Lowland the Land of Whisky
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The Land of Whisky A visitor guide to one of Scotland’s five whisky regions. Lowland 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 a distillery lets you discover more from Scotland’s crystal-clear about the environment and the springs, streams and burns. people who shape the taste of the Scotch whisky you enjoy. So, when To this day, distilleries across the you’re sitting back and relaxing country continue the tradition with a dram of our most famous of using pure spring water from export at the end of your distillery the 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 wood Home to the greatest concentration of the cask used to mature the of distilleries in the world, Scotland spirit, there are many factors that is divided into five distinct make Scotch whisky so whisky regions. These are Islay, wonderfully different and varied Speyside, Highland, Lowland and from distillery to distillery. 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 EDEN MILL Lowland DAFTMILL KINGBARNS With miles of rolling farmland and also home to five of the country’s neat woodlands, the Lowlands seven high-volume grain distilleries, CAMERONBRIDGE is one of the most charming and which, although they aren’t open accessible whisky regions in to the public, continue to produce Scotland. Encompassing the great the grain whiskies that are used in cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, some of the world’s most famous as well as the historic Kingdom of whisky blends. Fife, the Lowlands reaches from the invisible Highland/Lowland divide, Take advantage of the Lowlands’ AUCHENTOSHAN down to the Scottish Borders and great transport links to go on a NORTH BRITISH Dumfries & Galloway, and out west tour of the region’s diverse single to Ayrshire & Arran. malt distilleries. Learn about the skill behind creating a brand-new Boasting a mild climate and flat single malt at a newly-opened farmland, the Lowlands is an ideal artisan distillery, or visit one of the region for growing barley, and, area’s long established distilleries STRATHCLYDE GLENKINCHIE consequently, for producing whisky. to discover more about Lowland STARLAW The region is famous for producing whisky production in times gone light, traditionally unpeated past, tour their famous buildings whiskies that are renowned for and sample a delicious dram. their sweet, grassy notes and gentle style, earning them the While you’re in the region, why not affectionate nickname the ‘Lowland pop into the A.D. Rattray Whisky Ladies’. Experience in Kirkoswald, to nose and taste an incredible selection of Although many of the Lowlands’ malts, fill your own bottle straight historic distilleries went into decline from a cask or book a delicious in the 18th and 19th centuries whisky tasting session? You could following the rise in the popularity also learn about the whisky making of blended whisky, which favoured process on a terrific ‘barrel ride’ at AILSA BAY more robust single malts, a few the Scotch Whisky Experience, long-established single malt located on the historic Royal Mile in GIRVAN distilleries still remain open today Edinburgh, where you’ll also learn and continue to produce classic about the different whisky regions Lowland malts that are hugely and see the largest collection of popular for their fresh flavours whisky in the world. ANNANDALE and gentle style. Read on to learn more about In recent years, several brand- the Lowlands’ wonderful whisky new distilleries have opened their distilleries and plan your trip doors too, and the Lowlands are around the area. BLADNOCH Be sure to check out our guides for the other four whisky regions: Campbeltown, Islay, Highland and Speyside. www.visitscotland.com/distilleries-guides where the spirit is passed through sample from one of their specially Ailsa Bay Auchentoshan three separate whisky stills before selected single malt casks being transferred to the cask. Visit Distillery Distillery Auchentoshan to discover more OPENING TIMES about how they produce their Seven days a week, from LOCATION Tours available unique single malts, and marvel at 10:00 till 17:00 Girvan, Ayrshire. the strong notes of fruit and citrus LOCATION in their delicately smooth whisky. SAMPLE OVERVIEW By Dalmuir, Clydebank, Glasgow. • Auchentoshan American Oak Ailsa Bay Distillery is owned by With seven tours on offer, ranging • Auchentoshan Three Wood William Grant & Sons and was HOW TO GET THERE in price from £6 for The Classic • Auchentoshan 12 Year Old named after Ailsa Craig, a rocky Situated on the A82 between Tour to £200 for the exclusive • Auchentoshan 18 Year Old island just off the Ayrshire coast. Glasgow and Loch Lomond, Behind Closed Doors tour, • Auchentoshan 21 Year Old It was opened in 2007 to supply Auchentoshan is easy to get to Auchentoshan has plenty of whisky single malt whisky for the popular by car. You could also take the experiences for you to choose WHERE TO BUY blended whisky Grants. train from Glasgow Queen Street from. Most major retailers and online. out to Kilpatrick and walk to the Not open to the public distillery from there. The walk only For something a little bit different OTHER NEARBY takes around 20 minutes, though book onto The Story of Oak tour ATTRACTIONS OTHER NEARBY be sure to use a map so you don’t and discover how the distillery’s • Glengoyne Distillery ATTRACTIONS books. That is, until a couple of OPENING TIMES get lost as the roads around this carefully selected casks act as • Deanston Distillery • Ailsa Craig whisky enthusiasts decided to Open all year around, except area can be busy. key influencers on the flavour of • A.D. Rattray Whisky Experience • McKechnie Institute resurrect the distillery and rebuild Christmas and New Year’s Day. the finished whisky. Priced at £35 • Titan Crane • A.D. Rattray Whisky it from its derelict and crumbling OVERVIEW this tour provides a great insight • Clydebank Museum Experience – remains. Originally established SAMPLE Established in 1823, Auchentoshan into the importance of the whisky • Dumbarton Castle Kirkoswald, Ayrshire back in 1830, the distillery finally • Man O’Sword and Man O’Words Distillery is famously the only cask, and you’ll be given four • Arran Distillery – Arran re-opened its doors in November not yet released but Rascally distillery in Scotland to practice the of Auchentoshan’s remarkable • Annandale Distillery – 2014 and has started to make its Liquor (new-make spirit) art of ‘triple distillation’, a process whiskies to taste, as well as a Auchentoshan Distillery Dumfries & Galloway first whisky in nearly 100 years. available. Local history is at the heart of WHERE TO BUY the new distillery’s identity. Its As the distillery only re-opened in Annandale signature malts, Man O’Sword 2014, its first single malts will need and Man O’Words, are named to mature for at least three years. Distillery after two national heroes with They are widely expected to be local connections; Scottish king available from 2018. New-make Tours available Robert the Bruce and poet Robert spirit is now on sale online and Burns respectively. The Bruce from the distillery shop. LOCATION was 7th Lord of Annandale while Annan, Dumfries & Galloway. Burns resided in Dumfries up OTHER NEARBY until his premature death. Annan ATTRACTIONS HOW TO GET THERE was also once an established • Gretna Green Famous It is easy to get to from the main port of emigration for many Scots Blacksmiths Shop arterial road into Scotland, the to the New World. As a tribute, • 7stanes M74. Take junction 22 and drive the distillery’s branding has • The Globe Inn in Dumfries along the A75 to Annan where incorporated a sail in the letter ‘A’ • Andy Goldsworthy’s the distillery will be signposted. in Annandale. Striding Arches Alternatively, you can also exit • Cream o’Galloway Dairy Co. the M74 at junction 20 and Visitors can learn more about • Wigtown Book Town take the B722 all the way to the the distillery’s rebirth on various distillery gates. tours, including special tours with the distillery manager Malcolm OVERVIEW Rennie or by appointment with the Like many other distilleries before distillery owner Professor David it, Annandale was mothballed Thomson. and consigned to the history Annandale Distillery at night 06 07 WHERE TO BUY which, due to the unusual lay of Daftmill is currently not open to Bladnoch WHERE TO BUY In the late 1980 and early 1990s, Retailers and online the land, appears to be running public and doesn’t have visitor The Bladnoch distillery shop is the distiller underwent some upstream. The whisky-making facilities. However, it may be Distillery currently open or buy online major renovations, when the OTHER NEARBY operation at Daftmill however, set possible to arrange private tours grain distillery switched to a ATTRACTIONS against the distant, mist shrouded for small groups by appointment. LOCATION OTHER NEARBY multipurpose site, producing white • Eden Brewery, St Andrews peaks of West Lomond, is Visit the site to get in touch. Near Wigtown, Dumfries & ATTRACTIONS and other spirits. Another major • St Andrews Farmhouse anything but.