Whisky tours of Scotland are a special experience. Whisky is Scotland’s national drink and our most famous and lucrative export. For over 500 years we have been producing rich and distinctive single malts and blends, from our many diverse distilleries in the famous whisky regions of Speyside, Islay, The Highlands and Islands, The Lowlands, and Campbelltown.
Let us take care of the driving and allow you to enjoy one of our perfect whisky tours of Scotland. You will enjoy the warm hospitality that Scotland is famous for and experience the amazing history and production techniques that go into the making of Uisge Beatha (The Water of Life). You can visit the distilleries that are home to world famous brands, as well as smaller boutique producers making hand crafted spirits in limited quantities. Have a look at a couple of our suggested whisky tours of Scotland below. We are also experts at creating whisky tours of Scotland, so if you have a specific idea in mind then let us know and we will organise a bespoke tour for you.
Single-day whisky tours of Scotland
Departing from pickup point of your choice we head to the award winning Glenturret Distillery in Crieff, home of the Famous Grouse brand, Scotland’s favourite whisky. Enjoy a guided tour of the oldest working distillery in Scotland and see how The Glenturret Highland Single Malt is produced, still using the traditional methods and equipment. The tour includes a BAFTA award-winning interactive show as well as the chance to sample two whisky tastes – one of the Glenturret single malt and one other taste from The Famous Grouse range of The Black Grouse, The Snow Grouse or The Naked Grouse
From Glenturret we head along through St Fillans and Comrie and past the shores of Loch Earn. We recommend a lunch stop in at Loch Venachar before heading over the Dukes Pass to Aberfoyle. Renowned as one of Britain’s best drives this scenic route takes you through some of the most remarkable landscape of the Trossachs. Named after the Duke of Montrose, this road was originally built as an access route to the Duke’s land. It was later improved to accomodate the tourists who were drawn to the area during Victorian times following the publication of Sir Walter Scott’s epic poem ‘The Lady of the Lake’.
A short ride out of Aberfoyle and we arrive at the Glengoyne Distillery. Glengoyne is a beautiful distillery like no other, nestling into the bottom of Dumgoyne Hill, the famous volcanic plug that situated at the end of the Campsie Fells range of hills near Glasgow. Enjoy a dram of 12 Year Old and all the fun of the Glengoyne tour, followed by an in depth tutored tasting of three of our finest Highland Single Malts – 15 Year Old, 18 Year Old, and the distillery exclusive, Glengoyne Teapot Dram, recently named one of “World’s 100 Whiskies to Try Before You Die”
Multi-day whisky tours of Scotland
Home to the world’s only malt whisky trail, Speyside in the North East Highlands has the greatest number of distilleries of any of the whisky-producing areas of Scotland. Two of the best selling single malt whiskies in the world, Glenfiddich and The Glenlivet are from the Speyside region. The region and it’s abundant natural ingredients of crystal clear spring water, and golden barley, provide the perfect environment for some of our whisky tours of Scotland.
The whisky trail takes in a number of distilleries and a working cooperage, each with unique characteristics and each producing sublime Speyside whisky. The distilleries offer visitors a sample of the finished product, and some offer premier tours including nosing and tasting, while others give an insight into the complex art of blending whisky and malt.
In the centre of Strathspey The Glenlivet is a must visit distillery which won the “Best Visitor Attraction” award at the 2013 Thistle Awards, the Scottish tourism industry’s equivalent of the Oscars. Try the Spirit of the Malt Tour. Follow in the footsteps of George Smith, founder of the distillery, on a journey of discovery. The tour starts at the water source, Josie’s Well. A detailed tour of the distillery is followed by a tutored nosing of 7 expressions of The Glenlivet and a visit to the traditional dunnage warehouse where a dram is for tasting drawn straight from one of the aged casks.
Further north is Glenfiddich distillery founded by William Grant and which started producing in 1887. After five generations William Grant and Sons Ltd is one of the very few Scotch whisky companies to remain in the hands of the family who founded it. Glenfiddich is still made in the same place and in the same way, using the skills of its own coppersmith and coopers, and still uses the same water source throughout production. Take the Pioneers’ Tour – a half-day visit during which you can bottle your own Glenfiddich direct from a cask in Warehouse No. 8. Master-class nosing and tasting of Glenfiddich whiskies aged up to 30 years old.
Between Glenlivet and Glenfiddich is Speyside Cooperage, the only working cooperage in the UK where you can experience the ancient art of coopering. The family owned Speyside Cooperage has produced the finest casks using the best American Oak since 1947. Today they continues producing the age-old product, still using traditional methods and tools. Although they are shipped across the world, many of the casks remain in Scotland, providing a vital ingredient in Scotland’s whisky making process.
Another world famous whisky brand in the heart of Speyside is The Macallan which is located in a beautiful estate. We recommend the Six Pillars tour. Learn how the The Macallan’s rich spirit is created in a working still house and get introduced to the ‘Six Pillars’. See how investment in the best casks contributes to the natural colours, aromas and flavours that make The Macallan so unique. After a thorough education in the world of The Macallan, you get to experience a nosing and tasting of four of The Macallan whiskies.
Cardhu distillery is more remote than most and has a fascinating history. At one time it was the only distillery in the world to be operated by a woman. A guided tour of this long established distillery allows you to taste the superb Cardhu 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky or the sought after Cardhu Special Cask Reserve.
Close to the ancient market town of Forres is the wonderful Benromach distillery where the world’s first fully certified organic single malt whisky is produced. Take the Managers Tour or the Bottle Your Own Experience tour where you can hand fill your own unique bottle of Benromach . On your visit, you will see the mash tun, and the burnished copper stills, and watch the experienced distillers create this unique Speyside single malt.