurst added: "It’s a real coup to have Scotland’s greatest cyclist coming to join us in sampling some of the best whiskies available in the country and we’re looking forward to a fantastic day.”

More than 25 distilleries and independent bottlers will attend the event ensuring a huge range of whiskies for visitors to try.

Exhibitors include Fife’s well-known Kingsbarns Distillery, Lindores Abbey Distillery, Edenmill together with Glen Moray, Isle of Arran Whisky and Springbank Distillery.

Fife-based musical duo The Coaltown Daisies, famous for producing `The Whisky Song’ which became the theme for last year’s World Whisky Day, are also attending to entertain festival-goers as they enjoy their tasting sessions.

There are two sessions with the first starting at 1pm on Saturday March 10 and the second beginning at 5pm.

For more details and to buy tickets, go to www.fifewhiskyfestival.com