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Home , Ardmore distillery, Arran distillery, Atholl, Balblair distillery, Ballechin, Ben Nevis distillery

The Land of A visitor guide to one of ’s five whisky regions. Whisky

The practice of distilling whisky No two are the same; each has has been lovingly perfected its own proud heritage, unique throughout Scotland for centuries setting and its own way of doing and began as a way of turning things that has evolved and been rain-soaked barley into a drinkable refined over time. Paying a visit to spirit, using the fresh water from a distillery lets you discover more Scotland’s crystal-clear springs, about the environment and the streams and burns. people who shape the taste of the you enjoy. So, when To this day, distilleries across the you’re sitting back and relaxing country continue the tradition of with a dram of our most famous using pure spring water from the export at the end of your distillery same sources that have been tour, you’ll be appreciating the used for centuries. essence of Scotland as it swirls in your glass. From the source of the water and the shape of the still to the Home to the greatest wood of the cask used to mature concentration of distilleries in the the spirit, there are many factors world, Scotland is divided into five that make Scotch whisky so distinct whisky regions. These are wonderfully different and varied Highland, Lowland, Speyside, from distillery to distillery. and Campbeltown.

Find out more information about whisky, how it’s made, what foods to pair it with and more: www.visitscotland.com/whisky For more information on travelling in Scotland: www.visitscotland.com/travel Search and book accommodation: www.visitscotland.com/accommodation Highland 02 01 Stretching from in the malts with cereal notes while in the north to the in the south, tend to be lighter, south and to the fruity and dry. Similarly, single Outer east to west, malts produced in Aberdeenshire

03 the Highland region is by far in the east are full-bodied, dry and the biggest whisky region in fruity compared to the western 04 Scotland in geographical terms. Highlands which are peated with As it is so expansive, it is not some strong maritime influences. easy to come up with a rule of thumb to categorise its whiskies. The distilleries on the islands, 05 Broadly speaking, they are although officially not recognised robust, full-bodied single malts as a sub-region, differ again. 07 06 while also embracing individual Highland Park on Orkney, for characteristics depending on instance is completely different 08 09 the distillery and its location. to most mainland Highland malts Some are peaty or smoky, some because of the 4,000 year-old 10 11 powerful but other Highland heathery peat it uses to dry its 18 12 17 malts, like those produced at malted barley, giving it a sweet Dalwhinnie, are surprisingly smokiness on the palate. Whisky 13 14 19 delicate. from the Isle of Jura on the other

01 SCAPA 22 ROYAL LOCHNAGAR hand is more oily and briny with 20 02 HIGHLAND PARK 23 DALWHINNIE Running through the volcanic gentle peat. 16 03 WOLFBURN 24 BEN NEVIS 15 21 04 PULTENEY 25 BLAIR ATHOL mountain rock of the Highlands, 05 ABHAINN DEARG 26 the water used in whisky With such a complex variety 06 ISLE OF HARRIS 27 GLENCADAM 07 CLYNELISH 28 ARBIKIE 22 production here is some of the of characteristics and flavours, 08 GLENMORANGIE 29 09 BALBLAIR 30 EDRADOUR purest in Scotland. Couple that perhaps the many conflicting 23 10 31 GLENTURRET with ever-changing heather-clad similarities and differences 26 11 DALMORE 32 ABERFELDY 24 12 TEANINICH 33 landscapes and the variable between Highland distilleries is 13 GLEN ORD 34 TOBERMORY 25 weather that rolls over rugged just an added incentive to explore 27 14 ROYAL BRACKLA 35 OBAN 33 15 36 TULLIBARDINE northern Scotland and you more widely to sample and savour 30 16 37 32 17 GLENGLASSAUGH 38 GLENGOYNE have the basis for hardy single the region’s ? 18 MACDUFF 39 34 31 29 malt whisky which reflects the 28 19 GLENDRONACH 40 ISLE OF JURA 20 GLEN 41 ISLE OF ARRAN environment it is forged in. Browse the listings in this guide 35 21 ARDMORE to find out more information about 36 01 SCAPA 22 ROYAL LOCHNAGAR 02 HIGHLAND PARK 23 DALWHINNIE If we contrast the compass the distilleries in the Highland 03 WOLFBURN 24 BEN NEVIS 04 PULTENEY 25 BLAIR ATHOL points, distilleries in the northern region, how to visit them or simply 37 05 ABHAINN DEARG 26 FETTERCAIRN 06 ISLE OF HARRIS 27 GLENCADAM Highlands generally produce which of their drams to sample. 07 CLYNELISH 28 ARBIKIE whisky with full-bodied, sweet 39 38 08 GLENMORANGIE 29 STRATHEARN 40 09 BALBLAIR 30 EDRADOUR 10 INVERGORDON 31 GLENTURRET 11 DALMORE 32 ABERFELDY 12 TEANINICH 33 ARDNAMURCHAN 13 GLEN ORD 34 TOBERMORY 14 ROYAL BRACKLA 35 OBAN 15 TALISKER 36 TULLIBARDINE Be sure to check out our guides for the other four whisky regions: 16 TOMATIN 37 DEANSTON 17 GLENGLASSAUGH 38 GLENGOYNE Campbeltown, Islay, Lowland and Speyside. 41 18 MACDUFF 39 LOCH LOMOND 19 GLENDRONACH 40 ISLE OF JURA 20 GLEN GARIOCH 41 ISLE OF ARRAN www.visitscotland.com/distilleries-guides 21 ARDMORE WHERE TO BUY The complex business of blending Abhainn Available to purchase at the whisky has been passed down distillery shop or online from its through the generations at Dearg website and other reputable Dewar’s. The distillery itself online retailers. forms part of the Dewar’s World Distillery of Whisky attraction, one of OTHER NEARBY Scotland’s best and most visited Tours available ATTRACTIONS whisky heritage visitor centres. • Calanais Standing Stones The interactive exhibitions take LOCATION • Broch you through the history of Dewar’s Carnish, • Bosta Iron Age House Whisky as well as the fine art of • Gearrannan Blackhouse blending before a tour of the HOW TO GET THERE Village distillery. The distillery is situated in Uig, a • Isle of Harris Distillery remote western part of the Isle of (opening spring 2015) OPENING TIMES Lewis. As such, you should expect Open all year around, except to drive single-track roads to the Christmas and New Year’s Day. distillery in Carnish. The distillery Aberfeldy itself is situated along a laneway SAMPLE next to a bridge. Distillery • Dewar’s White Label (blend) (Dewar’s World • Dewar’s 12 Year Old (blend) OVERVIEW of Whisky) • Dewar’s 18 Year Old Double As the first distillery on the Aged (blend) in nearly 200 Tours available • Dewar’s (blend) years, Abhainn Dearg Distillery • Aberfeldy 12 Year Old (pronounced ‘aveen jerræk’) LOCATION • Aberfeldy 21 Year Old is somewhat of a trailblazer on Aberfeldy, the archipelago. The distillery is WHERE TO BUY named after the Gaelic for Red HOW TO GET THERE Available at most major retailers River, the burn that runs through Aberfeldy Distillery can be found and online. the surrounding valley and the on the left-hand side of the A827 water source for its whisky. before you reach Aberfeldy, when OTHER NEARBY travelling west from the ATTRACTIONS A small operation which churns junction of the A9. • out batches of mature Scotch • The Queen’s View, Loch Tummel whisky, the distillery itself is not OVERVIEW • Falls of Bruar typical of Scottish distilleries The Dewar family started what has • Scone Palace from the outside or inside. While become the bestselling blended • Perth many distilleries have converted Scotch in the United States over • Blair Castle to modern machinery and 160 years ago. Not far from where • The Scottish Crannog Centre technology, each stage of the founder John Dewar was born, • The Hermitage process at Abhainn the distillery sprung up along the Dearg is still done by hand; from River Tay near waters which were filtering the new-make spirit to always used as a place to go labelling and bottling the aged panning for gold. whisky. As well as fine and complex single OPENING TIMES malts, the majority of whisky The distillery is open all year round made at Aberfeldy has been used except Sundays. Also, opening in Dewar’s renowned blended times vary depending on season. whiskies. White Label, created In summer, it is open to visitors in 1899 by AJ Monday to Saturday and Monday Cameron, is Dewar’s most famous to Friday in winter. blended whisky. A huge success, it was exported around the world for Abhainn Dearg Distillery SAMPLE over a century and is known for its • The Spirit of Lewis slogan, “It never varies.” The peaceful countryside • Single Malt Special Edition near Aberfeldy

06 The whisky, and all use Not open to the public Tour this new distillery to see the Arbikie water sourced from the Angus Ardmore Ardnamurchan making of their single malt as it Glens which has filtered down SAMPLE happens. Each tour is finished with Distillery through the fertile lands and into Distillery • Ardmore Legacy Distillery a whisky tasting in the comfortable an underground lagoon. They are • Ardmore Traditional Cask tasting room, with whisky sourced LOCATION all made using the same copper LOCATION • Teacher’s Scotch whisky Tours available by parent company Adelphi Inverkeilor, near , Angus. stills, to help create a distinctive Kennethmont, , Selection. taste which will reflect both the Aberdeenshire. WHERE TO BUY LOCATION OVERVIEW coastal and country surroundings Bottles of Teacher’s can be found Glenbeg, Ardnamurchan OPENING TIMES Storming into the drinks market that they are made in. OVERVIEW via most major retailers and bottles 10am – 6pm. with the first potato vodka in was opened of Ardmore single malt can be HOW TO GET THERE Scotland, Arbikie Distillery in Taste the first new whisky in Angus in 1899 in order to guarantee bought online. Travel time from the Corran Ferry is OTHER NEARBY Angus is launching two more for a generation which, once a supply of fully peated single about 1 hour, and from Kilchoan (if ATTRACTIONS drinks to its name – gin and, most distilled into ex-bourbon and malt whisky for Teacher’s Scotch OTHER NEARBY you’re coming via Mull) is about 45 • , importantly, whisky. ex- casks to mature, will whisky. Unlike most other Highland ATTRACTIONS minutes. • , Fort have a Highland edge with a rich distilleries, Ardmore Distillery use • Huntly Castle William Based on the Arbikie Highland deep flavour and honeyed tones. peated barley, which gives the • Deans of Huntly OVERVIEW • Loch Shiel Cruises Estate in a converted cow shed, whisky a delicious smoky finish. • Knock Dhu Distillery Opened in July 2014, • Wild Highland Tours the distillery overlooks Lunan Not open to the public. • Ardnamurchan Distillery is one • Tours Bay and uses traditional distilling Although the distillery is not open • of Scotland’s newest distilleries. • Nadurra Visitor Centre techniques which were used on SAMPLE to the public, you can still try a Located on the Ardnamurchan this land as far back as 1794. Early releases are now available taste of Teacher’s Scotch whisky peninsula, amidst stunning or Ardmore single malt, bottles of scenery on the shores of Loch OTHER NEARBY ATTRACTIONS While the main component for the which are released from time to , it is also the most westerly vodka is estate’s potatoes and the • Lunan Bay time. distillery on mainland Scotland. gin is created with home-grown • Montrose Basin Visitor Centre Eventually, the distillery will wheat, the whisky uses Arbikie • Duninnald Castle and Gardens produce two different types of barley, harvested less than 10 • ’s whisky, one peated and the other miles from the stills. • Arbroath Smokie Trail unpeated. Ardnamurchan Lighthouse • Montrose Golf Courses

08 09 Tours available LOCATION Edderton, near .

HOW TO GET THERE Balblair Distillery is located in the village of Edderton near Tain in the north eastern Highlands. Edderton can be reached by bus and Tain is accessible by train, bus and car. Both feature on a number of cycle routes.

OVERVIEW Discover the uniqueness of Balblair Distillery, the only distillery to exclusively release vintage bottlings. Once judged by the manager to have reached peak condition in the cask, Balblair whisky is labelled with the year it was made, rather than by its age, and seen to hold the essence of that year in the bottle. The oldest to be released in the SAMPLE a welcoming distillery for adults OPENING TIMES current collection is the 1969 • Balblair Vintage 2003 Ben Nevis and children alike. Generally open weekdays One of the oldest working Vintage which is said to carry an 9am – 5pm. Check website distilleries in Scotland, it was aromatic and spicy aroma with WHERE TO BUY Distillery Meet the mythical giant Hector for full details. established by John Ross of fragrant and floral hints of lemons, Balblair Distillery’s whisky shop McDram in the former warehouse Clan Ross and has stood by the apples bananas, pear drops and and online website includes rare Tours available and bottling hall and find out about SAMPLE Dornoch Firth in the eastern toffee. and exclusive vintages. You can the distillery’s history. Ben Nevis • Ben Nevis 10 Year Old single Highlands for over 200 years. The even select a cask and bottle your LOCATION Distillery was the first to produce west Highland Single Malt buildings that you see today were Step into the visitor centre’s ‘time own before writing the label and Near Fort William. whisky from both grain and malt • Dew of Ben Nevis 12 Years Old built in the early 20th century and capsule’ experience to be taken sealing the cork. Other whisky at the same time, but these days it Deluxe Blend were used by the army in World back to the sights and sounds of shops also stock it. HOW TO GET THERE has returned to only using malt. • Dew of Ben Nevis Blue Label War II. the year in which certain whiskies Based on the outskirts of Fort Blend were distilled before sampling a OTHER NEARBY William, Ben Nevis Distillery is Try a dram of this weighty whisky With a classic pagoda and vintage Balblair and continuing ATTRACTIONS close to the foot of Ben Nevis which is made with combined WHERE TO BUY rustic buildings in a lush green your intimate distillery tour. There • Highland Pictish Trail mountain itself. Fort William can be malts for a deep, complex taste. Whisky shops and online landscape, Balblair Distillery was are three types of tour to choose • accessed by bus and train and is Sample the ten-year-old single understandably chosen as one from, ranging from a shorter tour • Dornoch Beach located on the A82. malt to taste soft oils, citrus notes OTHER NEARBY of the locations for Ken Loach’s with one sample to an in-depth • Tarbat Discovery Centre and oak as well as hints of bitter ATTRACTIONS film The Angel’s Share, which was manager’s tour. • The National Nature OVERVIEW roast coffee. • Grogg & Gruel Ale House released in 2012. Reserve of Loch Fleet A distillery as renowned for its and Restaurant OPENING TIMES blends as its single malts, Ben After meeting Hector McDram you • Ben Nevis Mountain See if you can recognise the 10am – 4pm. Nevis Distillery was established can tour the distillery with a helpful Range Cable Car distinctive taste of Balblair in 1825 and sourced both its peat guide, enjoy a dram and perhaps • Glenfinnan Monument & whiskies, which are said to reflect From 1 April – 30 September open and water from the mountain it is even stop by the coffee shop and Visitor Centre apricots, oranges, spices, floral for tours at weekends. named after. restaurant. For a more in-depth • The West Highland Museum notes and green apples as well as experience, join the executive • Ardnamurchan Distillery having a leathery, nutty and full- Looking over Loch Linnhe In the shadow of the UK’s highest tour which is followed with several bodied character. to Fort William mountain you’ll find the Legend of tastings in board room. the Dew Ben Nevis Visitor Centre,

10 11 Did you know? Taste of the Highlands Tour Water from the nearby Allt Dour burn is used in Blair Athol Clynelish offers a private extended tour of the Blair Athol 12 Year Old. the facility along with tastings of Distillery Distillery Clynelish’s signature malts as well as a sampling and tasting direct Tours available Tours available from the casks of Clynelish 1988 and Teaninich 1985. Advance LOCATION LOCATION booking is required. , Perthshire. Brora, . OPENING TIMES HOW TO GET THERE HOW TO GET THERE Opening times vary – You can get to Pitlochry from Situated in a small village on the please see website. either north or south on the A9, or east coast of Sutherland, Clynelish there is a train station in the town. Distillery is located on the A9 an SAMPLE hour north of . • Clynelish 14 Year Old OVERVIEW • Only Since 1798, in the picturesque OVERVIEW Bottle 57.3% town of Pitlochry, Blair Athol Clynelish Distillery was founded • Clynelish Distillers Edition Distillery has been producing in 1819 by the Marquis of Stafford, one of the Scotland’s most later the notorious Duke of WHERE TO BUY recognisable blends, Bell’s Sutherland, who was instrumental Distillery shop, specialist blended Scotch whisky. in the Highland Clearances which merchants and online. saw thousands of his tenants The unique flavour comes from evicted to make way for sheep OTHER NEARBY the combination of many fine malt farming. It is said the distillery was ATTRACTIONS and grain whiskies. These are calculated attempt by the ruthless • Timespan Heritage and skilfully mixed together at the Blair Duke to make his barley profitable Art Centre Athol Distillery, and the winning and undercut local moonshiners. • Dunrobin Castle recipe dates back to the 19th • Brora Golf Course century. You’ll taste an essence of Clynelish Distillery overlooks the • Royal Dornoch Golf Course nuts and spice in this blend from North Sea and boasts a backdrop • Tain Golf Course the malt at the heart of it, the Blair of brooding hills. Its water source, • Golspie Golf Course Athol 12 Year Old which is crafted the Clynmilton Burn, flows through • Glenmorangie Distillery in the distillery. these hills over fissures of gold • Balblair Distillery in the rock, lending its single SAMPLE malt a fruity, waxy, faintly smoky • Blair Athol 12 Year Old flavour. Clynelish spirt was once so • Bell’s Blended Scotch Whisky highly prized that it was produced exclusively for private customers, WHERE TO BUY but today the robust, peaty-sweet You can buy the malt online, or character of Clynelish Single Malt visit the ’s Whisky is enjoyed around the shop. world as one of the base spirits for the Gold Label. OTHER NEARBY ATTRACTIONS There are three tours to choose • The Dewars Distillery from. The Clynelish Distillery Tour • Palace Museum includes a guided tour of the • Explorers Garden distillery and a complimentary • Edradour Distillery dram of Clynelish 14 year Old • Pitlochry Festival Theatre Single Malt, while the Taste of A whisky tasting at Clynelish offers bonus tastings Blair Athol Distillery of Clynelish Distillery Only Cask Strength Bottling and Johnnie The copper stills of the Walker Gold Reserve. Clynelish Distillery

12 13 won international renown for his OTHER NEARBY OVERVIEW Go on the classic distillery tour, SAMPLE Dalmore exquisitely blended single malts. ATTRACTIONS Set in a gloriously remote which costs £8.99 and is rounded • Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old One of his creations, a bottle of • Castle Leod Highland location, at a towering off with a dram, a handmade • Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition Distillery Dalmore 62 reached a whopping • Fyrish Monument, 1,164 ft above sea level, Dalwhinnie chocolate and a free glass to £125,000 in auction in 2011 – the • Glenmorangie Distillery, Tain Distillery is said to be Scotland’s take home, or opt for one of the WHERE TO BUY Tours available highest amount ever paid for a • , highest distillery. Despite being bespoke whisky and chocolate Most major retailers and online. bottle of single malt at the time. • Balblair Distillery, Tain surrounded by rugged mountains tasting experiences, each with LOCATION Book a tour of this legendary and wild Scottish landscape, the a free glass to take home too. OTHER NEARBY Alness, Ross-shire. distillery, picturesquely located on distillery’s striking white buildings Choose from three, four or six ATTRACTIONS the shore of the Cromarty Firth, The countryside around Dingwall, produce a famously smooth and whisky tastings, paired with melt- • Blair Castle, HOW TO GET THERE and learn about the art that goes near the gentle spirit. Visit the distillery to in-the-mouth chocolates, and see • House of Bruar, by Blair Atholl Dalmore Distillery is just a short into crafting their highly esteemed see how Dalwhinnie craft their how many of the different tasting • 30 minute drive from Inverness, single malts. full-bodied malt whiskies, sample notes in each of the Dalwhinnie • The Highland Chocolatier, with regular buses running from a dram and enjoy the sweet taste expressions you can pick out. Inverness to Alness. OPENING TIMES of honey and fruit, with a hint of • Ben Nevis Distillery Monday – Saturday. Morning, Dalwhinnie Highland peat smoke. Find your ideal style of whisky, • Blair Athol Distillery OVERVIEW afternoon and evening timeslots all at one distillery, on the Classic Owned by for available but book in advance. Distillery As well as being one of the Single Malt Whisky Tasting. over a century, the iconic royal country’s highest distilleries, Priced at £15.99, this unique stag’s antlers that adorn every SAMPLE Tours available Dalwhinnie’s tours and whisky tasting experience includes six bottle of The Dalmore are taken • Dalmore 12 Year Old tastings are also decadently single malts from six different directly from the Mackenzie family • Dalmore 15 Year Old LOCATION different. Not only will you be distilleries throughout the country, crest. The Dalmore Distillery • Dalmore 18 Year Old Dalwhinnie, Cairngorms guided through the whisky-making including Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie, has been producing full-bodied • Cigar Malt Reserve National Park. process and given a sample, the Cragganmore, Talisker, Oban and Highland malts since 1839; visit the • King Alexander III distillery also pairs each of the Lagavulin, all paired with specially distillery to discover the secrets HOW TO GET THERE delectable drams you’ll taste on selected handmade chocolates. behind their wonderfully rich and WHERE TO BUY Travel by car along the A9 or A89 your visit with a mouth-watering, fruity Highland malts. Most major supermarkets and or take the train to Dalwhinnie handmade chocolate. OPENING TIMES online. Station, which is just a short walk Open 7 days a week though Looking across to Dalwhinnie The Dalmore’s famous master from the distillery. opening times vary. Tours can fill up Distillery in the Cairngorms National distiller, Richard Paterson, has quickly so pre-booking is advised. Park

14 15 Deanston that goes into making Deanston’s OTHER NEARBY single malts, then the Deanston ATTRACTIONS Distillery Heritage Tour is for you. • Doune Castle, Doune • Blair Drummond Safari Park, Tours available The Heritage Tour, priced • Castle at £30, will take you on a • Wallace Monument, Stirling LOCATION fascinating 75 minute journey • Doune, Perthshire. through Deanston’s 18th century • heritage before guiding you HOW TO GET THERE through the modern craft that Located just 8 miles north of goes into producing every drop Stirling, can of Deanston’s light and zesty be easily reached by car. single malts. Stroll through the historic workers village and learn OVERVIEW about the area’s heritage, follow Visit the distillery to discover your knowledgeable guide to more about it’s fascinating past Deanston’s pure water source and and discover how Deanston craft compare three Deanston single their light, fresh whisky, using only malts during your Tasting Room Scottish ingredients. Experience.

Located on the banks of the River OPENING TIMES Teith, 8 miles north of Stirling, the 10am – 5pm. beautiful buildings that are now home to Deanston Distillery were SAMPLE built in 1785 and originally housed • Deanston 12 Year Old a thriving cotton mill. Following a • Deanston Virgin Oak gradual decline in the industry, this • Deanston Spanish Oak once booming mill was eventually • Deanston Toasted Oak closed in 1965, but the buildings • Deanston 1974 were given a new lease of life • Deanston Festival Edition in 1967, following the opening of Deanston Distillery. WHERE TO BUY Most major retailers and online. Tour prices begin at £8 for the standard Deanston Tour, which also includes a dram of Deanston 12 Year Old, though if you want to discover more about the distillery’s past life as a booming cotton mill, as well as learn about the craft The nearby Doune Castle

16 17 Tour the distillery to discover how OVERVIEW 30 years-old to enjoy a sweet it produces its light and fruity Discover whiskies from nose and fragrant, creamy, and Highland malts and taste a sample Glencadam, the only remaining floral tones to taste. of one of Fettercairn’s distinctive Angus distillery from the whisky whiskies for yourself. boom in the 1800s. Not open to the public.

OPENING TIMES Taste the delicate, mellow, spirit SAMPLE Phone in advance to check. which is said to get its light manner • Glencadam 10 Year Old from travelling through an unusual • Glencadam 12 Year Old SAMPLE lyne pipe. Connecting the stills to Portwood Finish • Fettercairn Fior the condenser, this pipe is angled • Glencadam 14 Year Old • Fettercairn Fasque upwards, rather than downwards. Oloroso Cask Finish • Glencadam 15 Year Old WHERE TO BUY Crafting limited supplies of • Glencadam 21 Year Old Fun Fact Online. artisan whisky, Glencadam was Worm tubs are a traditional type of spirit condenser, comprising of coils of copper piping bought and revived by Angus WHERE TO BUY submerged in a large container of water. Vapour from the whisky stills travel into the copper pipes OTHER NEARBY Dundee Distillers PLC in 2003 Online and specialist whisky and are cooled by the cold water in the tub, turning them into liquid as they run down the pipe. ATTRACTIONS and released its first Glencadam retailers. • Edzell Castle and Garden Single Malt Whisky Aged 15 years • The Grassic Gibbon Centre in 2005. OTHER NEARBY • Montrose Basin Visitor Centre ATTRACTIONS Enjoy the sights and sounds of • House of and Garden By refraining from using peated • The Edradour this picturesque working distillery Fettercairn • Royal Lochnagar Distillery barley during the malt drying Brechin before you head to the Tasting Bar • Glen Garioch Distillery process, • Montrose Basin Visitor Centre Distillery for a delectable dram. Distillery produces single malts with a • Edzell Castle and Garden creamy texture and pure character. • Brechin Golf Club Tours available OPENING TIMES Tours available • JM Barrie’s Birthplace Museum 10am – 5pm. Glencadam See if you can locate the floral, • Fettercairn Distillery LOCATION LOCATION orange taste of the 21 year-old, or • Royal Lochnagar Distillery Pitlochry, Perthshire. SAMPLE Fettercairn, Aberdeenshire. Distillery the vanilla, spice and sherry tones • Edradour 10 Year Old of the 14 year-old Oloroso finish. HOW TO GET THERE • Edradour 10 Year Old HOW TO GET THERE LOCATION The River Tummel in Pitlochry Just 40 minutes north of Perth, the Burgundy Cask Finish Located just off the A90 between Brechin, Angus. Get your hands on one of the distillery sits just off the A9 in the • Edradour 10 Year Old Dundee and and just a rare occasional single class malts The nearby Edzell Castle and charming town of Pitlochry. Chardonnay Cask Finish short drive from . which are aged between 25 and its pretty gardens • Edradour 2004 Signatory OVERVIEW Unchillfiltered OVERVIEW Edradour Distillery is one of the • Edradour 12 Year Old Caledonia Set amidst lush countryside, at smallest distilleries in Scotland, • Edradour Bourbon the foothills of the spectacular and prides itself on producing Cask Matured Cairngorm Mountains, Fettercairn whisky in the most traditional and • Edradour Cream Liqueur Distillery is handily located authentic way possible. Edradour’s between Dundee and Aberdeen, impressive single malt collection WHERE TO BUY making it the perfect place to stop encompasses a huge variety of At the distillery or via off as you travel between the cities flavours and finishes, including independent stockists. or just a short trip from each of the rich and fruity whiskies in their them. Classics collection, the Ballechin OTHER NEARBY Heavily Peated range and ATTRACTIONS Along with Glencadam Distillery, matured expressions. • Blair Athol Distillery, located in Brechin, Fettercairn Pitlochry Distillery is one of the last whisky Visit the distillery for a fully • Dewar’s World of distilleries still in production in this guided tour, priced at £7.50, and Whisky, Aberfeldy beautiful corner of the country, see the traditional equipment • Heathergems Scottish giving it unrivalled access to that produces all of Edradour’s Jewellery, Pitlochry the crystal-clear water from the stunning single malts, from the • Blair Castle, Blair Atholl natural springs in the Cairngorm smallest whisky still in Scotland to • Highland Safaris, Mountains, a vital ingredient in its the traditional worm tubs. near Aberfeldy light balanced whiskies.

18 19 SAMPLE industrious 1960s and 1970s, as Glen Garioch • Glen Garioch Founder’s Reserve well as Glenglassaugh’s demise • Glen Garioch 12 Year Old and closure in 1986. Discover how Distillery • Glen Garioch Vintage 1978 Glenglassaugh burst back to life • Glen Garioch Vintage 1990 in 2008 when the first new spirit Tours available • Glen Garioch Virgin Oak ran from stills to create a fresh and • Glen Garioch 15 Year Old exciting new range of whiskies. LOCATION Renaissance , Aberdeenshire. Fittingly named Revivial, the first WHERE TO BUY whisky to be bottled was matured HOW TO GET HERE: Glen Garioch is available at most in both red wine and fresh The distillery is located in the major retailers and online. bourbon casks to create a mulled- heart of the valley of the Garioch wine, sherry and caramel finish. in the historic market town of OTHER NEARBY ATTRACTIONS Try the award-winning and highly Oldmeldrum, just 17 miles from • Farmers Market sought after old vintages of the Aberdeen in the north eastern tip • Potters Kitchen, Inverurie 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, such as of Scotland. • Meldrum House Hotel Glenglassaugh 51 Year Old. Its rich Restaurant, Oldmeldrum mahogany colour and deep fig, OVERVIEW • Royal Lochnagar Distillery prune and apricot scent all adds to More than 200 years old, this • Fettercairn Distillery the mellow taste which has hints distillery is the most easterly of treacle and peppery oak. whisky distillery in Scotland. Over the years the business Take the Revival tour to follow has changed hands many times, Glenglassaugh the journey from barley to whisky and so has the whisky’s taste. It and the history of Glenglassaugh changed to an unpeated whisky Distillery before a tasting. The Behind The in 1997 and has since evolved into Scenes Tour grants privileged GlenDronach attracting wealthy investors, such surroundings. On the Premium the hearty Highland malt that it Tours available access to the distillery, including as the author Sir . Tasting Tour you can sample three is today. See if you can taste the the coastal warehouse, as well as Distillery whiskies, including a dram of robust spirit’s vanilla notes and LOCATION a selection of drams. Don’t miss A must for anyone who likes the Distillery Manager’s cask, an velvety texture. By Bay, , the chance to bottle your own Tours available a sweet and fruity whisky, exclusive distillery experience. Aberdeenshire. whisky or stock up in the gift shop GlenDronach’s malts are richly If you’re looking for something before you leave. LOCATION sherried in casks, a method OPENING TIMES a little different, Glen Garioch HOW TO GET THERE , outside Huntly, which has been employed by the Opening times vary – check the offers a Perfect Pairs experience, The distillery sits to the west of OPENING TIMES Aberdeenshire. distillery for nearly 200 years. The website. combining the scrumptious Portsoy – take the A98 west to Open Monday to Sunday from distillery staff originally lived on site combination of drams with several reach Glenglassaugh. 10.00am - 4.30pm, between HOW TO GET THERE and some of the buildings remain SAMPLE cheeses. Sample the legendary May and September, but only GlenDronach Distillery is located to this day. Glen House was home • GlenDronach 12 Year Old Founder’s Reserve with comté, a OVERVIEW weekdays for the rest of the year. on the B9001 off the A97 in to a number of managers over the Original creamy French cheese. You’ll find that the character of Forgue, just outside Huntly years and is said to be haunted by • GlenDronach 15 Year Old Revival Glenglassaugh Highland malt SAMPLE in Aberdeenshire. Huntly is a woman who arrived from Spain in • GlenDronach 18 Year Old Tours start at £7, and offer a whisky naturally reflects the coastal • Glenglassaugh Revival accessible by both bus and train. a sherry cask! Allardice. comprehensive look behind-the- scenery in which it is distilled. • Glenglassaugh 30 Years Old scenes of the distillery, telling OVERVIEW Recent years have seen a revival WHERE TO BUY the tales of its eventful past and Founded in 1875 by the banks WHERE TO BUY Discover this quintessential of this whisky spurred on by the Whisky shops and online. revealing the tricks and techniques of the Glenglassaugh Burn, the Whisky shops and online. distillery nestled amongst the new owners, BenRiach Distillery behind its carefully crafted distillery’s motto is translated greenery of Aberdeenshire’s Company, who took over in 2008 OTHER NEARBY production, allowing you to truly from Latin as ‘By Sea, By Land’. OTHER NEARBY countryside. and began releasing the original ATTRACTIONS appreciate the unique taste of a has ATTRACTIONS 12 year-old. Explore the full range, • Malt Whisky Trail dram. opened and closed a number • Portsoy Ice Cream Learn of the colourful history, which includes 15 and 18 year-olds • Huntly Castle of times and experienced both • MacDuff Marine Aquarium traditional heritage and fine alongside rarer whiskies, such as • Deans of Huntly OPENING TIMES turbulent and tranquil times, much • Strathlene Buckie Golf Course sherried malt whiskies of single cask bottlings like the 1968 • Huntly Golf Club Open all year round Monday – like the North Sea itself. • GlenDronach Distillery. Founded Recherché. • The Grouse Inn Saturday. Tours must be booked • Strathisla Distllery in 1826 by an eccentric and • Glen Garioch Distillery by prior arrangement. Take a tour to discover the • exuberant character named James Join one of the four tours • Royal Lochnagar Distillery distillery’s history, from World Allardice, the distillery was soon at GlenDronach to see the • Fettercairn Distillery War II, when the maltings was producing popular spirits and whisky process in its historic turned into a forces bakery, to the GlenDronach Distillery

20 21 one of the reasons why it is often WHERE TO BUY OVERVIEW Tours range from The Original WHERE TO BUY Glengoyne described as Scotland’s most Glengoyne is available at Located on the glittering Dornoch Tour, priced at £5, which includes Most major retailers and online. beautiful distillery. many major retailers and at the Firth, half a mile from the quaint a tour around the distillery and Distillery Glengoyne online shop. village of Tain, Glenmorangie a free sample of Glenmorangie OTHER NEARBY Glengoyne offers a range of Distillery is famously home to whisky, to the extra-special The ATTRACTIONS Tours available diverse and exciting distillery OTHER NEARBY the tallest stills in Scotland. At Heritage Tour, priced at £120. The • Balblair Distillery, Edderton tours all year round, from the ATTRACTIONS 16 ft 10 ¼ inches, they are the Heritage Tour includes a trip to • Dalmore Distillery, Alness LOCATION Wee Tasting Tour to an exclusive • Queen Elizabeth Forest Park same height as a fully grown the distillery’s highly prized water • Dunrobin Castle, Dunrobin Dumgoyne, near Killearn. Whisky and Chocolate Matching • Balloch Castle Country Park giraffe! Established in 1843, source, the Tarlogie Springs, as • Anta Pottery, Fearn Tour, where you can have a truly • Dumbarton Castle Glenmorangie’s distinctive icon, well as a visit to the extraordinary • Glasstorm Contemporary Glass HOW TO GET HERE indulgent tasting session. You’ll • Museum known as the signet, comes Hilton of Cadboll Stone, which Studio and Gallery, Tain Glengoyne is an easy distillery to have the chance to sample the • Deanston Distillery from the Pictish Hilton of Cadboll Glenmorangie takes its intricate • Tain Golf Course reach, just a 40 minute drive from exquisite 15 Year Old and the Stone, which was located on signet from. You’ll then be treated and 30 minutes from award-winning 21 Year Old with Glenmorangie land. to lunch, along with a tasting of Stirling. It is situated just south of handmade chocolates from a range of Glenmorangie malts, the . the local chocolatiers, Nucoco Glenmorangie whiskies are before you leave with a special Chocolate. Glenmorangie noted for their smooth and memento of your visit. OVERVIEW elegant character. The distillery’s Producing its malt since 1833, OPENING TIMES Distillery famously tall stills ensure that OPENING TIMES the Glengoyne Distillery distills Open all year round. Advanced only the lightest vapours can rise Open all year though opening at a slower rate than any other tours must be booked by prior Tours available high enough to be condensed, times vary. malt whisky. The spirit is nursed arrangement. resulting in a fresh and pure through the stills at one third the LOCATION spirit. Under the guidance of Dr SAMPLE usual rate to create a complex, SAMPLE Tain, near Dornoch. Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s • Glenmorangie The Original fruity and award-winning spirit. • Glengoyne 10 Year Old esteemed Head of Distilling and 10 Year Old • Glengoyne 15 Year Old HOW TO GET THERE Whisky Creation, Glenmorangie • Glenmorangie 18 Year Old The Glengoyne Distillery is • Glengoyne 18 Year Old Travel by car from Inverness on is famous for experimenting with • Glenmorangie Lasanta situated in a wooded valley beside • Glengoyne 21 Year Old the A9. different cask finishes, giving you 12 Year Old a small river that flows into the an impressive range of single • Glenmorangie Signet famous Loch Lomond, which is malts to try. Glengoyne Distillery

22 23 SAMPLE a group of smugglers of the 18th Glen Ord • Singleton of Glen century? This was a time when it Ord 12 Year Old was fairly common for whisky to Distillery • Singleton of Glen be produced out with the law in Ord 15 Year Old Scotland. Tours available • Singleton of Glen Ord 18 Year Old The distillery is perhaps best LOCATION known for housing the Famous Muir of Ord, Ross-shire. WHERE TO BUY Grouse Experience, where you At the distillery shop online. can learn about how Scotland’s HOW TO GET THERE most famous blend is made. You Glen Ord Distillery is based in Muir OTHER NEARBY can even see the world’s largest of Ord, around 10 minutes’ walk ATTRACTIONS bottle of whisky here, containing from the nearest train station or 14 • Inverness Museum 228 litres of The Famous Grouse. miles drive from Inverness. & Art Galley • Culloden Battlefield During your visit, you will also be OVERVIEW • Fort George able to see the secrets behind One of the oldest distilleries in • Urquhart Castle the Glenturret Single Malt, with Scotland, Glen Ord was founded • Dingwall Museum tours to suit all levels of whisky in 1838 on the edge of the Black • enthusiasts. There’s also the Isle, to the west of Inverness. • Dalmore Distillery Glenturret Café and Bar, where you can sit back and enjoy some Throughout its history, Glen hot food, or sip on a delectable Ord has continued to malt its whisky cocktail. own barley and to use the long Glenturret fermentation and slow distillation OPENING TIMES methods developed over Distillery Open 7 days a week, 10am – 6pm generations. (Home to The Famous (5pm Nov – Feb). Grouse Experience) You have to visit the distillery in SAMPLES person to sample the whisky, the Tours available • Glenturret 10 Year Old Singleton of Glen Ord, as it is not • Glenturret 18 Year Old available anywhere else in the UK LOCATION • Glenturret 1999 – The MacPhail’s or Europe, but only in Asia. It has a Near , Perthshire. Collection rich, smooth-tasting, well-balanced flavour. HOW TO GET HERE WHERE TO BUY The distillery is located just north Major retailers and online. Watch the distillers at work as they of Crieff in Perthshire, near a town create this magical malt whisky called Hosh. It’s about an hour’s OTHER NEARBY on a tour and sample a taste to drive from and Glasgow ATTRACTIONS see how it is sweet, malty and dry and it is picturesquely set on the • Strathearn Distillery on the palate. Take a look around banks of the River Turret. • Tullibardine Distillery the shop for wide variety of single • Ruthven Gallery malt whiskies as well as books, OVERVIEW • Huntingtower Castle glassware and other items. Glenturret is Scotland’s oldest • Scottish Crannog Centre distillery, dating back to 1775, • Drummond Gardens OPENING TIMES and has an intriguing story. Did Opening times vary. you know that its origins lie with

The nearby city of Inverness on a summer’s night

24 25 Join the Oak Tour (£6/5) for an OPENING TIMES Isle of Arran in-depth tour around the distillery, Open all year though along with a free welcome dram opening times vary. Distillery of Arran 14 Year Old and a taste of the Arran Gold Cream Liqueur. SAMPLE Tours available On the Copper Tour (£15) you’ll • Arran 10 Year Old taste the same drams as the Oak • Arran 12 Year Old LOCATION Tour, along with a tutored tasting • Arran 14 Year Old , Isle of Arran. of the 10 Year Old, 12 Year Old • Arran Gold Cream Liqueur Cask Strength and one tasting HOW TO GET THERE of your choice. WHERE TO BUY The ferry crossing to Arran takes Specialist retailers and online. just 55 minutes from Ardrossan on On the Gold Tour (£60) you’ll be the Scottish mainland. treated like a true VIP. As well as OTHER NEARBY a welcoming dram and a tour of ATTRACTIONS OVERVIEW the facilities you’ll also see the • Castle and The Isle of is one distillery’s highly prized water Country Park, Brodick of the few remaining independent source, be taken on a warehouse • Arran Brewery, distilleries in Scotland. Though tour, receive a tutored tasting of • Isle of Arran Heritage it was only founded in 1994, the six Arran malt whiskies, and be Museum, Rosaburn distillery prides itself on only using given a 200 ml bottle of Cask • Moor Standing traditional methods in the creation Strength Arran Malt, and a tasting Stones, Machrie of its carefully crafted single glass to take home with you. malts. Visit the distillery to see the traditional wooden washbacks and After your tour, head to the copper stills and to sample a dram distillery’s on-site restaurant for a or two of their lovingly delicious bite to eat or browse the made whisky. selection of gifts for something The copper stills at unique to take home with you. Isle of Arran Distillery

There are tours available all year SAMPLE Highland round, where knowledgeable • Highland Park 12 Year Old guides will explain the careful • Highland Park 15 Year Old Park Distillery process from malting to distillation. • Highland Park 18 Year Old The Magnus Eunson Tour and the • Highland Park Odin Tours available Viking Tour are not to be missed - • Highland Park Einar you’ll get a chance to dig deeper • Highland Park Leif Eriksson LOCATION into the history and have the Kirkwall, Orkney. opportunity to sample a range of WHERE TO BUY different whiskies. Highland Park is available in the HOW TO GET HERE distillery’s online shop and at most The is At the Highland Park Distillery, major supermarkets and retailers. the most northerly distillery in you’ll taste the influence of Scotland, and can be found on the Orkney islands, where the OTHER NEARBY Mainland Orkney in the town of surrounding landscape is an ATTRACTIONS Kirkwall. You can travel to Orkney important part of the process • Scapa Distillery by car, ferry or plane. of whisky creation. It is one of • St Magnus Cathedral the only remaining distilleries • Hobbister NNR OVERVIEW in Scotland which still malts its • Italian Chapel Founded in 1798, the distillery own barley. The Hobbister Moor • Scapa Flow will forever be associated with is home to an abundance of • Orkney Wireless Museum the notorious smuggler, Magnus heathery peat, which is around Eunson. The name Highland Park 4,000 years old and is used as originates from the rise of the one of the fundamental flavours in hills above Kirkwall which were this delicate single malt. known as the High Park. This was where Magnus carried out his OPENING TIMES illicit trades. Open all year round. Highland Park Distillery

26 27 Isle of Harris Isle of Jura SAMPLE • Jura Origin Distillery Distillery • Jura Superstition • Jura Diurach’s Own LOCATION Tours available • Jura Prophecy Tarbert, Isle of Harris. LOCATION WHERE TO BUY HOW TO GET THERE , Isle of Jura. Most major retailers and online. Travel by ferry from Uig, on the , to Tarbert, on the HOW TO GET THERE OTHER NEARBY Isle of Harris, or from Ullapool to Board the Jura passenger ATTRACTIONS Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. Fly ferry (running mid-April till mid- • Corryvreckan Whirlpool to Stornoway on Lewis and drive September) at Tayvallich on the • Paps of Jura to Harris. mainland and arrive at the port just • Islay outside , or travel by OVERVIEW the car ferry from on Scheduled to open in spring Islay to Port Feolin on Jura. 2015, the Isle of Harris Distillery will become Harris’s only working OVERVIEW distillery, and only the second in Travelling to the Isle of Jura the Outer Hebrides, after Abhainn Distillery, located on the Dearg Distillery which is located gorgeously untamed island of on the Isle of Lewis. Jura, is an adventure in itself. Whether you choose to take the Once it is up and running, the car ferry from Port Askaig on distillery will begin filling casks Islay or the passenger ferry from with their new whisky, called The Tayvallich, located on the west Hearach, which is the Gaelic word coast of the Scottish mainland, for an inhabitant of Harris. Visit you’re guaranteed spectacular this beautiful new distillery, based views of Jura’s rugged mountain in a stunning water side setting in landscape and an exhilarating Tarbert, once it opens and enjoy boat trip across the glittering sea. seeing the making of The Hearach as it happens. Founded in 1810, Jura Distillery fell into disuse by the late 1800s Tours will be available once open. before being rebuilt in 1963 by two dedicated locals. Today the OPENING TIMES distillery produces a wide range Scheduled to open spring 2015. of malts, ranging from sweet and full bodied to deliciously peated. OTHER NEARBY Book a tour of this unique island ATTRACTIONS distillery to learn about how they • Seallam! Visitor craft their wonderful malts and Centre, Northton savour a sample. • Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, Carloway OPENING TIMES The pier at Tarbert, on Harris • Hebscape Gallery and Open all year though opening Tearoom, Ardhasaig times vary. Tours must be booked • Abhainn Dearg in advance. Looking over the water to Distillery, Carnish Craighouse, on Jura

28 29 Invergordon Loch Lomond Distillery Distillery LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION Dalmore, near Dingwall. Alexandria, Dumbarton. Macduff, Aberdeenshire.

OVERVIEW OVERVIEW OVERVIEW Around 3 miles east of Dalmore The is a The Macduff Distillery is situated on lies the , a very versatile distillery, producing the north coast of Aberdeenshire. specialist. The whisky grain and single malt whiskies. It The town of Macduff and its produced here is a component of produces seven different single neighbour Banff are separated many blended whiskies made in malts, some of which are intended only by a bridge over the River Scotland. Invergordon is the only for making blends. Loch Lomond is Deveron, where the whisky takes grain distillery in the Highlands a unique whisky-making location, its name. The Macduff single malt is and it was built in 1960, as one of sitting perfectly on the boundary fairly rare, as the whisky is usually a new generation of grain whisky between Highland and Lowland, bottled as the Glen Deveron 10 factories. although the malts are mostly Year Old. Only a small amount regarded as Highland whiskies. will be made into single malt as Not open to the public. The magnificent Ben Lomond the distillery’s main purpose is to mountain towers above the loch supply for blends, most notably the SAMPLE and looks down on the distillery. William Lawson blends. • Invergordon 8 Year Old • Invergordon 21 Year Old Not open to the public. Not open to the public.

WHERE TO BUY SAMPLE SAMPLE You can purchase online. • Loch Lomond Original • Glen Deveron 10 Year Old • Loch Lomond 12 Year Old • Glen Deveron 15 Year Old OTHER NEARBY ATTRACTIONS • Macduff 2000 – • Hugh Miller’s Birthplace WHERE TO BUY Connoisseur’s Choice Cottage and Museum Online. • Dingwall Museum WHERE TO BUY • Fort George OTHER NEARBY ATTRACTIONS Online. • Glenmorangie Distillery • Loch Lomond Brewery • Balblair Distillery • Oak Tree Inn OTHER NEARBY ATTRACTIONS • Dalmore Distillery • Loch Lomond Shores • Macduff Aquarium Farmers’ Market • Royal Tarlair Golf Course • Glengoyne Distillery • Huntly Castle • Tullibardine Distillery • Duff House • Royal Lochnagar Distillery • Glen Garioch Distillery • GlenDronach Distillery

View from Duncryne Hill over Loch Lomond

30 31 Join a Sensory & Flavour • Mccaig’s Tower, Oban (herring) and gold (whisky) which WHERE TO BUY Johnnie Walker Gold Label, Oban Finding Tour (£8) to witness the • Dunstaffnage Castle, Dunbeg left the port in vast numbers. Most major retailers and online. though some bottles of single traditional craftsmanship of whisky • Ocean Explorer Centre, malt are available. Distillery production first-hand and learn the Dunbeg Old Pulteney whisky is famed OTHER NEARBY secrets that make ’s for its crisp clean taste, and ATTRACTIONS Not open to the public. Tours available malts unique. Along the way you’ll possesses notes of sweetness • Clynelish Distillery, near Brora be given plenty of opportunities to and spice which are enhanced by • Wick Heritage Centre, Wick SAMPLE LOCATION awaken your senses, including a Pulteney traces of salt and smoke. Book a • The Castle and Gardens • Dewar’s Blended Scotch Oban, . tasting of Oban Distillery’s single tour (beginning at £6) to discover of Mey, Mey • Johnnie Walker Gold Label malt whisky straight from the cask Distillery how Pulteney Distillery craft their • Horizons, Thurso HOW TO GET THERE and a complimentary dram of the highly esteemed whiskies and WHERE TO BUY Travel by car along the A85, take Oban 14 Year Old, paired with Tours available see the curiously shaped copper Online. the train or bus from Glasgow, crystallised ginger. stills which are famously missing fly into Oban Airport, or arrive by LOCATION their ‘swan neck’. The story goes OTHER NEARBY ferry. OPENING TIMES Wick, Caithness. that when the stills were delivered Royal Brackla ATTRACTIONS Open all year though opening to the distillery they were too • Glen Ord Distillery, Muir of Ord OVERVIEW times vary. HOW TO GET THERE tall for the still house – so the Distillery • Tomatin Distillery, Tomatin The beautiful coastal town of Travel by car along the A99, take distillery manager simply cut • Cawdor Castle, Cawdor Oban grew up around Oban SAMPLE the train to Wick station or fly into the top off. Discover how these LOCATION • Fort George, Inverness Distillery, which, rather unusually • Oban 14 year old West Highland Wick John O’Groats Airport. uniquely shaped stills contribute Cawdor, . • Culloden Battlefield, Culloden for a Scotch whisky distillery, sits Malt whisky towards Old Pulteney’s complex right in the heart of Oban town • Oban Distillers Edition OVERVIEW taste before sampling a dram for OVERVIEW centre. Founded in 1794, Oban Set in a remote seaside location, yourself. Founded in 1812, Brackla Distillery Distillery was the brainchild of two WHERE TO BUY the town of Wick blossomed was granted a Royal Warrant of the town’s founders, brothers Most major retailers and online during the herring boom of the OPENING TIMES by King William IV in 1835 and John and Hugh Stevenson. Oban 1800s, becoming the busiest Open all year though opening gained the right to call itself Distillery’s single malts are often OTHER NEARBY ATTRACTIONS herring port in Europe. Pulteney times vary. ‘Royal Brackla’. It was one of only described as rich and smoky, • Ben Nevis Distillery, Distillery was built in 1826 before three distilleries to be awarded characterised by sweet and fruity Fort William Wick was connected to the road SAMPLE this distinction, along with Royal flavours, along with notes of brine • The Oban Chocolate network. Consequently its whisky • Old Pulteney 12 year old Lochnagar and Glenury Royal and seaweed, due to its beautiful Company, Oban was exported around the world • Old Pulteney 17 year old (now closed). Today, most of Oban Distillery seaside setting. • Oban War and Peace by boat and as such Wick became • Old Pulteney 21 year old the distillery’s whisky is used Museum, Oban renowned for the barrels of silver in blends, such as Dewar’s and The still room at Pulteney Distillery

32 33 with her husband Prince Albert. Lochnagar’s smooth, sweet and Scapa Distillery, however, looks WHERE TO BUY Royal It is said that the royal couple creamy whiskies, including a Scapa out onto the usually placid waters Available at most major were keen whisky drinkers and specially selected rare whisky, and of Scapa Flow – a sheltered, deep retailers and online. Lochnagar took up the chance to see the see which of the rich tasting notes Distillery body of water which was once distillery in action while they were you can pick out. home to the Royal Navy’s main OTHER NEARBY Distillery in residence at Balmoral. LOCATION anchorage and the dramatic scene ATTRACTIONS OPENING TIMES St Ola, Kirkwall, Orkney. of the scuttling of the German • Highland Park Distillery Tours available Join the Lochnagar Tour (£7) for Open all year though opening High Seas Fleet in 1919. During the • St Magnus Cathedral a guided tour of the distillery times vary. OVERVIEW First World War, the distillery was • Stenness Stones LOCATION and enjoy a dram of the Royal Scapa is only one of two even used as a billet for sailors – • Ring of Brodgar Balmoral, Aberdeenshire. Lochnagar 12 Year Old or book SAMPLE distilleries on Orkney, an a somewhat unorthodox choice of • Kirkwall the Reserve Tour (£10), which • Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old archipelago of 70 islands accommodation. • Italian Chapel HOW TO GET THERE also comes with a tasting of • Royal Lochnagar Selected clustered off the north coast of • Skara Brae Travel by car along the A93. the exclusive Royal Lochnagar Reserve mainland Scotland. Like many Nowadays, a team of just three Selected Reserve. island distilleries, Scapa Distillery operators keep the distillery OVERVIEW WHERE TO BUY was deemed an ill-considered manned and producing the Visit Royal Lochnagar Distillery, If you’re looking for something Selected retailers and online location when it was founded in distillery’s only single malt set against the backdrop of the a little bit special then book 1885. Scapa and its neighbour, expression, the Scapa 16 Year Old. towering Lochnagar Mountain, and onto the exclusive Royal Tour OTHER NEARBY Highland Park, have successfully walk in the footsteps of royalty. (£30). Enjoy a welcoming cup ATTRACTIONS proven that the remoteness of Not open to the public. Located just a mile or so from of coffee and shortbread in the • , the islands and the sometimes , the distillery’s library while you learn about the Glenlivet unforgiveable weather (there SAMPLE Royal Warrant was granted by history of the distillery before • Distillery, are no trees anywhere on Orkney) • Scapa 16 Year Old Queen Victoria in 1848, following following your knowledgeable will never be obstacles to Her Majesty’s visit to the distillery guide on an in-depth tour of the • Balmoral Castle, Balmoral whisky distilling. Royal Lochnagar Distillery distillery. Afterwards, taste Royal • Castle, Braemar • The Old Royal Station,

34 35 Strathearn Distillery Tours available LOCATION Methven, Perthshire.

HOW TO GET THERE OVERVIEW Described as a micro-distillery, Strathearn operates in a converted 160-year-old farmstead in the lush Perthshire countryside. Opened in 2013 by enthusiasts Tony Reeman-Clark, David Lang and David Wight, the distillery produces whisky as well as gin and speciality ales.

It is perhaps one of the only distilleries in Scotland that offers tours alongside whisky and gin- making courses. The courses range from one-day whisky or gin-making experiences to five- day whisky-making schools where participants will have a full, hands- on experience of producing new make spirit from grain to glass.

OPENING TIMES Open all year round Monday to Friday. It is best to arrange an appointment first as opening hours can vary. SAMPLE The distillery’s first matured whisky is expected in 2016.

WHERE TO BUY If you can’t wait for their whisky, you can buy Strathearn’s gin from local farmers markets in Forfar and Perth or online.

OTHER NEARBY ATTRACTIONS • Blair Atholl Distillery • Blair Castle, Blair Atholl • Perth • Scone Palace

The stills at Strathearn Distillery

36 37 grain shortages forcing its closure Talisker during WWII, Talisker solidified its Teaninich reputation in subsequent decades Distillery as one of Scotland’s classic malts. Distillery Tours available Today, the distillery attracts visitors LOCATION as much for its whisky as its Alness, Inverness-shire. LOCATION dramatic setting. Just paces from Carbost, Isle of Skye. the shoreline of Loch Harport, it OVERVIEW enjoys spectacular views of the A true Highland dram, the HOW TO GET THERE Black mountains. produces its From the Kyle of , the whisky from the town of Alness. gateway to the Isle of Skye, follow OPENING TIMES the A87 – the island’s main artery All year round except Christmas This distillery is totally unique in – as far as . From here, and New Year with some seasonal its processes. Instead of a mash turn left onto the A863 towards opening hours applying. tun, it uses a filter press to extract before taking another sugars from the malt - a similar left turn onto the B8009 following SAMPLE technique to that used in signs for Carbost. Driving through • Talisker 10 Year Old brewing. the hamlet, the distillery is at the • Talisker 18 Year Old bottom of the hill by the lochshore. • Talisker 25 Year Old It has one official bottling from the • Talisker Distillers Edition Flora and Fauna range, however OVERVIEW • Talisker 57 North most of its malts are used for As the longest operating distillery components in blends, such as on the expansive Isle of Skye, WHERE TO BUY , Johnnie Walker and Vat 69. Talisker has secured itself a Available at most major retailers place in the island’s folklore. and online. Not open to the public. Despite loud protests by the local reverend Roderick MacLeod, the OTHER NEARBY SAMPLE distillery sprang up in Carbost on ATTRACTIONS • Teaninich Flora & Fauna the shores of Loch Harport in 1830. • 10 Year Old Despite a shaky start, Talisker • Eilean Donan Castle single malt was to become one • Glenfinnan WHERE TO BUY of the largest selling single malt • Dark Sky Discovery points You can purchase online. whiskies by the turn of the 20th • Skye Museum of Island Life century. OTHER NEARBY ATTRACTIONS Such was the demand for Talisker • Glenmorangie Distillery whisky that the distillery had a • Dalmore Distillery pier and small built in • Hugh Miller’s Birthplace spite of its size and relatively Cottage and Museum small islander workforce. Despite The still room at • • Dingwall Museum • Fort George

38 39 OTHER NEARBY take home with you, or watch Tobermory ATTRACTIONS the distillery film. • Ardnamurchan Distillery, Distillery Ardnamurchan OPENING TIMES • Oban Distillery, Oban Opening times vary – Tours available • Tobermory Marine Exhibition, please see website. Tobermory LOCATION • Mull Museum, Tobermory SAMPLE Tobermory, Isle of Mull. • Aros Park • Tomatin 12 Year Old • The Old Byre Heritage Centre, • Tomatin 14 Year Old HOW TO GET THERE • Tomatin 18 Year Old Take the ferry from Oban • The Tomatin Legacy or Kilchoan. • 1988 Batch Release • Cù Bòcan OVERVIEW Whether you prefer your malts Tomatin WHERE TO BUY smooth and well-rounded or Buy Tomatin bottlings from gorgeously peated, Tobermory Distillery a number of retail outlets Distillery will help you find your and online. new favourite. Tobermory is one Tours available of the few Scottish distilleries to OTHER WHISKY ATTRACTIONS produce both peated and un- LOCATION • peated ranges of whisky, from the Tomatin, Inverness-shire • Glenlivet Distillery fruity, unpeated Tobermory malts • Clava Cairns to robust and smoky HOW TO GET THERE • Culloden Battlefield and Ledaig expressions. Tomatin Distillery is located 16 Visitors Centre miles north of and 15 • Inverness Floral Hall Established in 1823, Tobermory miles south of Inverness on the Distillery is one of the oldest main A9 trunk route. distilleries in Scotland and was originally named Ledaig, meaning OVERVIEW ‘safe haven’ in Gaelic. Visit the On the eastern edge of the beautiful Isle of Mull and discover Monadhliath Mountains lies how the island’s unique character Tomatin Distillery. The site has helps to craft Tobermory’s whiskies, seen whisky production since the including the distillery’s softly 15th century, originally filling the peated water which is drawn from flasks of drovers on their way to high in the hills above the town. market - although during some Book a tour of the distillery (£6) periods distillery operations were to learn more about the age-old not always legal! techniques that the distillery uses to craft their single malts before A formal distillery has been sampling a dram. running from 1897, and today operates 12 stills and continues OPENING TIMES to use spring water from the Open all year though tours stream named Alt-na Frith, which should be booked in advance. translates from the Gaelic as ‘free burn’. SAMPLE • Tobermory 10 Year Old The whisky produced is light and • Tobermory 15 Year Old sweet, typical of the characteristics • Tobermory 19 Year Old of Highland malts, and you can • Ledaig 10 Year Old discover how it is made on one of three different tours. Before WHERE TO BUY you leave, pop to the visitor Tobermory Distillery Selected retailers and online. centre where you can fill your own bottle with cask strength, Looking down to the River distillery-exclusive whisky to Findhorn at Tomatin

40 41 whisky came into existence. cereal with hints of vanilla, dates WHERE TO BUY making it one of Scotland’s newest Tullibardine However, at this time Tullibardine and spices. Characteristically Distillery shop and other whisky distilleries. The new distillery is was creating beer and is believed sweet, Tullibardine whisky is now shops. actually a reincarnation of the old Distillery to be the first place where the also available matured in bourbon (founded in purchasing of beer was recorded. barrels and also finished with OTHER NEARBY 1821) and draws its water from the Tours available In fact, the person who bought Burgundy. ATTRACTIONS same burn as the original distillery. it was a soon-to-become King • Ruthven Gallery LOCATION James IV of Scotland, stopping by See the whole process on a tour • Drummond Gardens Not open to the public. Blackford, Perthshire. en-route to his coronation. and enjoy a selection of tastings • The Library of Innerpeffray before browsing the distillery shop • Golf at The SAMPLE HOW TO GET THERE Eventually this brewery in the and stopping by the café. For • Barley Bree Restaurant First casks of Wolfburn single malt Tullibardine Distillery is located Perthshire countryside was something a bit different, look out • The Ochil Hills expected in 2016. at the Eaglesgate Retail Village converted into a distillery and for Tullibardine 1488 Whisky Beer, • Glengoyne Distillery on Stirling Street in Blackford, started to distil the spirit in 1949. which is now made by the distillery • Deanston Distillery OTHER NEARBY Perthshire. Situated on the A9 By the base of the rolling Ochil and is matured in newly disgorged ATTRACTIONS between Stirling and Perth, it Hills, the distillery makes use of whisky casks, giving a rich whisky • Pulteney Distillery, Wick can be accessed by bus from natural filtering which occurs as colour and aftertaste. • Caithness Horizons, Thurso both cities and Gleneagles is the water trickles down through basalt Wolfburn • The Castle and Gardens nearest train station. and red sandstone to Danny Burn. OPENING TIMES of Mey, Mey Open daily - please see website. Distillery OVERVIEW Much of the whisky distilled here You may be puzzled to see that is still matured in the same way as SAMPLE LOCATION Tullibardine has been producing it was in 1949, in traditional sherry • Tullibardine 20 Year Old Thurso, Caithness. since 1488, nearly 10 years before casks. Taste for toffee, apples and • Tullibardine 25 Year Old • Tullibardine Sovereign OVERVIEW The nearby PGA Centenary • Tullibardine 500 Sherry Finish Wolfburn Distillery began Course at Glenagles, used for producing whisky in January 2013, The Ryder Cup 2014

42 43 Driving around Scotland is a great way to see more of the country but before you head out exploring by car, there are a few rules and regulations you should be aware of: www.visitscotland.com/travel/information/driving-in-scotland Be sure to check out our guides for the other four regions. Drink responsibly: find useful information about drinking:www.drinksmarter.org

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