Towards the end of November the inaugural Whisky Sessions music weekend took place in Manchester. Featuring 24 bands, two stages, whisky tastings, specialist bars, cocktails, beers, a street food zone, and a Whisky Hotel, it really was a unique music experience with a whisky twist.

We were delighted to be asked to help with the sponsorship and promotion side of things ahead of the event and it was great to see how well the weekend was received by such an excited audience.

Add the music and of course, great whisky to commercial partnerships with Xfm, Heineken UK and Scott’s Menswear and we managed to produce a cracking couple of days of music.

On stage the standard matched the quality off it and there were standout performances from Tapestry, Tim Burgess, Dodgy, Badly Drawn Boy, Turin Brakes (who took me back to my 20's) and headliners I Am Kloot and Gomez.

It just shows that you can combine the sounds, music and influences of some of the world’s best-loved whisky producing countries with delicious food and a lively and engaged public.

One delighted member of the audience said to me: "I have just met Johnny Bramwell... this is the happiest I have ever been!!"

If only you could bottle that!

Same time next year?  Yes please...