MARYVILLE, Tenn. — As Mark Twain once said, “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.” For those that want to experience and learn about a variety of Scotch whiskies, along with other traditional foods and music, The Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games will hold a tasting fundraiser on February 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Fox Den Country Club. A limited number of tickets will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis.
“We will continue to offer tastings at our festival, but we wanted to expand this event and hopefully introduce our heritage to those who may not have had the opportunity to attend the festival and games,” said Dan Greaser, President of the The Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games. “Whether you are a Scotch whisky aficionado or a novice, we want to invite you to drink exceptional whisky and enjoy delicious food with friends.”
The tasting will feature a range of Scotch whiskies, supplied by McScrooge’s Wine and Spirits, providing attendees with a powerful and palette pleasing taste of different characters and a healthy dose of fact, history and humor. The food menu will feature heavy hors d’oeuvres, specially selected to compliment the Scotches.
And what would a Scottish event be without haggis and bagpipes? A kilted bagpiper will greet and entertain, then will “pipe in” the haggis. Haggis is an old Scottish dish, which combines meats, spices and oatmeal to create a very rich, unusual, and delicious feast. This special dish comes complete with its own presentation ceremony.
“The “Address To A Haggis” was first performed by famous poet Robert Burns in the 1700s and is a regular occurrence at traditional Burns Suppers worldwide,” said Greaser. “We wanted to do something to celebrate Scottish culture at this tasting, and this seemed like an ideal way to complete the evening.”
Greaser said that there is a long tradition of Scottish culture in East Tennessee, and many of the area’s early settlers were Scots-Irish.
“The majority came to America as indentured servants who later became skilled woodsmen that co-existed with some Native American tribes,” said Greaser.
It is estimated that more than one million Tennesseans are descended from Scots-Irish ancestry.
“Learning about the Scots and Scots-Irish who settled the region and connecting and celebrating the Clans is something that is fun for everyone,” said Greaser.
For more information or to purchase tickets for the Scotch Tasting, please contact Jeremy Dick at (865) 690-9941 or [email protected] or Clay Patterson at [email protected] or (865) 397-3329. The event will be held at Fox Den Country Club, located at 12284 N. Fox Den Dr., Knoxville, TN 37934.