WHISKY lovers are invited to raise a glass of the city’s very own blend to mark the York 800 celebrations.

The York 800 Whisky will make its debut at a free open tasting at The Hotel Du Vin on Wednesday.

It will also feature at the York 800 Whisky Festival at the Park Inn on October 13.

The spirit, a smooth Speyside blended malt, is the creation of Whisky Lounge founder and York resident Eddie Ludlow. All profits will go to local charities.

Amanda Ludlow, Eddie’s wife and co-founder of The Whisky Lounge, said: “The York 800 Whisky Festival promises to be an unforgettable day of all things whisky, while at the same time raising money for good local causes.

“For us, the York 800 anniversary coming along was a good opportunity to mark the tenth anniversary of the Whisky Festival and to raise a good amount of money for two very worthy charities.”

She said they aimed to sell 800 bottles of the blend.

The first whisky festival in York took place in 2002 and involved only a handful of whiskies but now features about 200 and is attended annually by around 300 people.

Whiskies featured in the festival will come from a variety of locations including India, and this year there will be the chance to sample the York 800 offering and learn what went into the making of it.

The event was started by Mr Ludlow and has grown in popularity alongside his business, which has gone from being hobby to a warehouse with four full-time staff with plans to double that in 2013.

In celebration of York 800, the first 100 tickets will be sold at the original 2002 ticket price of £12.50 (normally £25).

Tickets to the festival, which runs from 12 to 5pm, are available through www.thewhiskylounge.com and the ticket price includes access to the festival hall, an opportunity to sample any of more than 200 whiskies on display, a Glencairn nosing glass, a bottle of water and a festival programme.

To attend the free launch and tasting of the York 800 Whisky at 7pm on Wednesday, email amanda@thewhiskylounge.com