AN international day to celebrate whisky, held for the first time this year, is to become an annual event.

World Whisky Day in March saw around 20,000 people take part in more than 180 events from Seattle to Singapore at restaurants, bars, distilleries, societies, clubs and shops.

It attracted the support of the Scottish Government, VisitScotland, industry organisation Scotland Food and Drink and the Scotch Whisky Experience.

Blair Bowman, a University of Aberdeen student who founded World Whisky Day, said: "It is good news for the whisky industry and good news for Scotland."

World Whisky Day 2013 (May 18) was announced during this month's Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight, an annual celebration of the country's produce.