Whisky ban at 'The Gathering' to keep sponsor happy

Homecoming's main event - 'The Gathering' has come under attack when it issued a ban on all whisky products citing a conflict of interest with one of it's main sponsors Diageo.

This action has angered the smaller distileries who say the orgainsers of The Gathering and Homecoming have going against their original promise of promoting small companies.

The only whisky allowed is the Diageo range of whiskies. Diageo agreed to sponsor The Gathering provided that no other whiskies apart from their own be showcased.

Organisers of The Gathering were forced to apologise after a number of whisky firms had to be turned away, but blamed a breakdown in communications.

Fiona Richmond, project manager at Scotland Food and Drink, said:
"It's a critical part of the food and drink industry and we need to keep alive small independent producers."

Jamie Sempill, director of The Gathering, said: "There will not be any whisky products at all available at the Scottish Produce Market, simply because we will have a separate whisky fair.

"It would be completely going against the spirit of our agreement with Diageo, who have been superb sponsors, if we were to allow other whisky producers to take space."