My wife is a big whiskey fan and for her birthday, I’m considering taking her on a tour of some of the distilleries. I don’t think we’ll be able to get to Islay which is unfortunate as peaty whiskeys are her favourite, but of the speyside/highland region (i.e. the main belt) can anyone recommend which distilleries have the best tours? I heard the Macallan one is quite commercial/touristy for example, and some others like Balvenie are more traditional. I’m trying to make a shortlist of a few good ones to visit.
They are much of a muchness, but the Aberlour founders tour is good.
How about this.
Check out the Festival tag.
We’ve been to a few. Better than wondering round a cold distillery for a small tot at the end.
Last time in York my wife nearly wore the carpet out between our perch and the 18 year old, 52% Lagavulin. It was Black Token so cost a bit extra (see the blurb)
Brilliant day, much better than a tour.
Interesting, thanks for that!
I think taking a tour would still be of interest - just to see an actual distillery or two. We’ll combine it with a bit of local sightseeing as well so we won’t be going just for the distilleries (which I get can probably be pretty samey after you’ve done a few).
Can’t reccomend Oban, was there last year and we did not find the guide to be particualrly knowledgable
Tallisker, OTOH, was quite interesting, but TBH, unless you are passing one by as part of a wider tour I’d have thought that something organised by some kind of whisky club / association, with a properly gen’d up whalla guiding you through differing whisky’s would be infiintely more enjoyable
I did the Speyside Whisky trail a few years back. They are all a bit samey, usually have a diorama of a Jacobite peasant in a hovel with a still, and bang on about their super special spring water and the Angels Share.
Istr I enjoyed the Glenfarclas one the most, possibly because we arrived at the same time as a coach load of yanks, most of whom, despite doing a tour of a distillery, were teetotal…
So I got quite a few extra free tots of 105…
I’ve only ever done one and that was Glen Ord. Unless you are already going to be north of Inverness, it’s likely to be a bit of a trek.
I certainly enjoyed the tour thoroughly, and the guide was pretty knowledgeable. That site is a little different because they also have a malting facility there (in fact I think they do a significant amount of the malt used in Scotland there, as there aren’t many left).
I absolutely hate the fact that I cannot stomach whisky. The slightest whiff of the stuff and I am wretching like billy-o.
I would love to be able to drink it and taste all the peaty historical goodness but alas not to be.
Mind, there is a fair bit of flowery wank talked about it too;
Like the islanders, Laphroaig may seem a little aloof at first, but make the effort, broach acquaintance and we can guarantee you’ll have a warm and genuine friend for life. Take it neat or with a splash of soft water. Roll it around on your tongue. Release the pungent, earthy aroma of the blue peat smoke, the sweet nuttiness of the barley and the delicate, heathery perfume of Islay’s streams.
I’m the same. Though give me a glass / bottle of good bourbon and I’ll happily drink to anyone’s health
Developing a taste for nice Bourbon also.
Shit bourbon is shit. Good bourbon is worth paying for. I treated myself to a bottle of Michter’s for Christmas - very nice
I would recommend a visit to Glen Moray Distillery in Elgin.
A few years ago touring Scotland we visited some distilleries and the loveliest staff of Glen Moray simply stood out.
Tallisker Skye is a third off in Morrisons at £27, not a bad drop if you like your smoke a bit on the lighter side.
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Thanks! I quite like that one… just seen it’s £25 on Amazon though.