The Land of Whisky A visitor guide to one of Scotland’s five whisky regions. Speyside 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 Scotch whisky 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, Islay 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 05 15 03 06 Speyside 07 04 08 16 01 Speyside is home to some of Speyside you’re never far from a 10 Scotland’s most beautiful scenery distillery or two. From small scale 09 02 11 17 18 and lush landscapes, as well as producers who handcraft whisky roughly half of all the Scottish using traditional methods to some 12 14 whisky distilleries. The region is of the most famous distilleries in 13 19 located in the magical Highlands, the world, Speyside is the perfect 22 21 east of Inverness, and reaches from place to learn all you need to know 23 20 the glittering Moray coastline down about the art of whisky creation. 25 towards the majestic Cairngorms 24 National Park. Why not follow the renowned Malt 26 28 27 Whisky Trail and visit some of the 29 30 The region takes its name from the area’s top whisky attractions? Or 31 sparkling River Spey, which runs visit during the famous Spirit of 34 33 32 35 through the area, and you’ll find Speyside Whisky Festival in April/ the majority of its distilleries in the May, and get involved in some of 36 38 37 beautiful glens surrounding this the unique whisky events in the 40 bubbling water source. festival’s packed programme. You 41 39 could even discover the craft that 42 The area’s rich supply of pure goes into making whisky casks at 43 44 water and beautiful inland setting the fantastic Speyside Cooperage. help to produce smooth and complex whiskies that provide an Whether you’re already a whisky 45 elegant contrast to the salty and lover or are still to sample your first heavily peated whiskies that are dram, you’re sure to uncover more 46 47 produced by distilleries in other than a few fascinating facts – as regions. Speyside whiskies are well as some delicious drams – 48 characterised by sweet and fruity during your visit to Speyside. 49 notes, ranging from ripe pears to sultanas. Hints of nuts and malt are Read on to discover more about common, while some whiskies also Speyside’s wonderful whisky 01 BENROMACH 21 GLENTAUCHERS 41 CRAGGANMORE 02 DALLAS DHU 22 GLEN GRANT 42 TORMORE possess a refined smokiness. distilleries and plan your trip 03 GLENBURGIE 23 GLEN SPEY 43 ALLT-A-BHAINNE around the area. 04 MILTONDUFF 24 TAMDHU 44 BENRINNES 05 ROSEISLE 25 GLENROTHES 45 GLENLIVET With so many distilleries packed 06 LINKWOOD 26 DUFFTOWN 46 BALMENACH into a relatively small area, in 07 GLEN MORAY 27 CRAIGELLACHIE 47 TAMNAVULIN 08 LONGMORN 28 MACALLAN 48 TOMINTOUL 09 GLENLOSSIE 29 CARDHU 49 BRAEVAL 10 BENRIACH 30 KININVIE 50 SPEYSIDE 11 GLEN ELGIN 31 GLENFIDDICH 12 MANNOCHMORE 32 BALVENIE 13 SPEYBURN 33 ABERLOUR 50 14 AUCHROISK 34 DAILUAINE Be sure to check out our guides for the other four whisky regions: 15 INCHGOWER 35 KNOCKANDO 16 AULTMORE 36 BALLINDALLOCH Campbeltown, Islay, Lowland and Highland. 17 STRATHISLA 37 GLENALLACHIE 18 KNOCKDHU 38 GLENDULLAN 19 STRATHMILL 39 MORTLACH www.visitscotland.com/distilleries-guides 20 GLEN KEITH 40 GLENFARCLAS Some of these distillery workers Aberlour even remember the days the Allt-a-bhainne brewer would tour the distillery Distillery and distribute three drams of new Distillery whisky a day to each worker – a Tours available tradition long since stopped at LOCATION Scotland’s distilleries. Glenrinnes, near Dufftown, Moray, LOCATION the Highlands. Aberlour, Moray, the Highlands. OPENING TIMES Open all year around, except OVERVIEW HOW TO GET THERE Christmas and New Year’s Day. Opened in 1975, Allt-a-bhainne The distillery is on the right-hand is a relatively new distillery. Its side as you enter the village of SAMPLE main purpose is to create single Aberlour on the A95 heading • Aberlour 12 Year malt whisky to be used in Chivas north to Craigellachie. Old Double Cask Brothers blended whisky. They • Aberlour 12 Year do release rare bottlings of their OVERVIEW Old Sherry Cask Matured single malts from time to time, Aberlour was so called from the • Aberlour 15 Year including Allt-a-bhainne 21 Year Gaelic name for the burn that runs Old Double Cask Old, Allt-a-bhainne 1980 Sherry past it, Obar Lobhair – ‘the mouth • Aberlour 16 Year Cask and more. They are available of the chattering burn.’ According Old Double Cask to buy from whisky shops and to legend, ancient Celtic Druid • Aberlour 18 Year online retailers. priests were drawn to the area Old Double Cask because of the noise the Lour • Aberlour A’Bunadh (limited Not open to the public. burn made as it flowed from the batch) Cask Strength mountains. They too made use of OTHER NEARBY the water here to distil alcohol for WHERE TO BUY ATTRACTIONS medicinal purposes. Available at most major retailers • Aberlour Distillery and online. • Cairngorm National Park Although the labels on its whisky • Cragganmore Distillery bottles read 1879, the distillery OTHER NEARBY • The Glenlivet Distillery as we know it today was actually ATTRACTIONS • Glenfiddich Distillery first founded and built in 1826. As • Benromach Distillery • Speyside Cooperage with many distilleries, tradition is • Cragganmore Distillery often the secret to their success • Dallas Dhu Historic Distillery and part of Aberlour’s appeal is • Glenfarcas Distillery continuity. For instance, the current • Glenfiddich Distillery distillery team were all present • RSPB Osprey Centre, Loch when the present 18 Year Old spirit Garten was first put in casks. • Speyside Cooperage • Strathisla Distillery The beautiful Loch Garten 06 07 If you enjoy a dram from John Located in Cromdale near the River Auchroisk Aultmore Dewar & Sons’ popular blended Spey in the Cairngorms National Scotch whisky range then you’re Park, the distillery was one of the Distillery Distillery likely to be sipping whisky from first distilleries to be licensed to Aultmore Distillery. For over 100 produce Scotch whisky in 1824. LOCATION LOCATION years very few people knew of the Mulben, Dufftown, Moray, Near Keith, Moray, the Highlands. sweet malty taste of Aultmore’s You’re most likely to drink the Highlands. single malts, known locally as ‘a Balmenach whisky in branded HOW TO GET THERE nip of Buckie Road’. blends from current owners OVERVIEW Aultmore Distillery is located on International Beverages, such as Built in 1974 to supply single malt the road to Buckie just north of Try this highly regarded and rarely Hankey Bannister and MacArthur’s. whisky for Justerini & Brooks’ J&B Keith in Moray, the Highlands. available whisky in single malt Some single malts are available Scotch whisky blend, Auchroisk Keith can be reached by train and form as part of the Last Great but are quite rare as the distillery whisky (pronounced ‘Athrusk’) bus as well as car. Malts range, alongside Aberfeldy, only occasionally allows the began to be released as a single Aultmore, Craigellachie, Macduff independent bottling of them. malt whisky in 1986, under the OVERVIEW and Royal Brackla. name Singleton of Auchroisk. In You’ve heard of whisky that If you do try a dram, such as the 18 2001 the Singleton name was benefits from unique waters or OPENING TIMES Year Old Deerstalker, you’ll enjoy a dropped and today bottles of barrels – but Aultmore Distillery Visits to this distillery are by prior strong peppery taste with hints of Auchroisk single malt are released uses fog! The distillery’s location arrangement only. dried banana, leather, tobacco and under the distillery’s own name. was specifically chosen, both for an overall malty sweetness. its nearby rail links but also for its SAMPLE Although the distillery is not open close proximity to Foggie Moss, an • Aultmore 12 Year Old Now the distillery creates a number to the public, you can still try a area often shrouded in mist. • Aultmore 21 Year Old of beverages, including Caorunn taste of J&B Scotch whisky or • Aultmore 25 Year Old Gin. The gin is made with five Celtic Auchroisk single malt. It was all discovered originally by botanic ingredients that grow wild illicit whisky smugglers in the 19th WHERE TO BUY in the forests of Scottish Highlands Not open to the public.