Spectacular Speyside Whisky Tours, Taste and Nose the Best Whisky in the World, visiting your favourite Speyside Whisky Distilleries
Splendid Whisky Tours in Speyside
Experience our sensational Speyside Whisky Tours in Strathspey, boasting the only malt whisky trail in the world. As a visitor to the Speyside region, you can spend several days tasting and sampling some of the finest whiskies in Scotland, or arguably indeed, the world. You can customise your whisky tour to include visits to your favourite Speyside Whisky Distilleries in Strathspey. Your spiritual whisky tour can start and end from Glasgow, Edinburgh or any other city, or town in Scotland. We have predesigned tours available, or alternatively, we can assist you in creating your ideal Speyside whisky distillery and sightseeing experience.
3 Day Speyside Whisky Tour Itinerary from Glasgow or Edinburgh
Your exclusive 3 day Speyside Whisky Tour, takes you on a wonderful adventure through Picturesque Perthshire, and the majestic mountainous Cairngorms National Park. This is a truly exquisite, Scenic Scottish Speyside Whisky Touring Experience, traversing through bygone whisky smugglers tracks and trails to whisky lover’s paradise in Speyside.
Day 1
Departing from your accommodation in Glasgow or Edinburgh, your group will travel North to the ‘Victorian Spa’, tourist town of Pitlochry in Perthshire.
You may feel like you are in a scene from ‘Brigadoon’ when you approach the Edradour Whisky distillery. Dating back to 1825, the distillery claims to be the smallest traditional distillery in Scotland, crafting handmade single malt whisky from a farm distillery, which is still in production today. “Eador Dhā Dhobhar” is Gaelic for Edradour and translates to “between the rivers”. You will find this delightful whisky distillery situated beside the Edradour burn, which flows into the River Tummel, adjoining the River Garry.
After lunch, we take the High Road to Dalwhinnie Distillery, the highest in Scotland at 1,164 ft above sea level. Dalwhinnie means “Plain of Meetings” in Gaelic, this whisky distillery was established in 1897, and is located at a junction of old drover’s roads between 2 mountain ranges. You approach Dalwhinnie, by driving along General Wade’s Military Road, which was built to transport government soldiers north to quell any further Jacobite Rebellions. The guided scotch whisky tour of Dalwhinnie is very popular, and pre-booking is essential to avoid disappointment.
Leaving Dalwhinnie behind, we continue into the heart of Speyside, where your group have the choice of accommodation for your overnight stay. We can suggest accommodation establishments for your overnight stay in the Speyside region.
Day 2
We begin the day with a fascinating educational visit, to the Speyside Cooperage visitor centre. You can observe the coopers, demonstrating the ancient art of coopering from the elevated viewing gallery.
We then drive the short journey of three miles to the Glorious Glenfiddich distillery for a one and a half hour ‘explorers’ guided whisky distillery tour.
Our next stop is only a few miles away at the new ultra modern Macallan Whisky Distillery. You will join one of the Macallan friendly, knowledgeable guides on “The Six Pillars Experience”.
After lunch you have the option to indulge in another Speyside whisky touring experience at the Benromach Distillery in Forres or to explore the nearby ancient, medieval Cawdor Castle.
We can suggest accommodation establishments for your overnight stay in either Nairn or Inverness.
Day 3
After breakfast your group have the option to select a visit to the atmospheric Culloden Battlefield and the prehistoric burial chambers at Clava Cairns. Time allowing, you could even search for “Nessie” at the northerly village of Dores at Loch Ness.
Alternatively you may wish to visit additional Speyside Whiskey Distilleries such as Glen Moray or Strathisla before touring through the breath taking scenic snow road south towards Glasgow or Edinburgh, where we conclude your memorable three day Speyside Whisky Tour.
You can also choose to extend your Speyside Whiskey Trip by adding extra days to visit additional whisky distilleries on the Malt Whisky Trail or in the Speyside region.
Experience further whisky tour itineraries and ideas to extend your trip here.
The Ultimate Speyside Whisky Experience for The Connoisseur
Speyside in Strathspey, is home to the greatest concentration of Scotch Whisky Distilleries worldwide, and boasts the claim to over half the distilleries in Scotland.
Speyside, refers to the entire region surrounding the River Spey, which rises in the Monadhliath Mountains, south of Loch Ness. This lengthy, crystal clear river flows in a straight northeasterly line, for one hundred miles, before disgorging its contents into the Moray Firth, at Spey Bay. The region in Moray, in the North East of Scotland is famous for the only Malt Whisky Trail in the world.
It is said “Rome was built on seven hills; Dufftown stands on seven stills”. Dufftown is considered the whisky capital of Speyside.
Speyside’s Marvellous Malt Whisky Trail
The Malt Whisky Trail in Speyside, visits eight whisky distilleries and a cooperage. Seven of the whisky distilleries are in production and operational, whilst Dallas Dhu is an historic distillery museum. You can can mix and match your visits to your favourite Speyside Whisky Distilleries to make your ideal whisky tour experience.
Benromach Whisky Distillery
The Benromach Distillery, has been producing classic Speyside whisky since 1898, using the same spring water rising from the nearby Romach Hills. It is located on the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres. Not only do the distillers make their whisky by hand, but by sight, sound and touch. This being one of the smaller distilleries in the region, you will enjoy a more personal, friendly whisky tour, with the Benromach Guide, where you will explore the boby mill, mash tun, wooden washbacks, 2 copper stills, spirit safe, filling room and dunnage warehouses. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy a tasting of the Award Winning 10 and 15 year old Benromach Classic Speyside Single Malt Whisky.
Glenfiddich
The world famous Glenfiddich Whisky Distillery in Speyside, was founded by William Grant in 1887, and today is the world’s best selling Scotch Malt Whisky. The distillery was built with the help of Grant’s children, using stones from the bed of the River Fiddich. Situated half a mile north of Dufftown, on the slopes of the Conval Hills, the plant uses water from the Robbie Dubh spring. In Gaelic Glenfiddich means ‘Valley of the Deer’. Visit the Glenfiddich website for their fascinating story, their exclusive online selection of Speyside Whiskies and for more information on the fantastic selection of guided whisky distillery tours available.
Speyside Cooperage Visitor Centre
Discover the ancient craft of coopering, and follow the journey from acorn to whisky cask, at the amazing visitor centre at Craigellachie, on the Speyside Whisky Trail. You can observe and learn the craftsmen bringing barrels back to life, using traditional methods such as shaping the staves, shaving casks to make them perfectly smooth and charring and toasting to refresh barrels, from the elevated viewing platform.
Glen Grant
Discover some of the Great Glen Grant’s secrets on an amazing distillery visit, to the whisky town of Rothes in Speyside, boasting 4 distilleries.
The proud clansmen, John and James Grant, founded this historical distillery in 1840. Members of one of the oldest and most powerful Clans in the Spey Valley, lands which were granted to them by Robert the Bruce, for their help in the fourteenth century Scottish Wars of Independence.
On the informative whiskey distillery tour, you will discover the unique purifiers which are unique to Glen Grant. Furthermore, you will see the 8 magnificent copper stills that make this wonderful, seductively smooth, fruity single malt whisky.
What makes this Speyside whisky tour so very special, is the beautiful Victorian gardens, occupying 22 acres of the Glen. Treading the footsteps where Major Grant entertained his guests for after dinner malt whisky tastings, you will inhale, as they would, the fresh highland air. Experience the sounds of the rushing burn, as you traverse over the criss cross bridges through the glen, passing the copper beech trees, greenhouses homing orchards, and beautiful banks of wonderful coloured rhododendrons.
The Glenlivet
In 1824, “The Glenlivet” was the first distillery in Scotland to be granted permission from the government to distill. The Glenlivet was reputedly a favourite tipple of King George IV. Founded by George Smith, this famous malt is the best seller in the United States and second biggest single malt brand throughout the world.
Cardhu Distillery
Cardhu originated as a farm distillery and was operational on a seasonal basis. Its name in Gaelic means ‘black rock’ which refers to the neighbouring Mannoch Hills, where the distillery’s spring water emerges from. This is the only distillery pioneered by a woman, Helen Cumming, who, it is said, took care of the mashing and fermenting processes. She was forever baking bannocks to disguise the smell of fermenting barley, and also to offer the excise man when he came into the vicinity. She would raise the red flag to alert her neighbours that the gaugers were on the prowl.
The distillery offers some very informative guided whisky tours, and one to look out for is the “Guess Dhu Tour” which includes a guessing game, with a chance for your name to be added to their Hall of Fame.
Dallas Dhu
You can enjoy a close up experience on a self guided tour through the Victorian, Dallas Dhu distillery which is now an interactive museum. In gaellic Dallas Dhu means ‘Black Water Valley’. In it’s heyday, it employed around 15 men and was in production making the famous Roderick Dhu blend. When visiting this distillery, you will have the opportunity to get up close to the machinery, not always possible in working distilleries.
StrathIsla
Often described as one of the most beautiful and picturesque distilleries in the Highlands, Strathisla produces one of the best blended whiskies. Stimulate your palate with the exquisite cocktail recipes the distillery offers, including the Chivas Collins, Rob Roy, Morning Glory Fizz or Old Fashioned. You can even create your own blend on the “The Chivas Blending Experience” tour.
Glen Moray
Situated on the banks of the River Lossie since 1897 in one of the oldest historic Scottish Towns, Elgin. The distillery is a member of the world famous Speyside Malt Whisky Trail. At a very reasonable £5, you can enjoy the standard tour offering also the optional complimentary tasting of two whiskies.
7 Super Speyside Whisky Distilleries that offer guided tours and tastings
The following world renowned distilleries, are also available to visit on Speyside Whisky Tours, although not part of the official Speyside Malt Whisky Trail. Many of these are world famous brands, and are well worth a visit for the whisky connoisseur and keen amateur alike.
Benriach
The Benriach Distillery in the heart of Speyside was founded by John Duff in 1898. This distillery is generally not open to the public, but due to a high level of interest they offer a Guided Connoisseur’s Whisky Tour on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am and 2pm.
Glenfarclas
Glenfarclas in Ballindalloch lies in wide open farmland beneath the craggy slopes of Ben Rinnes and its name translates into “ Valley of the Green Grass”. For over 150 years the malt whisky distillery has been independently owned by just one family, the Grants of Glenfarclas. It opened its Visitor Centre in 1973 and offers a wide range of guided Speyside whisky tours for beginners, to the enthusiasts.
Ballindalloch
Ballindalloch Single Malt Distillery in Speyside is Scotland’s first ever single estate distillery, that offers more than just a whisky tour and tasting. You can immerse yourself in a full day ‘Art of Whisky Making Experience’, which is limited to only 2 guests per day. Alternatively, they offer a two and a half hour distillery tour, or a more in depth ‘Ballindalloch Spirit Tour; for larger groups. Click here to visit the informative and excellent Ballindalloch distillery website.
The Balvenie
Founded in 1892 by William Grant during the ‘whisky boom’ of the nineteenth century, the Balvenie Malt Whisky Distillery sits in the grounds of Glenfiddoch in Dufftown. This distillery offers a completely unique intimate, personal guided tour, as each group is limited to a maximum of 8 people. You will have the opportunity of peering beneath the smoking pagoda roof. Your senses will be heightened as you inhale the scent of the golden barley in the only traditional, working floor maltings in the Highlands of Scotland. This amazing distillery has its own cooperage, and you can also bottle your own Balvenie in Warehouse 24.
Macallan
The new £140million Macallan Distillery, lies a mile beyond Craigellachie on the stunning Easter Elchies estate. The signature whisky tour, ‘The Six Pillars Experience’, takes you on a journey through this modern, state of the art distillery. This breathtaking, leading-edge, piece of ultramodern architecture has been portrayed as “It’s almost like a Bond villain’s lair” by Macallan’s creative director, Ken Grier.
Aberlour
Distillery was founded in 1879 by James Fleming and lies beside the Lour Burn, joining the River Spey. The single malt whisky is a favourite in France, and this creamy and faintly spicy 10 year old has won many awards. Guided whisky tours run seven days a week at 10.00am and 14.00pm.
Cragganmore
Cragganmore Distillery was founded by ‘Big’ John Smith in 1869. The name is Gaelic for ‘the milk burn’, which is nearby, and where local dairy farmers washed their tools after milking the cows. They have a fantastic Speyside malt and can offer you the Cragganmore “Taste of Speyside experience”, The Range Tour or The Tutored Nosing and Tasting Tour.
Select a pre-designed Speyside Whisky Tour or create a unique trip to your favourite Speyside Whisky Distilleries
You can choose from our pre selected whisky tours or we can work with you to create your perfect Speyside whisky tour itinerary and visit your favourite distilleries in the Speyside region of Scotland. You can also mix and match some beautiful scenery, iconic castles and cathedrals en route to Speyside. So many historic and stunning must see locations await you. Contact us today to let us assist you in customising your dream whisky tour to the Speyside region of Scotland your way.