Whisky Tours Scotland Logo

Let us drive your whisky tour

Guided whisky tours in scotland, sample delicious whiskies whilst we whisk you around distilleries.

  • The REAL Scotland
  • Knowledgeable & friendly drivers
  • Stress-free, personal tours
  • Tasty local cuisine in friendly places
  • Luxurious and homely accommodation

Whether you feel like a weekend of whiskies or a tour getting right into the heart of our whisky, we’re the people for you. We work with you every step of the way to create a bespoke whisky tour.   We take you to distilleries, arranging tours to suit beginners and connoisseurs. We host fabulous tastings, whisky dinners and whisky schools.  All transport and accommodation is prearranged, from lovely local guest houses, to 5 star castles – booked by us, with care. With over thirty years experience and our extensive contacts in the whisky industry ensure you enjoy the best of Scottish hospitality, from the moment you arrive until your final dram. You drink, we drive!

A review by Ingvar Ronde, author of the Malt Whisky Year Book  & Keeper of the Quaich

“Hi Paul. Back in Sweden and delighted to find my wonderful lab still recognises me (as does my wife). I think we had a brilliant tour, in fact the best ever, and as always it´s a pleasure being on the roads with you. Apart from being a great companion, you share so much about Scottish history and culture which you know I´m always keen to learn more about. I liked in particular the scenery going from Ballachulish to Tyndrum in Glencoe – a road I´d never travelled before. The  best views I´ve ever had in Scotland. Also enjoyed Kilmartin very much. Glad I took pictures of the plates (or signs of what ever you call them) so that I could read them thoroughly later to find out about the very early years of Scottish history. I think we have a solid plan for next year so let´s keep in touch about that. Thanks and speak soon”.     Ingvar – www.maltwhiskyyearbook.com

Paul Liz and Charlie

Liz and Paul with Charlie MacLean

First time we used MCLEANSCOTLAND  They were honest about what we would be able to see. It truly was a vacation of a lifetime. It was everything we dreamed about! And we saw as much of Scotland that we could possibly fit in 10 days. Forward five years – we decided to do a whisky tour with them. They did all the driving, so many distilleries, so many laughs, drank so much whisky and had the time of our lives. Our whole trip was truly magical!  There are not enough stars to give Liz and Paul the rating they deserve.  Nicole Miller, USA The best tours ever!! Absolutely perfect. ❤️

Valerie Denny recommends MCLEANSCOTLAND for a tour of the Malt Whisky Trail; Forbes Magazine.  Malt Whisky Trail  in Forbes Magazine.

TravelDew Article on Whisky Tours by Paul Mclean

TravelDew – real travel experiences I’m Gabe Millar, the founder of TravelDew.  Thoughtful travellers have always sought out unique ways to learn about the places they visit, as this trend continues to grow, TravelDew seeks to help connect the professionals who create these experiences.

Paul McLean is from Connel on the shores of beautiful Loch Etive in Argyll, Scotland. This ‘West Coast Wanderer’ was raised in a land of natural beauty, complete with a history that can rival pretty much anywhere in Scotland.  An interview with Paul … http://www.traveldew.com/paul-mclean-owner-of-whisky-tours-scotland/

drams in hand, at a Speyside Whisky Festival

Theatre of dreams (drams)

Welcome to the theatre (Scotland). MCLEANSCOTLAND, in partnership with WHISKY TOURS, invites you to the Theatre of Drams, in an historic country called Scotland. With a promise to deepen engagement with whisky fans and friends [...]

peat for whisiy

Peated whisky, love it or hate it, it’s here to stay.

Peat is the decomposed remains of grasses, moss, sedges and reeds that have been compressed over centuries in the oxygen-starved, waterlogged conditions of bogs. Ireland and Scotland’s west coast are ideal locations. In Ireland they [...]

Ingvar Ronde at Tamnavullin Distillery

THE SECOND TOUR THIS YEAR, WITH MY PAL Ingvar Ronde.

The last tour was back in April to Campbeltown, Arran and Islay, this one was Speyside again. Due to my ill health, Marcus was driving making it easier to chat away. Ingvar arrived into Edinburgh [...]

Go Scotland Tours

Whisky Tours in Scotland - Whiskey Trail Tours | Go Scotland Tours

Search lists, search filter, current selection, tour duration, attractions.

St. Andrews, Falkland Palace and Fishing  Villages Tour Experience from Edinburgh

St. Andrews, Falkland Palace and Fishing Villages Tour Experience from Edinburgh

  • Tour ID: 1106
  • Tour theme: Whisky Tours , Edinburgh Day Tours (Group Tours) ,
  • Duration: 1 Day - 9 hours approx.
  • Starts from: Edinburgh

Day tour from Edinburgh to St. Andrews, home of golf, and the Kingdom of Fife, Falkland Palace, and Kingbarns Whisky Distillery, St. Andrews Tour Edinburgh...

Whisky Tour

Rosslyn Chapel, Scottish Borders and Glenkinchie Tour

Rosslyn Chapel, Scottish Borders and Glenkinchie Tour

  • Tour ID: 1012
  • Tour theme: Luxury Coach Tours , Whisky Tours ,
  • Duration: 1 Day - 8 Hours approx.

Day tour from Edinburgh to Rosslyn Chapel from the Da Vinci Code movie, Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders, and Abbotsford House...

Whisky Tour - Book Now!

Islay Whisky Adventure Tour

Islay Whisky Adventure Tour

  • Tour ID: 1074
  • Tour theme: Whisky Tours ,
  • Duration: 4 Days / 3 Nights

This tour takes you away to Scottish island paradise of Islay. Stunning scenery, ancient history, traditional culture and 8 Scotland finest whisky distilleries.

Loch Lomond, Whisky, and Stirling Castle Tour Experience from Edinburgh

Loch Lomond, Whisky, and Stirling Castle Tour Experience from Edinburgh

  • Tour ID: 1102
  • Tour theme: Edinburgh Day Tours (Group Tours) , Whisky Tours ,
  • Duration: 1 Day - 9 hours 30min approx.

Day Tour to Loch Lomond Tour and Stirling Castle from Edinburgh, including a Whisky stop at Clydeside Distillery. Castles, lochs and whisky, a perfect day out.

Speyside Whisky Trail Tour

Speyside Whisky Trail Tour

  • Tour ID: 1125
  • Tour theme: Group Sightseeing Tours (Multi-days) , Whisky Tours ,
  • Duration: 3 Days / 2 Nights

A warm welcome awaits you in Speyside, home to more than half of Scotland's malt whisky distilleries. Your 3 day tour adventure of Speyside whiskies of Scotland

The Ultimate Whisky Tour from Edinburgh

The Ultimate Whisky Tour from Edinburgh

  • Tour ID: 1533
  • Duration: 1 day - 10 hours approx

Whisky tour departing from Edinburgh going to Dewars Aberfeldy Distillery for Whisky and Chocolate tasting then to Deanston Distillery, Doune Castle, Loch Leven

Speyside Whisky Private Tour

Speyside Whisky Private Tour

  • Tour ID: 1518
  • Starts from: Edinburgh, Glasgow

Enjoy a 3 day whisky tour to Speyside with private guide and distillery tour bookings and whisky tastings. Tailor made to your specific request. All group sizes

Highland Whisky Private Tour from Edinburgh

Highland Whisky Private Tour from Edinburgh

  • Tour ID: 1163
  • Duration: 1 day - 9 hours approx

This memorable whisky tour visits two distilleries set amidst the beautiful scenery of the Scottish Highlands. Glenturret, Deanston, Doune Castle, Highlands...

From The Blog

scottish whiskey tour

Whisky Day Tours from Edinburgh

Destination guide, follow us on facebook, follow us on instagram.

Go Britain Tours

Tours by Start City

Scotland tours by type, tours by operator.

7 Harbour place

Edinburgh, United Kingdom, EH15 1tq

  • Cookie Policy

Our Partners

scottish whiskey tour

                                                     

Whisky Tours

‘the water of life’.

So, you fancy yourself a wee dram of malt whisky while you’re here in Scotland?

Och, good on ya. It’s our national drink for a reason.

It’s hard to know for sure how long the process of whisky distilling has been around. At least the 15th century, probably long before.

We gather up the barely and soak it in water before spreading it out to germinate. After six or seven days, you’ve got green malt, perfect for the kiln. After it’s smoked in peat, it’s mashed down into a coarse grist and now its ready to ferment. Into the ‘pot’ it goes and so begins the distilling process. Only the purest liquid makes it through. Only the best .

There’s far more to it than that, but you’re just here for the drink, no?

So, go on then, enjoy yourself some uisge beatha … ‘water of life’.

Explore whisky tours

Why you'll love learning about Scotch whisky

scottish whiskey tour

Nuanced Flavours

Whisky has simple ingredients: barley, wheat or rye, yeast and water. The Scots drink it straight or with a dash of water.

But the drink is also complex. There's an abundance of different 'cask strengths', 'blended malts', and 'single grains'. Take a tour and learn the nuances.

scottish whiskey tour

Serene Surroundings

Whisky makers say distilleries are in remote locations because of fresh water sources. But this isn’t always true.

In the 18th century, distillers relocated to avoid tax collector routes. This was bad for distillers, but it’s great if you want to enjoy a dram near a delightful view.

scottish whiskey tour

Treacherous Tales

Distillers avoided tax by malting at night. Glaswegians rioted when Britain imposed a malt tax. And dragoons and highwayman patrolled the roads searching for whisky smugglers. Take a whisky tour and let your guide bring the history to life.

scottish whiskey tour

The Water of Life

Many of Scotland’s literary legends were influenced by the taste of whisky. Robert Burns penned entire poems in the drink’s honour.

Find out why the Scots call it ‘The Water of Life’ and you may be inspired to write a verse or two yourself.

Scottish Whisky Tours

  • International edition
  • Australia edition
  • Europe edition

Nc’nean Distillery, Scotland.

10 of the best whisky distillery tours in Scotland

Dreaming of a dram? These distilleries offer an insight into one of the world’s great drinks, and are often in stunning locations, too

Nc’nean, Morvern

It’s an adventure in itself just reaching Nc’nean, a remote and free-spirited whisky startup 12 (slow) miles down a single-track road on the Morvern peninsula on Scotland’s stunning west coast. For those that do make it, tours (with coffee and a slice of organic cake) are less about stats and more about the soul of this exciting, sustainably-minded enterprise. The team here is experimenting with different strains of yeast, curiously-shaped stills and longer mash times. To what end? We’ll find out next year when its first whisky is released. Walks in any direction offer the chance to spot otters, pine martens and sea eagles. Stay Achnacriche , doubles from £95 B&B Tours from £15pp, Lochaline , ncnean.com

Dewar’s, Perthshire

Dewar’s Aberfeldy Whisky Distillery, Scotland.

Perth’s Tommy Dewar understood the power of marketing. A globetrotting brand ambassador before that title had really been established, in the early years of the 20th century Dewar enlisted Thomas Edison to direct a film commercial for his White Label blend. It’s possibly why Dewar’s remains among the best-selling blends in the US. The remarkable story forms the heart of the interactive heritage museum at the visitor centre for Aberfeldy, the malt at the heart of Dewar’s blend. The distillery is on the banks of the Upper Tay, just outside Aberfeldy itself. Stay Brae House , doubles from £125 B&B Tours £10.50pp , Aberfeldy, dewars.com

Deanston, Perthshire

Deanston Mill now a distillery on the River Teith near Doune, Scotland.

A steady supply of water doesn’t automatically lead to whisky production. In Deanston, it once meant textile manufacturing. Which is why this distillery wouldn’t look out of place along the Rochdale canal. A Richard Arkwright-designed textile mill, Deanston was transformed into a distillery in 1966. Thanks to the River Teith, the distillery, as with the mill before it, generates its own power. Tour guides point out the ghostly remains of what was claimed to be the largest waterwheel in Europe – now replaced by turbines. Deanston is the location for film director Ken Loach’s affectionate whisky romp, The Angel’s Share. Stay Creity Hall , doubles from £90 B&B Tours from £9pp, near Doune, deanstonmalt.com

GlenDronach, Aberdeenshire

Glendronach Distillery, near Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

The stars and stripes flying high above the Aberdeenshire countryside is a clue that GlenDronach is now owned by the same American company behind Jack Daniel’s. With its row of workers’ houses and 250-year-old master distiller’s mansion, this is a thrilling distillery experience – more than 50 people lived and worked here in the early 19th century. In fertile farming country (the Valley of the Brambles responsible for its Gaelic name), you can pick a blackberries in the grounds for an appropriately sweet amuse-bouche before a tour of this Victorian whisky village and a tasting of its juicy, sherry-matured whisky in the darkly inviting tasting bar. Stay Netherdale House , doubles from £110 B&B Tours from £10pp, Forgue By Huntly , glendronachdistillery.com

Clynelish, Sutherland

Samples of Clynelish whiskey inside Brora Distillery, Scotland.

So discreet is its setting in farmland above the coast road, that many who pass en route to John o’Groats assume Clynelish is a hydro-electric plant. You can see their point. The 1960s-built distillery eschewed the traditional pagoda-style skyline of the malting roof (which is now mostly a distillery affectation anyhow, as barley is malted off site). However, the 200-year-old distillery buildings – home to the holy grail of lost malts: Brora – are being recommissioned by beverage multinational Diageo. The distillery has a dark past: it was built by one of the chief architects of the Highland clearances, the Duke of Sutherland. His hill-top statue looms over this coast, although slabs of its footing are regularly chipped away by those determined to see it tumble. Stay Clynelish Farm , doubles from £80 B&B (£70 a night for two or more nights) Tours from £12pp , Brora , malts.com

Strathisla, Moray

Strathisla distillery in Keith in the Moray District of Scotland.

Think you’ve got what it takes to be a master blender? The Chivas Blending Experience (£60) at Strathisla, the oldest continuously operating distillery in the Highlands, will put you to the test. Now owned by Pernod Ricard, whose portfolio includes Chivas Regal, the distillery’s cobbled courtyard leads to a mad professor-style blending lab, complete with bulbous burettes filled with fine malt whisky. Tours make it possible to mix (and keep) your own unique blend. The two-pagoda distillery is atmospheric, with many of its stones snatched from neighbouring 15th-century Milton Castle. Stay Isla Bank House , doubles from £130 B&B Tours from £15pp, Keith , maltwhiskydistilleries.com

Ardbeg, Argyll and Bute

Ardbeg Distillery on the coastline just east of the village of Port Ellen on the island of Islay, Scotland.

When burned as fuel to dry the malted barley, the seaweed and sea salt-infused peat of Islay produces the island’s signature whiskies. Ardbeg’s tours include a yomp over Islay’s peat-cloaked hills (perhaps by way of the eighth-century Kildalton Cross, one of the finest early Christian crosses in Scotland), with an outdoor tasting and a picnic lunch prepared by the team at the distillery’s restaurant. Round a visit off with a stay at Seaview Cottage, the former home to the distillery manager. Sipping an Ardbeg Supernova with a view of the Atlantic breakers outside your window, peat fire roaring in the stove – might that be the ultimate Islay whisky experience? Stay Seaview Cottage , sleeps six, from £200 a night (minimum two-night stay) Tours from £8pp, Ardbeg, Port Ellen , Islay, ardbeg.com

Oban, Argyll and Bute

The Ton room in Oban Distillery, Scotland.

Squeezed between the coast and the cliff that separates the harbour from the suburbs above, the Oban distillery is a tight huddle of grey granite buildings. When the distillery was built in the 1790s, Oban was little more than a scatter of herring storehouses, but since then the busy port has grown around it. This pocket-size distillery’s tours offer a rare chance to sample a west-coast style (somewhere between a sweet Speysider and the smokey islands). When the drizzle descends, the lively dramming bar is the place to settle in and see it out before catching a ferry to recently reopened Tobermory distillery on Mull. Stay Alltavona guesthouse, doubles from £115 B&B Tours from £12pp, Oban, malts.com

Springbank, Argyll and Bute

Springbank Distillery racked warehouse full of maturing whisky casks, Campbeltown, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK

In its prime, Campbeltown (a distinct whisky region in its own right at the end of the Kintyre peninsula) saw more than 30 distilleries pump their waste back into Campbeltown Loch, giving rise to the Andy Stewart eponymous song: “Campbeltown Loch/ I wish you were whisky”. Of the three remaining distilleries, Springbank is the oldest, producing its complex maritime dram on the same fortress-like site in the centre of town since 1828. As tours go, Springbank has more to see than most, as the entire production line takes place here, from the malting floor to the bottling plant. Stay Grammar Lodge , doubles from £90 B&B Tours from £10pp, Campbeltown, springbank.scot

Kingsbarns, Fife

A bottle of Kingsbarn whisky on display on top of bourbon barrels at the distillery and visitor centre in St Andrews, Scotland.

Easy-drinking Lowland whiskies can find it it hard to shout above the peaty monsters of Islay or the romance of the Highland drams, and a decade or so ago there were only a couple of distilleries clinging on. But a cluster of new Fife-based ventures point to a resurgence. Kingsbarns’ new visitor centre and restaurant sit within meticulously restored farmsteadings and a 200-year-old dovecot. It’s surrounded by golden fields of barley: the same stuff that you’ll see frothing away in the mash tun. Its first release, Dream to Dram, is a perfect distillation of Fife’s farming heritage, one that’s even managing to lure golfers away from St Andrews’ Old Course, just eight miles away. Stay The Old Station , doubles from £90 B&B Tours from £10pp, Kingsbarns, kingsbarnsdistillery.com

Looking for a holiday with a difference? Browse Guardian Holidays to see a range of fantastic trips

  • Scotland holidays
  • Food and drink
  • Cultural trips
  • United Kingdom holidays

Most viewed

Distillery Tours Logo

Every Scotch Whisky Visitor Centre in one place

Our partners.

NorthLink Ferries

Start your whisky journey

Whisky inspiration this way

Drink, Sleep & Buy Whisky

scottish whiskey tour

Luvians St Andrews

scottish whiskey tour

Glenmorangie House

scottish whiskey tour

The Bon Accord

scottish whiskey tour

Experience world famous whisky

Welcome to The Scotch Whisky Experience, a five star visitor attraction at the top of Edinburgh's Royal Mile, where we've been inspiring visitors to Edinburgh about the joys of Scotch whisky for over 30 years.

Plan your visit

To see our FAQs page click here.

Welcome to The Scotch Whisky Experience, Ceud Mile Fàilte  (A hundred thousand welcomes in Gaelic)

Whether you take a tour, visit our shop and restaurant, or enjoy an event or tasting here, we guarantee you a sensational experience.

Our Experiences

Customers engaging with a tour guide in the Blender's Sample Room at The Scotch Whisky Experience

The perfect journey through the world of Scotch whisky. We are storytellers; passionate about sharing with you our love for Scotch whisky and Scotland. Take one of our tours to widen your knowledge, explore flavours and create whisky memories.

Amber Restaurant - seafood platter with stave

Amber Restaurant

Castlehill Room dinner with guests

Private Events

One of the World's Largest Collection of Scotch whisky

The Collection

Women in Whisky themed whiskies of the month

The latest content from Scotch whisky's Edinburgh home.

scottish whiskey tour

Home » Whisky Tour Scotland

Private Whisky Tours of Scotland

TripAdvisor 5 star rating

Discover the Taste of Scotland

Scotch Whisky is world-famous for its smokey, peaty, and smooth flavors, and with over 120 active distilleries around the country , you’ll not be short of ideas of where to visit on your private tour. 

Our bespoke Scotch Whisky Tours allow you to experience the art and craftsmanship of Scotland’s world-famous whisky brands and regions – soaked in history and legend.

Choose your own perfect blend of distilleries

With so many incredible distilleries around Scotland, it can be difficult to decide where to start; our Private Whisky Tours allow you to customize your itinerary and visit all your favorite distilleries and see some beautiful sites along the way – although depending on how many distilleries you’ve visited throughout the day, you’ll likely find everything beautiful! 

Our private tour expert will make recommendations and help you organize each step of your scotch whisky experience and transport you in luxurious comfort to all your desired destinations, all you have to do is decide how long you want your tour to last .

Click on some of our most famous whisky regions to see some of the distilleries Scotland has to offer and get in touch with us by clicking ‘Create my custom tour’ below and we can start planning your unforgettable whisky tour.

Please note: Alcohol is not included in the price of our private tours.

scottish whiskey tour

Popular Braw whisky tours

Talisker Whisky

Talisker Whisky

Visit the oldest working distillery on the Isle of Skye, set on the shores of Loch Harport in the village of Carbost: Talisker.

Glenmorangie Distillery

Glenmorangie Distillery

By the tranquil shores of the Dornoch Firth, amidst the golden barley fields, lies the famous Glenmorangie Distillery…

blair athol distillery

Blair Athol Distillery

Blair Athol Distillery stands at the gateway to the Scottish Highlands in the picturesque town of Pitlochry, Perthshire…

Glenlivet Distillery

Glenlivet Distillery

Visit one of Scotland’s favorite distilleries & enjoy a unique tasting tour with your own private guide…

Macallan Distillery

Macallan Distillery

Visit the recently revamped distillery & visitor center with your private guides in the heart of the beautiful Macallan Estate…

Laphroaig Distillery

Laphroaig Distillery

Renowned for the rich, unmistakable taste of its whisky, Laphroaig was first established in 1825 & still employs the traditional methods…

Request Your Whisky Tour Of Scotland

All our whisky tours are completely customizable and tailor-made to suit you and your group’s needs and wants. Our tour experts can make recommendations and help you plan each and every sip of your whisky tour experience while transporting you safely from distillery to distillery. 

Whether your group is new to our famous spirit, or connoisseurs looking to visit your favorite distilleries, get in touch by filling out the form below and start planning your perfect whisky vacation today!

Or Call Free +44 141 674 9535

Free for US, Canadian & UK numbers

Diane W

Itineraries to inspire your tour to Scotland

private tour group at the Isle of Skye, Old man of Storr.

28 Day Driver-Guided Scotland Tour

Discover Scotland's natural beauty and historic charm like never before on this comprehensive 28-day driver-guided...

scottish whiskey tour

3 Weeks Driver-Guided UK Tour Itinerary

Explore the UK with your private driver guide on our 3 week itinerary. England, Scotland...

Edinburgh-Castle

18 Day Tour of Scotland Itinerary

Discover the wide range of activities & sites Scotland has to offer in this fantastic...

Loch Ness - Urquhart Castle

16 Day Guided Tour of Scotland

Explore a wide selection of Scotland's best sites over 16 day magical days, including Edinburgh,...

Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

14 Day Tour of Scotland & Ireland

Explore the best of these two Celtic nations in this 14-day driver-guided tour. Get in...

Queen's View, Pitlochry, Scotland

12 Day Tour of Scotland Itinerary

Explore premier Scottish sites with your driver-guide on this 12 day tour including Edinburgh, Stirling,...

dunrobin - 10 Day Tour Itinerary

10 Day Tour of Scotland Itinerary

In this exciting 10 day tour, our private driver-guides will expertly chauffeur you to some...

Glencoe valley

7 Day Private Tour of Scotland Itinerary

In this wonderful 7-day tour, our private driver-guides will expertly chauffeur you to some of...

Eilean Donan Castle

6 Day Tour of Scotland Itinerary

Spend just under a week with our expert guides exploring fantastic Scottish sites including Edinburgh,...

Glenfinnan-Viaduct Tours-Scotland.

5 Day Private Tour of Scotland Itinerary

In this fantastic 5 day tour, our private driver guides will expertly chauffeur you to...

Edinburgh Skyline

4 Day Tour of Scotland Itinerary

Explore Scotland with your own private driver-guides on this 4-day tour of Scotland itinerary, featuring...

Royal Yacht Britannia

3 Day Tour of Scotland Itinerary

Explore Edinburgh & the surrounding areas on this incredible 3 Day Tour of Scotland, including...

Make your dream tour of scotland a braw one

cropped-B-Braw-Logo

Stay connected

Private Tours

sample itineraries

Other Destinations

Braw Scottish Tours, 15 Linkwood Gardens, Glasgow, G15 7SY | Partnered with DABA Tourism Marketing

glenturret distillery, Famous Grouse, Highlands, Scotland

Highlands Whisky Region

Number of distilleries: 47

Oldest Distillery: Glenturret (1775) 

Most popular distillery: Glenturret, Famous Grouse Experience

Flavor profile: fruity, malty, spicy & swee t

The vast and wild Highland region of Scotland produces varied and unique Scotch from distillery to distillery. Some peaty, some with a strong salty presence from the coast, and some fresh, light, and fruity. The Highlands has a bit of everything: perfect for a group whisky tour with varying preferences, and taste ambitions. 

Glenfiddich Distillery, Speyside, Scotland Whisky

Speyside Whisky Region

Number of distilleries: 50

Oldest Distillery: Strathisla (1786) 

Most popular distillery: Glenfiddich

Flavor profile: fruity, sweet, spicy & vanilla

Home to some of Scotland’s best-loved malt whiskies, Speyside is Scotch perfection! This beautiful region is filled with incredible valleys, glens, and – most importantly – over 50 distilleries producing some remarkable fine malts: truly whisky heaven and a perfect region for your private Scotch adventure!

Springbank Distillery

Campbeltown Whisky

Number of distilleries: 3

Oldest Distillery: Springbank (1828) 

Most popular distillery: Springbank

Flavor profile: fruity, peaty, sweet & smoky

Steeped in flavor and history, Campbeltown is Scotland’s smallest whisky region but offers up some of the finest malts known to man. With its maritime roots, Campbeltown’s whisky is distinctive and world-renowned: truly a must-visit for a whisky connoisseur while opening the eyes of those less experienced explorers.

Glenkinchie Lowlands Whisky

Lowlands Whisky Region

Number of distilleries: 18

Oldest Distillery: Auchentoshan (1800) 

Most popular distillery: Glenkinchie

Flavor profile: light, unpeated, citrusy, sweet, floral

The Lowland whisky region in Scotland is famous for its light-bodied single malts that are unpeated and lighter, with a gentle, elegant palate. 

This is an ideal region for both whisky connoisseurs and those new to single malt whisky, as it’s these triple distilled malts are in great supply and are very easy to drink!

Ardbeg Isle of Islay Whisky

Isle of Islay Whisky Region

Number of distilleries: 9

Oldest Distillery: Bowmore(1779) 

Most popular distillery: Ardbeg

Flavor profile: powerful, peaty, smoky, sweet & salty

Situated on the west coast of Scotland, Islay is often known as the ‘Queen of the Hebrides’ and is an island built on peat and improved with whisky. Renowned for its beautiful scenery and beaches as well as its fine single malt Scotch, the Isle of Islay is a must-do for any true Whisky fan. Most famous for the big smokes of Laphroaig, Lagavulin & Ardbeg.

Talisker Whisky

Visit the oldest working distillery on the Isle of Skye, set on the shores of Loch Harport in the village of Carbost, Talisker. You will see the 5 copper pot stills and the traditional worm tubs that make the Talisker so unique, then look at the casks in the warehouse where Angel’s Share is lost to evaporation during maturation.

Glenmorangie Distillery

By the tranquil shores of the Dornoch Firth, amidst the golden barley fields that border the Royal Burgh of Tain, lies the Glenmorangie Distillery where accompanied by their expert guides, you will journey through all stages of our award-winning whisky creation, from mashing and fermenting to distilling and maturation.

blair athol distillery

Blair Athol Distillery stands at the gateway to the Scottish Highlands in the picturesque town of Pitlochry, Perthshire. Set in open moorland south of the town, in the foothills of the Grampian mountains, Blair Athol’s ancient source of water – the Allt Dour – flows through the grounds from the slopes of Ben Vrackie, contributing to the whisky’s, mellow quality and smooth finish.

The Glenliveit Distillery

The Glenlivet Distillery has the distinction of being the first licensed distillery in the Glenlivet area. At one time there were around 200 illegal stills around this area and the name “Glenlivet” was used by many competing distilleries. Glenlivet’s owner, John Smith’s son of the founder, realized the importance of branding so in 1884 he took legal action to reserve use of the title “The Glenlivet”.

Macallan Distillery

In the heart of the beautiful Macallan Estate sits Macallan Distillery. The Edrington Group, which owns the Macallan distillery, has taken the bold move to revamp the distillery and visitor center so it is now the most modern and high technology looking distillery in Scotland.

Where there were once large “sheds” for the mash tuns and still rooms, there are now cleverly landscaped semi-subterranean buildings that blend the distillery into the green fields of the landscape. The building is a stunning piece of modern architecture that combines functionality with organic shapes and materials. They have deliberately kept some pictures of the old distillery buildings in the gallery so you can see just how radically different the new distillery buildings are.

Laphroaig Distillery

 Laphroaig (La-froyg) Distillery is renowned for the rich, unmistakable taste of its whisky and is the favorite of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and even bears his Royal Warrant.

Established in 1825 by brothers Donald and Alexander Johnston, Laphroaig still employs the traditional methods and time-honored skills that have been used for centuries to produce the most distinctive single malt in the world.

Sample Itineraries

Useful links

Request Your Free Tour Itinerary From Our Planners! Find out more.

  • Privacy Overview
  • Strictly Necessary Cookies
  • 3rd Party Cookies
  • Cookie Policy

cropped-B-Braw-Logo

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

More information about our Cookie Policy

Whisky Wheels

SCOTTISH WHISKY TOURS

Welcome to whiskywheels.scot, the website of Scotland’s premier whisky tour company. If you love whisky, you’ve come to the right place.

Covid-19 Update – Government precautions followed. Please see the tour bookings page for details.

One of our most popular tours has been updated, please check out our Edinburgh whisky tour .

ABOUT WHISKYWHEELS

Whiskywheels  was formed in the summer of 2018. We decided to start whiskywheels.scot to provide a bespoke service that we could not find anywhere else in the Scottish whisky industry. In our line of work, we regularly speak to many local whisky enthusiasts and there is one topic that always comes up in conversation – whisky tours to Scotland’s famous distilleries! Many whisky drinkers want to design their own whisky tour and not have to worry about doing the driving! After completing extensive market research, whiskywheels.scot was born. Our goal is to provide top level Scottish whisky tours.

 SCOTTISH WHISKY TOURS ETHOS

 We believe our Scottish whisky tours offer a more personal experience and far better value than the average tour operator. Our aim is to provide a fantastic service to customers, combining our passion for whisky and the beautiful scenery Scotland has to offer.

BOOK YOUR SCOTTISH WHISKY TOUR TODAY

On our tours to whisky distilleries, combine the flavours of Scotland’s favourite drink with our professional transport.

We can also arrange guided transport. Why not book one of our local experts who will give you insight into Scottish history and legend, famous traditions, and world renowned sights.

Our departures can be from all over Scotland. Have a look at our Whiskywheels Scottish Whisky tours page.  Let us know your requirements via 07549 839 684 (UK) or +19299230210 (USA) CLICK HERE  TO WHATSAPP USA ONLY  or [email protected] .

WHAT WE DO FOR OUR SCOTTISH WHISKY TOURS

We provide professional transport and guided Scottish Whisky tours to and from Scottish whisky distilleries.

Choose one of our identified routes or create your own bespoke route.

We can book accommodation for you and take you to the best pubs and restaurants around Scotland.

Why not combine a whisky tour with golf, sightseeing, fishing or a walking tour? We can tailor your tour to your requirements.

You do the drinking, while we do the driving!

We have access to a large fleet of vehicles. This helps us to take any number of people on our tours, from solo travellers and small groups to large groups of any size. We can offer luxury and premium vehicles for special occasions. Our pick ups and drop offs are flexible.  Contact us for more details.

HAPPY CUSTOMERS

“Whisky Wheels put together a record breaking scottish whisky tour program for the trip, visiting many distilleries – nine full whisky tours and the rest stopping for photos. Thanks to Euan we also managed to get quite a bit of history and culture. Already planning a new visit for next year. Cheers for now!”

We provide bespoke whisky tours in Scotland.

07549 839 684 (UK)

+19299230210 (USA)

CLICK HERE TO WHATSAPP

[email protected]

Thanks for visiting nordicvisitor.com! For the very best browsing experience on our website, we urge you to upgrade to the most recent version of your browser . Some of our site features may not function properly on older versions.

Scotland travel update | New tours of the UK!

  • Search Suggested Results View All Results
  • EUR (€)
  • GBP (£)
  • Self-Drive i
  • Guided Small Groups i
  • Privately Guided i
  • Multi-Day i
  • Scotland & Ireland i
  • Scotland, England & Wales i
  • Honeymoon i
  • Highlands i
  • Solo Travel i
  • All types & themes
  • All Scotland Tours
  • Best Sellers
  • Special Offers
  • Book With Confidence i
  • Scotland Travel Update i
  • Why book with us i
  • Travel Update
  • Booking Terms i
  • Sustainability Policy i
  • Scotland at a Glance i
  • Useful Information i
  • Scotland Attractions i
  • Scotland Blog i
  • Scandinavia
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
  • Manage Booking
  • Privacy policy

Iceland Bíldshöfði 20 110 Reykjavík +354 578 20 80 View Map

Sweden Scotland View Details

Whisky Tour Packages in Scotland

Embark on a flavourful journey with these Scotland whisky tours. Discover the rugged Highlands, visit Celtic castles and savour the finest Scotch. Trips include accommodation, local transport, 24/7 support, and more.

Try malt whisky on a tour of Scotland

Experience Scotland’s national drink at the source on a Scottish adventure. Explore your way, with the option to tour whisky distilleries on all travel styles.

Discover top Scotland distilleries with an expert local guide on a small group trip or private tour . Alternatively, you could travel at your own pace on a self-drive road trip .

Or, if you’re interested in spending more time in the Scottish capital, venture out on multi-day tours with Edinburgh as your base.

Read on for trip ideas and inspiration for your Scottish getaway.

— WHY US?

Why book with nordic visitor.

  • Hassle-free & seamless travel experience
  • Flexible tour options
  • Relax knowing you can reach us 24/7 on our helpline
  • Professional service from Edinburgh-based experts

Visit a distillery on these small group tours

Enjoy a whisky tour and tasting as part of these guided group trips. Learn about the “water of life” and see Scotland’s top attractions in a group of up to just 15 like-minded travellers.

Wonders of Scotland

Level 2 (Classic)

Highlights of Scotland

Wonders of ireland & scotland, try whisky on a privately guided trip.

Embark on a Celtic journey with your own private guide. Explore captivating landscapes, historic sites and vibrant cities with the option to add a distillery visit.

Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye - Private

Classic scotland - private, complete scotland - private, tour a distillery on a self-drive trip.

Take the wheel on a self-drive trip across Scotland's scenic landscapes. Enjoy the freedom to travel at your leisure and try locally made whisky on a distillery tour.

Classic Scotland

Scottish highlands & isle of skye, grand tour of scotland, scottish highlands & north coast 500, complete scotland, savour whisky on a multi-day tour.

See the best of Scotland on multi-day trips from Edinburgh. Uncover the city's top sights, venture into the Highlands and customise your adventure with optional stops at whisky distilleries.

Best of Edinburgh - Loch Ness & Highlands

Edinburgh complete - loch ness, highlands & glasgow, edinburgh complete - loch ness, highlands & glasgow - winter, best of edinburgh - loch ness & highlands - winter, explore scotland your way.

No matter how you decide to experience Scotland, you’ll have a memorable stay. Pick the travel theme that works best for you.

Best sellers

Castles & royalty, culinary experience, culture & history, honeymoon & romance, north coast 500, off the beaten path, scottish heritage tours, solo travel, staycation holidays, the scottish highlands, all travel styles, about scotland whisky tours.

If you're looking for an insight into Scotland whisky trips, you're in the right place. We've gathered expert advice to help you plan your journey. Uncover all the useful information to make sure you have a memorable and enjoyable exploration of Scotland's rich whisky heritage.

Go on a small group tour complete with a distillery visit

If you’d like an introduction to whisky, join a guided small group tour that includes a visit to a distillery.

You’ll soon find out that this honey-hued tipple is more than just a drink to the Scots. In fact, it’s been an important part of Scotland’s culture for centuries. Although the oldest licensed distilleries here date from the late 1700s, the locals have been producing whisky from malted barley since the 15th century.

During your distillery visit, a local tour guide will show you how Scotland’s malt whiskies are made and talk you through a tasting experience.

Throughout the rest of your tour, you’ll explore Scotland’s stunning landscapes, historic sites, and top attractions with your knowledgeable guide. Plus, in a group of no more than 15 guests, you’ll get to know your fellow travellers and have opportunities to ask your guide questions.

As well as being an unforgettable way to uncover Scotland without taking the wheel yourself, small group tours are perfect if you’re travelling solo . So why not embark on a tasting adventure with like-minded whisky lovers from around the world?

All guided small group tours in Scotland include: • Stays in handpicked accommodation • Transport in a comfortable minibus • Professional English-speaking guide • Daily breakfast and some meals • Welcome pack with our Scotland travel guide • Your own detailed itinerary and a map of Scotland

Add a whisky-tasting or distillery tour to your travel package

If you’d like to discover Scotland differently, there are other ways to appreciate the local whisky. For instance, you could add a visit to the highly recommended Scotch Whisky Experience to your tour package as an optional extra.

For the freedom to go at your own pace, opt for a self-drive tour of Scotland . Being able to stop whenever you like means you could check out distilleries you pass along the way.

Do bear in mind that Scotland’s drink-drive limit is zero. So, if you plan to do more travelling that day, make sure to ask the distillery you’re visiting if you can get a takeaway tasting pack. This will let the designated driver try the warming whisky samples once you get to your accommodation.

Head out on a road trip of a lifetime. Uncover scenic routes and iconic sights in this round-up of the best road trips in Scotland .

On the other hand, pick a Scotland private tour , and you’ll benefit from the services of your own driver-guide. If you have a favourite whisky, they'll advise you on the best itinerary that incorporates the distillery. Plus, with someone else at the wheel, you can sit back and listen to local insights as you soak up the beautiful scenery.

Alternatively, base yourself in Edinburgh on one of these multi-day trips in Scotland , where you’ll take day tours into the countryside. With a combination of handpicked excursions and free time in Edinburgh, they’re ideal for getting a flavour of Scotland.

Discover the capital city of Scotland. Make your visit unforgettable with this curated list of the top things to do in Edinburgh .

Scotland’s whisky regions

In Scotland, distilleries are everywhere. Or that’s what it feels like once you know there are over 130 active distilleries. You’ll find them dotted throughout the country’s 5 whisky regions: Speyside, the Lowlands, the Highlands, Islay and Campbeltown.

On these guided small group trips, your whisky-tasting tour in Scotland will be at either a Lowland or Speyside distillery. If you’d like to visit other areas for a Scotch tour, Scotland self-drive packages give you opportunities to stop at whisky distilleries in the Highlands as well. This includes iconic west coast distilleries such as Talisker on the Isle of Skye.

If you already know a little about whisky, you’ve probably heard that each region is known for its characteristic flavours. But go on a Scotland distillery tour, and you’ll soon find out that there’s also lots of variation between brands.

Venture to Speyside – home to the Malt Whisky Trail – and you could try whiskies with light, fruity or rich sherry notes. Tour Highland distilleries and you can expect spicy or maritime drams.

Then there’s Islay, where some of the world’s most famous whiskies come from. Here, you’ll find peaty, smoky single malts from distilleries like Laphroaig, Ardbeg and Bowmore.

Get a taste of Scottish cuisine

If you’re interested in Scottish whisky, there’s a chance you’ll also want to delve into the local food scene . Scotland has plenty of top-notch eateries dishing up mouthwatering plates.

Look for refined tasting menus at Michelin guide-listed restaurants, noteworthy seafood shacks, and cosy cafés with platters of delicious home baking. Not to mention the traditional pub serving hearty favourites like haggis, along with a selection of ales and well-stocked whisky shelves.

Plus, with restaurant picks from Nordic Visitor's travel consultants, you’ll sample the best local cuisine along the way.

What do our customers say?

The reviews speak for themselves. See what Nordic Visitor travellers said about their experience with us.

William, United States

Wonders of scotland, july 2023, well-organised tour.

Great communication, well-organised, very knowledgeable and personable guide, overall a great tour with no negatives whatsoever!

Barbara, United States

Best of edinburgh - loch ness & highlands, june 2023, we were in good hands.

As first-time visitors to Edinburgh, and senior citizens, our choice to use Nordic Visitor was an excellent one. The welcome package we received at the hotel was really helpful, with our tour vouchers, maps and restaurant recommendations. We would not have known what hotel to select and the one selected for us was perfect. The choice of tours offered was perfect for a 5-day visit. So glad to learn about the Royal Mile and visit the castle. The trip through the Highlands and Loch Ness was beautiful. Our travel agent, Rebecca, always quickly responded to email questions prior to departure. Thank you! Nordic Visitor made our trip easy and rewarding. We were in good hands.

Voula, United States

Classic scotland - private, may 2023, our guide was exceptional.

Our overall experience was very good, minus some accommodation that we did not like as much as the others. What made the tour exceptional was our guide, Dave. His knowledge of Scotland and professionalism made the trip. He was awesome about tailoring each day's itinerary to our likes and taking us off the beaten path to experiences and sights that we would never have found on our own.

Andrew, United States

Classic scotland, june 2023.

The tour package materials were top notch. Spiral bound itinerary, recommended activities, restaurant recommendations and the large-scale road map of Scotland were a nice touch. Magdalena, our Nordic Visitor representative, responded promptly to our questions. Accomodation was all great.

James, United States

Outlander experience, june 2023, one of the best trips we have ever taken.

The entire experience was excellent. Nordic Visitor made it easy for us, although we are amateur travellers. Our guide was the absolute best, we couldn't have asked for a better person. He was able to convey his experience and amazing knowledge to make the trip both fun and educational. One of the best trips we have ever taken, thank you!

Frederic, United States

Scottish highlands & the west coast, may 2023, our travel consultant was a delight to work with.

Rebecca was always prompt with responses to questions and always informative, always patient. We're first time (and older) travellers and her professional manner was a delight to work with.

Mary, United States

Classic scotland - private, june 2023, our experience was so special.

Airport transfers were excellent. Drivers were on time and friendly. Accommodation was all good. You couldn't have paired our family with a better guide/driver than Dave. He made our Scotland experience so special by taking us off the beaten path and showing us some of the most beautiful natural sites and places in Scotland. We covered 1000 miles in distance in our 7 days. We learned so much from Dave.

Diane, Canada

Wonders of scotland, june 2023, we loved every day.

This was our first travel outside of North America and we loved every day! We toured around Scotland, starting in Edinburgh, to the Highlands, Isle of Skye and finishing in Glasgow. It was a busy tour, and we didn't see all of Scotland, but we saw so many interesting places, met a lot of wonderful people, ate haggis, drank whisky and had such a fantastic time that we did not want to leave. We are already saving for our next trip!

Kelsie, United States

Highlights of scotland, may 2023, the most magical trip.

From communicating with Nordic Visitor, booking my trip, arriving at the airport and be welcomed by our driver Paul, each hotel, every meal, our amazing tour guide, Anita, our drivers, Gary and Stevie… everything was so perfect! It was the most magical trip! 

Shavonne, United States

Classic scotland & the orkney islands, june 2023, seamless process.

We did a self-drive tour including the Orkney islands. The entire process from booking to flying home was seamless. Our accommodation was all amazing, especially the B&Bs. Our daily itineraries were great starting points for activities, and none of our days felt rushed or slow. We also appreciated the restaurant and travel guides. Scotland is amazing, and Nordic Visitor made the entire vacation worry-free.

Kristen, United States

Scottish highlands & isle of skye, june 2023, enjoyed my tour so much.

I enjoyed my tour of Scotland so much! Booking with Nordic Visitor was so easy. Their itinerary showcased highlights across the country, so I feel like I experienced the best of the best! The communication from our tour consultant, Duncan, was prompt and detailed. It was so comforting knowing that Nordic Visitor was only a phone call away 24/7.

Jennifer, United States

Scottish highlands & isle of skye - private, may 2023.

Our private tour guide, Pete, was phenomenal, and all of our accommodation was great! My husband is disabled and Nordic Visitor took every needed step to ensure our B&Bs could take care of his needs.

Research Your Vacation

Start preparing for your trip by doing some research before your Scottish adventure.

The starting point of most Scottish adventures is Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city, where the...

This is one spot where you’ll definitely want to pull the car over for a photo. The Quiraing is...

Trossachs National Park

This is the first established national park in Scotland, offering a great variety of scenery,...

What to bring

Come prepared for all seasons and activities with ..

Find out more about the British currency and commo..

What kind of temperatures can you expect in Scotla..

From single malt whisky to traditional delicacies,..

Our Services

Whether you travel independently or with a guide in your Nordic Visitor package, you will receive personalised service from a designated travel consultant and high-quality travel documents. What's more, all self-drive clients receive a hand-marked map that outlines the driving route, overnights and highlights along the way. Travel with ease knowing that Nordic Visitor has close professional relationships with local service providers , which are carefully selected by our staff for their consistently high standards.

Book With Confidence

  • Protect your money & plans with our  flexible booking terms    .
  • 97% of customers say they’d recommend us to friends.
  • We work closely with trusted, high-quality suppliers.
  • Enjoy personal service from Scotland travel experts.
  • Get peace of mind with a 24/7 helpline during your stay.
  • We’re here for you in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Get in touch with us to start planning your Scotland whisky tour package, or to ask about adding a tasting experience to your itinerary. Our Edinburgh-based travel experts are eager to share their local insight with you.

Our Scottish phone number is +44 (0)131 344 4630

How about a live chat with one of our local travel experts?

Read About Scotland

Places to eat on the outlander trail in scotland, why scotland is perfect for romantic breaks and getaways, 12 best castles in scotland that you should visit, best time to visit scotland: your complete guide.

Whether you have a single question or a special request, we're here for you.

here to help

scottish whiskey tour

Can we see some ID?

Are you of legal drinking age in the country where you are now?

  • Trail Sites
  • Experiences
  • Itineraries
  • Getting Here
  • News & Blog
  • Tasting Malt Whisky
  • Making Malt Whisky

The ultimate Scotch experience

Subscribe to the Newsletter

The Malt Whisky Trail is a uniquely immersive whisky experience — but the journey you’ll take along The Trail is about so much more.

As you embark along the road through malt whisky country, you’ll encounter a huge variety of sites to see and things to do.

You’ll find globally renowned textiles mills, cosy seaside cafes, and world-class outdoor pursuits.

As you follow the mighty River Spey from sea to source you’ll find everything you need for a relaxing short break or longer holiday. Learn more about what you can see and do on The Malt Whisky Trail here.

With so much to do, The Malt Whisky Trail is the perfect spot for getaways long and short. Whether you’re planning a quick weekend break or a few days on the road, inspire yourself with one of our suggested itineraries.

To the north of The Malt Whisky Trail lies the famous Moray Firth, so why not combine a visit to some of our sites with a trip to the coast?

At the south of The Malt Whisky Trail you’ll find forests and mountains, perfect for adventure lovers.

We all know the weather in Scotland can be a little unpredictable, so if you find yourself caught out, we’ve got you covered (literally!).

Consider following one of our Two Day itineraries, and add this on.

With five days, you’ll have ample time to journey The Malt Whisky Trail.

The Malt Whisky Trail puts a real sense of escape within easy reach. Wherever you’re coming from, Moray Speyside is simple to get to by air, rail and road.

  • Media Enquiries
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

By submitting this form you consent to being contacted via email to be informed about latest news, events and offers. You can unsubscribe at any time by visiting the unsubscribe link in any of our emails.

The Malt Whisky Trail promotes the responsible consumption of Scotch Whisky

© 2024 Malt Whisky Trail. All rights reserved.

Stay up to date

Want to keep up to date with all the latest from The Malt Whisky Trail? Subscribe to our mailing list to receive news, events and updates straight to your inbox.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more

Scotch Grand Tour - White

Luxury Scotch Whisky Tours

EXPECT MORE

scottish whiskey tour

Scotland’s Unique Whisky Tours

Creating your scotch grand tour.

Personally curated tours of Scotland’s Whisky heritage. Allow us to create the most immersive Scotch Whisky Tour experience you could imagine.

At Scotch Grand Tour we have second-to-none experience of Scotch, Scotland and travel. As every one of our guests is unique, no two tours are the same. We curate each tour to suit your desires and taste.

Allow us to guide you in your once in a lifetime dream Scotch experience.

Macallan Distillery - Speyside

At Scotch Grand Tour we take great pride in only including the best options possible. Thus, resulting in Grand Tours of Scotland’s whisky-producing regions tailored specifically to you and your group.

INSPIRATION

  • Campbeltown & Islay
  • Glasgow & Edinburgh
  • Hebrides & West Coast
  • Highlands & Speyside

Holyrood Distillery

Edinburgh Whisky Tour

scottish whiskey tour

Speyside Whisky Tour

Glasgow Whisky Tour

Lowland Whisky Tour

Campbeltown Harbour

Campbeltown Whisky Tour

Bunnahabhain Distillery - Islay Whisky Region

Islay Whisky Tour

scottish whiskey tour

Hebridean Islands Whisky Tou

Get inspired for your next scotch grand tour.

Learn about the Scotch Whisky regions of Scotland, each with its own individual charm. Find inspiration from our regional overviews.

scottish whiskey tour

Classic Whisky

This Scottish whisky tour gives you a comprehensive taste of the range and variety of Scottish single malts with a driving route around the distilleries of the Lowlands, Highlands, Speyside & Islands. 

The tour itinerary isn't just about whisky and the driving route features some of the most scenic roads through the Highlands and along the rugged West coast of Scotland.

You could pace this as an 8 day Whisky tour, but if you are not in a hurry and want to follow our day trip ideas, you can adapt the plan for a 2 week tour of Scotland.

Allow a minimum of 8 days to drive this tour route. The guide contains extra day trip suggestions for extending the tour to 15+ days

PLEASE NOTE : The Guides come in the format of PDF files. After payment, you will receive an automated email that enables you to access your Scotland Tour Itinerary.

scottish whiskey tour

Money Back Guarantee

We are so confident that you’ll be delighted with your guide that we offer a full Money Back Guarantee. Read More .

Tour Stats :

Guide Updated - 20 January 2024

Core Route Mileage:

Approximately 571 miles / 920 Km

Tour Duration:

8 to 15 Days

Share this tour

Tour summary.

Edinburgh is a compact city and easy to explore on foot. We provide directions for 3 walking routes that show you different sides of the Capital city; a walk down the historical Royal Mile , a riverside path to the Botanic Gardens that escapes the hustle & bustle of city life and a more energetic hike to Arthur’s Seat with the option to continue to a pub with lots of history.

To get into the spirit of your Whisky tour,  we steer you to a selection of our favourite  traditional Edinburgh pubs where you can drink in the atmosphere and enjoy some good Malts. 

The guide also includes options for day trips around the surrounding area by car, bus or train.

The day trips by car take you to West Lothian where you can visit many of the sites used in the filming of “Outlander” and to East Lothian where you can visit some spectacular castle ruins, a whisky distillery , pretty villages and embark on boat trips to Bass Rock.

Stopover in Edinburgh

This route allows you time to spend a full afternoon in the Pitlochry area where there are 3 distilleries to be discovered.

Heading north from Edinburgh, you cross the Forth estuary with views of the famous Forth Rail Bridge . You then speed north to Perth , but can extend the drive with a visit to the pretty village of Falkland with its beautiful palace that was a favourite country retreat of Mary Queen of Scots.

From Perth to Pitlochry, we suggest a quiet back road route that visits Scone Palace , the ancient crowning place of Scottish Kings, and the romantic ruins of Dunkeld Cathedral beside the River Tay.

If you stay in Pitlochry or Aberfeldy, you can park up your car and walk to the nearest distillery to take full advantage of a good whisky tasting session. 

Driving Distance ~ 81 miles

Short tours around Pitlochry: If you arrive early in Pitlochry, or wish to stay for several nights, you will enjoy the 2 short tour options supplied in this guide. These tours cover the grand Blair castle as well as less well known places such as a deserted Blackhouse village, a 2000 year old tree and a stone circle that most tourists miss.

Stopover in Pitlochry / Aberfeldy area

You could start this day with a visit to nearby Blair Castle as the drive to Braemar and Royal Deeside does not take very long. On the way to Braemar, you follow the path of an 18th century military road that was built through Glen Shee to enable the deployment of Redcoat troops into the “Jacobite” heartlands .

After a visit to  Braemar , you can continue to explore the quaint villages, verdant woodlands and wild mountains that Queen Victoria fell in love with. Balmoral castle is one of the attractions that you can visit in this area, but there are many more great castles to be discovered in this region.

Of course, this is a whisky tour of Scotland so you can get today's whisky tasting at the Royal Lochnagar distillery that supplies the Royal family during their visits to Balmoral Castle.

Driving Distance ~ 56 miles

Stopover in Royal Deeside area

Today you traverse the Cairngorm mountains via one of the highest roads in Scotland. It is not far to drive so you have time to schedule a day exploring the  Speyside Whisky Trail .

Some of the famous distilleries on this leg of your Scottish whisky tour are Glenlivet , Glenfarclas , Aberlour, Glenfiddich, Balvenie  and Macallan .

If you want a break from whisky tastings, you may enjoy a visit to Elgin with its magnificent cathedral and cashmere mill . We also give you tips on the best bars for continuing your whisky sampling into the evening.

Driving Distance ~ 52 miles

Stopover in Craigellachie / Elgin area

You can continue your Scottish whisky tour with visits to the distilleries of Glen Grant, Glen Moray and Benromach, but today's route also features places of historical importance that are worth exploring.

You can discover  Cawdor Castle with its curious legends, the spooky burial tombs at Clava Cairns , the imposing defences of Fort George and the windswept battlefield of Culloden Moor .

The day ends in lively Inverness or the quieter villages of the nearby Black Isle . If you visit the Black Isle, we can tell you where to find a bar with over 200 "expressions" of Malt whisky on offer, including some incredibly rare bottlings.

Driving Distance ~ 57 miles

Stopover in Inverness area .

Inverness is a great touring base for exploring the Highlands and we supply you with directions for a range of day trips:

  • Black Isle - A short tour of the Black Isle where you can visit a carefully preserved 18th century village and embark on boat trips to see wild dolphins.
  • Glen Affric - A scenic drive into Glen Affric where you can see the last remains of the Ancient Caledonian Forest. This route includes options to explore a Neolithic burial chamber, a hidden Clan graveyard and a 150 foot high waterfall in a lovely woodland setting.
  • Loch Ness – We guide you past Loch Ness on the drive to Skye, but this day trip does a complete circular tour of the loch with time to take a cruise, visit the “Nessie” exhibitions and wander the ruins of Urquhart castle.
  • Dunrobin Castle - A day trip up the east coast to the spectacular Dunrobin Castle, which has all the opulence of a French chateau. You can return via a longer route that features a visit to cascades where you might see wild salmon leaping upstream.

Stopover in Inverness area

Starting with a drive along the shores of Loch Ness towards  Urquhart Castle (where you may wish to join a loch cruise), you then turn westwards to the wilderness of Wester Ross and the mountains of Kintail. The route passes the distinctive Eilean Donan castle on the way to the Skye Bridge , but you may wish to include a detour to see one of Scotland’s prettiest villages before crossing into Skye.

If you need a whisky fix, you could head to  Talisker Distillery or the recently opened Torabhaig Distillery , but we recommend you schedule a 2 night stopover on Skye so there is time to do other sightseeing activities on this day.

Driving Distance ~ 115 miles

Stopover on Skye or the nearby Lochalsh area

Skye is a large island with many of the places of interest located along dead end single track roads. As a result, you are limited in how much you can cover in a day and you need to schedule at least a 2 night stopover.

  • Explore Skye - We provide directions for a tour that includes the famous scenic landmarks of Skye as well as Dunvegan Castle, Talisker Distillery, craft shops, tearooms, pubs and walks. More than enough to fill 2 whole days on Skye. ~138 miles
  • Alternative Day Trip around Loch Alsh & Loch Hourn - Skye can be a very busy place so we also provide directions for a tour around this quieter area where you can take in one of our favourite viewpoints, soak up the atmosphere at mysterious Iron Age Brochs, or enjoy a cup of coffee in one of the remotest tearooms in Scotland. You can return to Skye via a tiny car ferry that operates from Easter – October.

Stopover in Skye & Lochalsh area

Today we guide you down the west coast to the lively town of Oban. We would recommend leaving Skye on the Mallaig ferry, but also provide you with directions for taking an inland route via the Skye bridge.

If taking the Mallaig ferry , you can explore the beautiful “Silver Sands” of the Morar beaches which look quite Tropical on sunny days. You follow the “ Road to the Isles ” which takes you to Glenfinnan , where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s army of Jacobites first rallied in 1745. However, most people come here to see the railway viaduct made famous by “ Harry Potter ” and you might see the steam train (Apr – Oct). We also guide you to some less obvious film locations.

Both the ferry and bridge routes converge near Glen Coe and you may wish to detour into the glen for a photo stop before starting on the last journey leg down the Argyll coast. This is an area with a rich history and our guide gives details of some of its infamous characters and events.

The day ends in Oban where you can indulge in a whisky tasting session at Oban Distillery followed by a memorable dinner in one of the town’s great choice of seafood restaurants .

Driving Distance ~ 87 miles (plus a ~40 minute ferry crossing) – Mallaig to Oban

Driving Distance ~ 120 miles – Skye Bridge to Oban

Stopover in Oban Area.

We provide 2 route options for the drive back to Glasgow or Edinburgh .

  • The longer route takes you through Glen Coe with its dramatic scenery and tragic history of the massacre of the MacDonalds. After Glen Coe, you cross the wild and timeless expanse of Rannoch Moor on your way back to the cities.
  • The direct route option guides you inland past Loch Awe , Scotland longest loch. Along the way, you can stop at a smokehouse to buy some local delicacies for a picnic beside the ruins of Kilchurn Castle .

If heading to Glasgow , you travel down the length of Loch Lomond with opportunities for a loch cruise and a visit to a 300 yr old Inn where you might meet aone of the resident ghosts who has a favourite seat in the bar.

Driving Distances: Direct ~90 miles  /  Via Glen Coe ~118 miles to Glasgow

If returning to Edinburgh , you drive through the Trossachs National Park  with opportunities for a photo stop at the Falls of Dochart and / or  a visit to the grave of " Rob Roy ". You continue back towards Stirling and then join the motorway for a fast drive back to the Capital.

Driving Distances: Direct ~117 miles  /  Via Glen Coe ~145 miles to Edinburgh

Stopover in Glasgow or Edinburgh.

Tour Gallery

EdinburghCastle

Accommodation

To help you book the best places to stay, we offer a guide to Recommended Accommodation along the route of this tour.

We personally visit all the accommodation featured in the guides and only select places where we would wish to stay ourselves. Read More...

When you "Checkout" , you will have the option to buy the Accommodation Guide.

Preview Accommodation Guide

Car Hire - How to Save Money

When you buy a Secret Scotland Tour Itinerary you will receive a Discount Code that gets you a 10% reduction on the cost of Car Hire from Arnold Clark Rental .

Simply use the Secret Scotland code when you book via the Arnold Clark website and your car hire discount will automatically apply.

Testimonials

I convinced my other half to get the Scenic Tour 4-5 Days guide (even though he very much wanted to do it all himself), and it was the best experience ever. In fact, ever since this trip, we're trying to re-create the experience. Of course, Scotland can hardly let anyone down, but this guide truly made it an adventure. We found so many hidden and not so hidden gems, and everything was perfectly laid out for us so that all we had to do was decide how much time we had and what we wanted to see next. I can't recommend it enough and wish more guides like this existed!

scottish whiskey tour

Excellent! We thought the information provided was fantastic and allowed us to see things I am sure we would have missed. Mike was very helpful in sending the itinerary through again for us when we had trouble with our downloads. Would definitely recommend this site. We have been travelling for a number of years and normally would just rely on the internet and books but decided to give this a go. So glad we did.

scottish whiskey tour

Secret Scotland is EXCEPTIONAL in providing guidance for itinerary planning and accommodation referrals for those wanting a self guided driving vacation in Scotland.... Simple to use.  Thorough in suggesting ‘must see’ venues. Complete - sites, restaurants, pubs and experiences.” That is how I would describe what they do and provide.  Exceptional accommodation recommendations. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

scottish whiskey tour

The itinerary Secret Scotland provided was a trip saver. We loved the suggestions for sight seeing, eating, and places to stay, but the best part was the detailed driving directions. Driving on the opposite side of the road from the opposite side of the car was a little easier without having to worry about how to get there! We will definitely use this service the next time we visit Scotland!

scottish whiskey tour

Secret Scotland's itineraries, accommodations guides, and other resources are incredible value with great attention to detail.  Their owners, Mike and Aury, are experienced and honest, and they helped us so much as we attempted to narrow down a very long list of things we hoped to do during our time in Scotland.  I feel so much more prepared for our trip and can now just look forward to our approaching vacation!

scottish whiskey tour

We have just got back from an EXCELLENT holiday following the Borders to Orkney route suggestions. We can't say enough about how much the detailed information enhanced our experience in Scotland. We had a wonderful time seeing so many interesting sites that we would have passed by without your guide. Thank you so much.

scottish whiskey tour

These guys really are the best.  We used Mike's Flexi Days East to West itinerary last July and it was truly indispensable.  His itinerary is full of detail, including driving directions and options.  Mike is also very responsive if you have any questions.  We had such a wonderful time we are going back again this year, and we will be using his itineraries again for our planning.  I would also recommend his accommodations guide.

scottish whiskey tour

Just like pictures of Scotland can’t do justice to the magnificence of the actual landscape, words can’t do justice to the brilliance and sheer volume of work you put in your guide. The level of detail provided on each stopover sheet, in all the different itinerary options and on all the B&B features exceeded even my most crazy expectations.

scottish whiskey tour

Mike and Aurey from Secret Scotland prepared a fantastic itinerary for us. It was a huge ingredient in the success and huge enjoyment that we got from our trip. It was absolutely worth every penny and there is no way we could have seen so much and so well without their itinerary. We felt like we belonged in Scotland, we knew what we were doing and what it all meant at every step. We recommend their services wholeheartedly. Scotland is such a marvelous place. Thank you Mike and Aurey... and we will be back!

scottish whiskey tour

Need Ideas For Your Scotland Tour?

Subscribe to our newsletter and receive 5 free guides.

scottish whiskey tour

CUSTOMISED SCOTTISH WHISKY TOURS, TASTINGS & PRESENTATIONS

With ronnie berri.

– Scotch Whisky Ambassador/expert and Keeper of the Quaich

scottish whiskey tour

Why Ronnie?

scottish whiskey tour

KEEPER OF THE QUAICH

In 2014, Ronnie was inducted as a member of the Keepers of the Quaich Society. The Keepers of the Quaich – an exclusive and international society that recognises those that have shown outstanding commitment to the Scotch Whisky industry.

STGA QUALIFIED

Ronnie is a fully qualified Scottish Blue Badge Tourist Guide and has been for many years.  Only STGA guides can guarantee both committed professionalism and a deep understanding of our beautiful country.

“More than just whisky!”

scottish whiskey tour

“Ronnie created an experience for a group of 5 friends that created lifetime memories. The 3 night/4 day tour was beyond the amazing distillery visits and whisky tastings. He shared his extensive knowledge of all of Scotland’s diverse distilleries through his private collection and deep knowledge of the history. There was also time for great scenic visits, Scottish history, distillery politics/ownership/blender info and much more. Ronnie was also great helping with the planning of hotels along the routes and had great advice on restaurants for the evenings. He was flexible through all the changes due to Covid restrictions for travel and distillery openings with great communication throughout. If you take one thing with you to Scotland it should be Ronnie and all his experience!!! I can’t wait to go back!”

DC_Traveler24 (Tripadvisor) 5th June 2021

scottish whiskey tour

Visit Scotland’s distilleries with an expert

Join Ronnie on a fully bespoke and private tour of Scotland. These whisky experiences are tailor-made for people with a passion for “ Uisge Beatha ” – the water of life.

Each tour is personalised, creating a very individual and unique experience prepared just for your party. 

star rating

GUIDED WHISKY TOURS

Tours are completely bespoke to fit your needs. These aren’t group tours. This is YOUR experience to share with people you are close to.

Whether it’s a one day trip or multiple day excursion, we have a tour to suit you!

Ronnie on Instagram

scottish whiskey tour

ronnieberri

@glengariochmalt , fabulous visit and great drams, good to see operational malting floors , Slainte 🥃. #scottishwhiskytours  #whiskytourswithronnie  #singlemaltscotchwhisky #scotchwhisky #scotch #highlandsinglemaltscotchwhisky @beamsuntory #oldmeldrum #scotland #scottishwhisky @scotchwhiskyswa #scottishhighlands

Enquire Today

Days to Come

Travelling Without a Passport

scottish whiskey tour

The Beginner’s Guide to a Scottish Whisky Tour

scottish whiskey tour

Whisky. Whiskey. Scotch. Bourbon. Whatever you call it, however you spell it, whisky isn’t your average alcoholic beverage. Much like oenophiles would their wine, discerning enthusiasts and spirit snobs have long treated whisky like a piece of art—the act of distilling it a craft, the act of drinking it an art form. It’s long been a subject of gentlemanly debate, from how it’s spelt to how it’s served and enjoyed.

Thank goodness, then, that Scotland, the biggest whisky producer in the world, isn’t lacking in tours. Such tours take lucky visitors to distilleries to learn not only about the distillation, ageing, and packing processes but also how to drink the “water of life” like a true connoisseur.

Travel to: Scotland

From the world-famous Malt Whisky Trail in the Speyside area, where more than half of the country’s distilleries are located, to Campbeltown, the smallest region in the country, there are more than enough whisky tours for beginners and experts alike. Just be sure you know how to handle your liquor.

Bar Whiskey - Scottish Whiskey Tour

Make a list of Scotland’s whisky regions

Though a small country, Scotland has more than 120 whisky distilleries spread across five distinct whisky-producing regions, each one slightly different from the other. Which whisky region you should tour depends on what flavour profile you like most, how much time you have, and whether or not you prefer to go off the beaten path.

Scottish Whiskey Tour

Only recently recognised by Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) as an official whisky region due to the number of distilleries the area is home to, this area in the eastern Scottish Highlands hosts about 50 distilleries. That’s the official count, although some claim it to be more than that. Speyside is, therefore, a prime destination for a whisky tour , especially if you’re interested in the spirit’s history and heritage.

Whisky from Speyside are typically light and sweet, yet complex. Home to one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries, not to mention the famous Malt Whisky Trail that takes you to nine must-visit distilleries, it’s great for whisky enthusiasts who enjoy rich, fruity, spicy, and vanilla flavours in their glass.

  • Distilleries to visit: Glenfiddich, Macallan, and Glenlivet.

Glenlivet - Scottish Whiskey Tour

The Highlands

With around 47 distilleries within its boundaries, the hilly region of the Highlands in the north comes in a close second as Scotland’s whisky destination. It’s home to many of the biggest names and oldest distilleries in Scottish whisky history. More importantly to whisky enthusiasts, it produces a number of different flavour profiles.

From deep, textured flavours to lightly peated (smoky) and those with floral notes, the diversity of whisky styles in this region is just the ticket for those who prefer to experiment with different types. Diverse too are its distilleries, which range from the oldest in the country, namely Glenturret that started in 1775 as an unlicensed facility, to some of the youngest ones.

  • Distilleries to visit: Oban and Talisker.

Talisker - Scottish Whiskey Tour

See Also: Best Castles You Can Stay at in Scotland

The Lowlands

If you can’t make it up to Speyside, you might go for a tour of the Lowlands. While it might not sound too exciting, the Lowland region is, in fact, an ideal place to introduce your palette to single malts, not to mention quite accessible with Edinburgh and Glasgow just quick drives away.

Peated whisky enthusiasts might be better off spending their time in Islay. However, those who prefer light and delicate flavour profiles including citrusy, floral, and sweet, will find the 17 or so distilleries here simply divine.

  • Distilleries to visit: Auchentoshan and Glenkinchie.

Auchentoshan - Scottish Whiskey Tour

Don’t let Islay’s tiny island size and small number of distilleries fool you. Not only is Islay home to the second oldest distillery in the country, Bowmore, which traces its roots back to 1779, it also pulls its weight in whisky production. A four-day tour of this region will satisfy your cravings. 

Bowmore itself is reported to have an annual capacity of 2,000,000 litres, and both Bowmore and Laphroaig are the two key distilleries for one of the top whisky companies in the world. Those who are addicted to smoky flavours will adore Islay whisky as they known to be heavily peated, with just a hint of salty and sweet.

  • Distilleries to visit: Lagavulin and Laphroaig.

Lagavulin - Scottish Whiskey Tour

Campbeltown

If you think Islay is the smallest whisky-producing region in Scotland, think again. There is still, after all, Campbeltown, which only has three distilleries under its belt. Why, then, is it considered a whisky region? Perhaps because in its peak, it boasted about 30 distilleries. Or perhaps because the single malts produced here are so distinctive in flavour, they more than deserve to be singled out.

If you’re one of the more discerning single malt lovers, then you must make a beeline for this former royal burgh in the Kintyre peninsula. 

  • Distilleries to visit: Springback, Glengyle, and Glen Scotia.

Scotland - Scottish Whiskey Tour

Even if you aren’t a fan of the hard stuff, a whisky tour in Scotland will expose you to gorgeous views, fascinating history, and the opportunity to connect with locals in a way not many other tours can offer.

Is a Scottish whisky tour on your bucket list? Can you taste the amber smokey syrup on your lips already? Then consider your options and go touring. 

scottish whiskey tour

Michelle Rae Uy

Michelle is Los Angeles-based writer, editor, and photographer with a bad case of wanderlust. Her dream, next to travelling the world, is to own her own funky, boutique hotel with a small animal sanctuary so she can spend the rest of her days chilling with cats and hedgehogs. Follow her on Instagram .

Related Articles

  • Food & Drink

Your Guide to Amsterdam’s Secret Bars and Speakeasies

One of the most popular cities in Europe, Amsterdam has no...

  • North America

Your Guide to Easter Around the World

Easter is a time to celebrate new beginnings. The symbols and...

  • Central America

The Best Spring Break Destinations

As long as academics have been a part of our lives,...

scottish whiskey tour

5 Things Your Friends Who've Never Been on a Tour Won't Understand

Get unlimited access to the world's best travel stories. subscribe now., privacy overview.

Check out our brand new 5-day Islay & Campbeltown Tour!

Scottish Routes

  • MOST POPULAR

Four-Day Islay Whisky Tour

Quick Details

  • Hour Glass Duration: 4 days
  • Map Marker Location: Islay
  • Clock Departure Time: 08:00 a.m.
  • Clock Estimated Return Time: Edinburgh 6:30 p.m./Glasgow 5:15 p.m.
  • Users Max. Number of Guests: 16
  • Bus Pick-Up Point: Caffe Nero, 1 Parliament Square, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 1RE
  • User Minimum Age of Participants: 18
  • Lagavulin Warehouse Experience
  • Core Range Tasting at Ardbeg
  • Tour and exclusive tasting at Laphroaig
  • Tour and tasting at Kilchoman
  • A visit to Bunnahabhain
  • Tour & Tasting at Bruichladdich
  • Minibus transport (max. 16 guests)
  • Services of a professional tour guide

Discover some of Scotland’s Finest Whisky Distilleries

Fall in love with Islay, home to some of Scotland’s finest whisky distilleries! This tour takes you to a Scottish island paradise. Islay is home to stunning scenery, ancient history and traditional culture.

Day 1 After departing Edinburgh, you head west into the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. Your journey will take you along the shores of Loch Lomond, the largest of Scotland’s lochs, as well as one of the countries most scenic locations. The landscape becomes more mountainous as you travel further west, crossing the impressive Rest and Be Thankful viewpoint, as your guide tells you about the history and culture of this stunning part of Scotland.

As you travel through Argyll, you will make a short stop in the attractive fishing village of Inveraray . It is then a short drive down the Kintyre Peninsula to Kennacraig, where you will board the early afternoon ferry to Islay. The ferry crossing is around two hours and offers for some beautiful views of the islands of Gigha, Jura and Islay as well as the area surrounding West Loch Tarbert. There is time to relax in the ferry bar with an Islay whisky, grab some lunch from the restaurant and soak up the sea air before you arrive.

On arrival in Islay, we will visit our first distillery of the tour! Bunnahabhain Distillery. Pronounced ‘Bunn-na-ha-venn’, meaning ‘mouth of the river’ in Scots Gaelic, this distillery is in a stunning location offering gorgeous views of the Paps of Jura and offers a range of peated and unpeated drams.  On occasion due to ferry timetables, a later ferry to Islay may be arranged, in this event the visit to Bunnahabhain will be replaced by an alternative distillery on the Scottish mainland, such as Auchentoshan.

Following your visit to Bunnahabhain, it is a short drive to Bowmore to check in to The Bowmore House or Island Bear for your three-night stay. On rare occasions we may need to place you in different accommodation, we will make you aware of this in advance.

Days 2 & 3 With two full days to explore, there are plenty of options for sightseeing, and your guide will share some of their favourite places with you. These can include empty beaches, whitewashed villages, ancient sites, the Kildalton Cross, medieval strongholds, fresh seafood, local wildlife and traditional cultures. With only around 3000 people and nine world-class distilleries, the chances of finding a ‘wee dram’ on Islay are pretty good.

The distillery and whisky experiences give you an insight into Islay’s most famous export. We’ve planned a wide range of tours and tastings, including a warehouse experiences, tours and exclusive tastings! Each tour is a little different and there will be lots of delicious drams to taste – you won’t be disappointed!

Each night on Islay, there are plenty of options for eating, drinking and relaxing. Your tour guide will let you know all the best places to get the most out of your time in Bowmore. There is an eating option for all budgets and tastes, and with so much local produce on offer, you will be spoilt for choice. The whisky bars aren’t too bad either. Slainte Mhath, as they say in Gaelic.

Day 4 After a final hearty breakfast, you catch the morning ferry back to Kennacraig. Arriving on the mainland, you head to the loch-side town of Inveraray. This is the seat of the Clan Campbell, home to the Loch Fyne Whisky shop and your stop for lunch. After lunch (and some last-minute whisky shopping) your journey now hugs the shores of Loch Fyne and Loch Long before climbing up to the Rest and be Thankful pass for sweeping views.

Then it is to the shores of Loch Lomond. With time to stop for some lovely views and stretch of the legs, this is the last stop on your tour before crossing the River Clyde and into Scotland’s largest city of Glasgow. Some of our guests may be leaving the tour here, so we may make a short stop in central Glasgow (George Square) before returning to Edinburgh.

  • Chevron down Accommodation:

Accommodation is on a B&B basis in The Bowmore House or Island Bear, both on Shore Street in Bowmore. Spacious and comfortable rooms, a fantastic breakfast each morning and hosts that go above and beyond for every one of their guests. There’s a reason we come back here year after year!

a cup of coffee on a table

  • Chevron down What to Bring:
  • No matter what the time of year, the weather in Scotland can be “changeable”, to say the least. We suggest that you bring suitable clothing for all conditions, including a waterproof jacket (it has been known to rain in Scotland) and plenty of layers.
  • Ensure you bring shoes suitable for short walks, on rough or uneven terrain.
  • Although all the distilleries we visit accept card payments, we would also recommend bringing cash with you.
  • Don’t forget a camera to snap the fantastic memories you’ll make on tour with us!
  • Our scheduled tours are all 18+, if you’re lucky enough to look under 25 you may to asked to provide proof of age at the distilleries.
  • Please limit your luggage to 1 x small/medium piece per person, along with 1 x small handbag or daypack.

Related Tours

  • Map Marker Islay
  • Hour Glass 5 days

Five-Day Islay Whisky Tour

The ultimate Islay tour is for those who want to experience as much of Islay as possible. We visit every distillery on the island, taste a range of drams and explore its secret spots.

Scottish Whiskey Tours

Whisky Distillery tours of Scotland

  • Brora Distillery
  • Clynelish Distillery
  • Glenmorangie
  • Scotch Whisky Regions
  • Scottish Whisky Subscription box
  • Oban Distillery
  • Tomatin Distillery
  • Whisky tasting training kit

Scottish Whisky Tours

We sit in silence awaiting your return.

When we meet again, we will be a more mature better version of ourselves.

Signed. The Whisky

Whisky Distillery Tours of Scotland

Thank you for all your enquiries, we are responding to as many of your lovely messages as we can.

All the staff at Scotland Whisky Tours are safe and well. Hospitality is what we do in Scotland, it’s part of our history and we are world renowned.

We cannot wait to welcome our lovely clients back and meet all our new clients back to provide you with the Scottish Welcome you are all accustomed to.

We hope to see you all in October as our Autumn Distillery Tours commence, subject to local and national guidance.

While we cannot provide you with a personalised tour of Scotland, we can provide you with a personalised taste with our Scottish Whisky Subscription box. You can read more about our whisky subscription box below.

Scottish Whisky Subscription Box

Build a collection of Scottish whisky from the best distilleries in Scotland.

Our Scottish Whisky Subscription box is the ideal gift for any whisky lover, buy it as a present or buy it to gift to the most important person, because you deserve it !

A collection of whisky recommended by the whisky masters of Scotland.

Find out more about our Whisky Subscription Club memebership here

Whisky tasters training kit

Whisky subscription club.

Explore curated lists of top Whisky with our newsletter featuring a selection of Scottish  distilleries each month

Never see this message again.

scottish whiskey tour

Two Scottish distilleries named as top attractions for 2024 at World Travel Awards

Two scottish distilleries have been acknowledged for their tours as part of a global tourism awards..

scottish whiskey tour

The World Travel Awards - dubbed the 'Oscars of tourism' - have been announced for 2024 and two Scottish distilleries plus a number of hotels have triumphed.

The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery, located in Muir of Ord, has been named Scotland's Leading Distillery Tour 2024 and The Glentlivet was named Scotland's Leading Whisky Distillery Tour 2024

The Singleton of Glen Ord , which re-opened its doors in 2022 as part of Diageo’s £185-million investment into Scotch tourism, is a celebration of the best of Scotland and was created with the vision of not only honouring the slow-crafted single malt and its history, but also to give locals and tourists an immersive experience, where they can explore everything the Highlands has to offer.

Sitting on the famous North Coast 500 route and accessible by bus or train from Inverness, the visitor attraction is known for working closely with suppliers from around the area to provide visitors with local produce, space for home-grown artists, as well as immersive and unusual whisky tasting experiences.

The Glenlivet reopened its visitor centre in 2021 after a renovation by owners Pernod Ricard.

Scottish distilleries World Travel Awards

The new space has a lounge area, bar, shop with fill your own bottle stations and archive area and has been designed to feel cosy and welcoming with a palette of teal, green, orange and neutrals that reflect the ever changing Speyside landscape.

The Glenlivet was named World's Leading Whisk(e)y Distillery Tour in the 2022 World Travel Awards

The Singleton Distillery was named Visitor Attraction of the Year at the Icons of Whisky Scotland and World Whiskies Awards 2024 in December last year, as well as a Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice Award having been consistently rated by the public as a five-star attraction in 2023.

Leigh Aitken, Brand Home Manager at The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery, said: “To be named as Scotland’s Leading Distillery Tour by one of the biggest tourism award bodies in the world is such an honour.

"As an official partner of the North Coast 500, and one of the closest single malt distilleries to Inverness we look forward to welcoming even more people into the Highlands to try out our award-winning whisky experiences.

“Scotland is famous for our unmatched larder, scenery, and of course whiskies and in particular has so to come out on top of this category is testament to the versatile offering we have here, thanks to our team of whisky experts, bartenders, and local suppliers who each give us that extra something special.”

Scottish distilleries World Travel Awards

Johnnie Walker Princes Street in Edinburgh, another piece of Diageo’s investment into Scotch tourism was also awarded at the ceremony which took place in Berlin.

The visitor attraction, which gained the title of the World’s Leading Spirit Experience last year’s WTAs was named Europe's Leading Spirit Tourism Experience 2024, adding a list of industry leading accolades.

The full list of Scottish winners can be viewed on the World Travel Awards website.

The Scotsman

Get in touch.

Scotland's number one whisky distillery tour crowned at 'Tourism Oscars'

The top distillery tour in Scotland was crowned earlier this week at a prestigious award ceremony dubbed the 'the Oscars of tourism', with a renowned Highlands distillery taking home the prize.

  • 12:15, 12 MAR 2024

The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery's Leigh Aitken

Join thousands in getting the latest Scotland Now stories sent straight to your inbox

We have more newsletters

Scotland's top whisky distillery tour has been crowned as part of a prestigious award ceremony dubbed 'the Oscars of tourism'.

Earlier this week, the winners of the annual World Travel Awards were announced. The awards celebrate the best of the best across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry.

Among the accolades handed out was Scotland's Leading Distillery Tour, which was awarded to The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery. The distillery , which is the last remaining on the Black Isle peninsula within Ross and Cromarty, was recognised for its excellence and innovation within the category for Scotland.

Located along the iconic North Coast 500 route and accessible by bus or train from Inverness, the visitor attraction offers a range of experiences to visitors. These include its Malt to Cask Tour, which offers guests a chance to explore onsite drum maltings, and The Singleton Distillery Tour that features a guided introduction to the distillation process and even a tasting of three unique malts.

The Singleton of Glen Ord is known for working closely with suppliers from around the area to provide visitors with local produce and whisky tasting experiences. It recently reopened its doors in 2022 following a £185 million investment into Scottish tourism from alcoholic beverage company Diago.

The distillery was previously named Visitor Attraction of the Year at the Icons of Whisky Scotland and World Whiskies Awards 2024 last December. It has also been recognised with a Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice Award for having been consistently rated by the public as a five-star attraction.

The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery

Brand Home Manager at The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery Leigh Aitken commented: "To be named as Scotland’s Leading Distillery Tour by one of the biggest tourism award bodies in the world is such an honour. As an official partner of the North Coast 500, and one of the closest single malt distilleries to Inverness we look forward to welcoming even more people into the Highlands to try out our award-winning whisky experiences.

"Scotland is famous for our unmatched larder, scenery, and of course whiskies and in particular has so to come out on top of this category is testament to the versatile offering we have here, thanks to our team of whisky experts, bartenders, and local suppliers who each give us that extra something special."

This week's top Scotland Now stories

Traditionally built white cottage with thatched roof, next to the turquoise bay, with stormy cloudy dark skies above.island of North Uist, Scotland. High quality photo

Elsewhere, Johnnie Walker Princes Street in Edinburgh was also awarded at the World Travel Awards. The visitor attraction, which offers a variety of interactive whisky experiences and tastings, was named Europe's Leading Spirit Tourism Experience 2024.

More information can be found on the Singleton of Glen Ord website . Meanwhile, the full list of winners at the World Travel Awards 2024 can be found on its website .

Join our Everything Outlander WhatsApp community and get the latest show news sent directly to your phone.

Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!

scottish whiskey tour

Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.

You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.

All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile , select 'Join Community' and you're in!

If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.

To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.

If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

  • Discover Scotland
  • Scotland Now
  • Most Recent

scottish whiskey tour

Woodburn: Monstrous beauty at Loch Ness

Like John Muir’s Scottish boyhood home-turned-museum in Dunbar, “The Writer’s Museum” on the historic Royal Mile in Edinburg was once a three-story residence. Dating to 1622, as Lady Stair’s House, the latter is now dedicated to the lives of three favorite-son wordsmiths: Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Time and again on our recent trip, My Better Half and I crossed paths with this famous literary trio — in parks with their statues, pubs with their portraits, even their footsteps in Edinburgh Castle where the 16th-century “Honours of Scotland” crown jewels are on display. Hidden from enemy forces, and lost, the priceless scepter, sword, and crown were found a hundred years later by Sir Walter Scott.

Mr. Stevenson’s words, meanwhile, can be found engraved on plaques and painted on public walls with commonplaceness throughout Scotland, including this popular quote: “To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.”

And yet, with apologies to the author of “Treasure Island,” I found the opposite to be true on our day of treasured travel through the Highlands to Loch Ness. To be honest, I had not expected much; certainly I did not anticipate seeing the famous monster; but I was awed by the ruggedly bucolic scenery and immenseness of the bottomless waters.

More: Woodburn: Travels begin with a wee tale

Loch Ness is nearly a marathon’s distance long, 23 miles to be precise, and so deep that only two humans, in a diving bell, have reached its bottom. That is 10 fewer people than have walked on the moon and here is an even more jaw-dropping figure: Loch Ness is said to contain more water than all the lakes and rivers in England and Wales combined.

Perhaps most startling of all is the color of the water — black, coal black, black as midnight even in daylight due to peat tannins runoff from surrounding foothills. Underwater you cannot see six inches in front of your nose, our guide Brian noted.

 Speaking of water, no sooner had our Loch Ness boat tour begun when Brian informed us that “whisky” — with no “e” in Scotland, he emphasized — means “water of life.” He continued, with a wink and a raised flask: “The more whisky you drink, the better chance you have of seeing Nessie!”

Nessie, of course, is the celebrated Loch Ness Monster. Truth be told, even sober as a saint, for it was barley noon and neither MBH nor I had followed the wee impish Scotsman’s breakfast example from the previous day by adding a splash of “water of life” to our coffee, we  did  see Nessie…

…on T-shirts, ball caps, refrigerator magnets, tea towels and a thousand more items in the souvenir shop.

Instead of a Brontosaurus-necked tchotchke, my favorite Loch Ness keepsake is a short story Brian, wearing long socks and a kilt, shared in a tartan brogue as thick as his build which was as stout as a refrigerator on which to put a Nessie magnet: “I had an investment banker on my tour, a bigwig successful guy, who scoffed at what a boring job I had giving the same tour day after day.

“So I asked him,” Brian continued. “ ‘Do you go to the same office every day?’

“ ‘Yes, with a corner view, for 35 years,’ he answered, proudly.

“And I said, ‘Well, this is my office…’ ”

Brian spread his arms wide, wide as the wingspan of the bald eagle we saw moments earlier floating on an updraft, then swept a hand across the stunning Highlands landscape.

“ ‘…and it gets redecorated every day.’ ”

Next week: The angel’s share and Titanic tears.

Woody Woodburn’s novel, “The Butterfly Tree: An Extraordinary Saga of Seven Generations,” will be published this month. Contact him at  [email protected] .

We've noticed that you're using an out of date browser. We recommend that you update to the latest version to enhance your browsing experience.

scottish whiskey tour

Stirling Castle Scotland , four castles Day tours from Edinburgh 2024

© Private tours Edinburgh, Scotland

Stirling Castle Scotland

Four Scottish castles tour from Edinburgh , small group tours 2024

Our private group visits four unique Scottish castles. Five star rated tour. This tour from Edinburgh visits Drummond Castle and Gardens , Stirling Castle , Doune Castle and Linlithgow Palace , birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.Five star reviews

Looking for castle tours from Edinburgh ? How about taking a small group tour from Edinburgh of Scotland's historic castles and film locations ? This is a best selling five star rated tour . Contact us on Whatsapp +447305294773 for details and bookings .

Linlithgow Palace was used in Outlander and it is the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.

Four ancient Scottish castles   feature in this tour – 

  • Drummond Castle and Gardens ( the Palace of Versailles in Outlander )
  •  Stirling Castle , one of the most impressive castles in Scotland
  • Doune Castle ( Game of Thrones , Outlander and Monty Python )
  • Linlithgow Palace ( Mary Queen of Scots and the Outlaw King )

   Private tours Edinburgh - Lowest price guarantee - superb online prices , 30% below any other Online travel agents .

To avoid booking fees you can make a booking by phone / WhatsApp on +447305294773 or  contact us online  . 

1 Linlithgow Palace

This royal palace and birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots became the backdrop for some of the most disturbing scenes of the TV show Outlander .

The palace was Wentworth Prison and the prison corridors and entrance were used in episode 15 of the first series when Jamie Fraser was brutally incarcerated and assaulted by his adversary, Black Jack Randall.

Built in the 1400s and 1500s, the now ruined palace is set among the spectacular surrounds of Linlithgow Loch and Peel. Climb to the top of the palace for a fantastic panoramic view of the loch and town of Linlithgow . Day tours from Edinburgh.

Scotland is the ideal place for a summer vacation in the UK

Small group tours of Scotland

Check out our videos of Scotland on Youtube

2 Drummond Castle and Gardens

Drummond Castle Gardens, near Crieff, Perthshire, is the scene of the garden party at the French royal Palace of Versailles in TV drama Outlander. Claire and Jamie meet Black Jack Randall and they have an argument , resulting in Jamie challenging him to a duel . The grounds, which date back to 1630, are considered “the best example of formal terraced gardens in Scotland”.

Drummond Castle Gardens, which are protected as a category A listed building — in contrast to the B listed castle — already attract thousands of visitors per year, and are included on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.The gardens — complete with peacocks — feature ancient yew hedges and the remaining beech tree planted by Queen Victoria in 1842.

Check availability for the Four Scottish castles tour

Private tours Edinburgh has five star reviews for this private tour.

Lowest price guarantee - superb online prices , 30% below any other Online travel agents .

For last minute bookings for small group tours phone / Whatsapp +447305294773 for more details or online on our bookings page

The schedule of castles on this tour may change in winter when some castles close .

2 Doune Castle

Doune Castle near Stirling was Winterfell in Game of Thrones and plays Castle Leoch , home to Colum MacKenzie and his clan in Outlander TV series .

It features in the first episode when Claire and Frank Randall visit the castle on a day trip.

Once a Royal residence, Doune Castle was built by Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany in the late 14th Century.

Doune has appeared several times on screen and was widely used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It also represented the castle Winterfell in Game of Thrones.

Doune Castle will also feature in the Outlander prequel Blood of my Blood , the story of the parents of Jamie and Claire Fraser . Filming took place in January at the castle .

Contact us on Whatsapp +447305294773 for details and bookings .

Doune Castle Outlander filming for season 8 has started at the castle .

Check availability for the Four Scottish castles tour

For the latest information about availability and best prices please contact Private Tours Edinburgh by phone / WhatsApp on +447305294773 or  contact us online  .

Book your  day trips from Edinburgh .

4  Stirling Castle

Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s most impressive castles due to its imposing position and impressive architecture.

From Stirling Castle’s ramparts, visitors can take in views of the Forth Valley and Ben Lomond , as well as one of Scotland’s most important battle sites - Bannockburn (1314). The castle is at the head of Stirling’s historic old town.Like Edinburgh Castle , Stirling sits on a volcanic rock dominating the city skyline .

Stirling Castle is not only one of Scotland’s grandest and most imposing castles, it was also a real favourite with Scotland’s Stewart kings . And their investment in it demonstrated just how much they loved to use it, as well as their desire to ensure it both impressed all who visited it, and represented a statement of their power and wealth. James IV created the Great Hall, the largest medieval banqueting hall ever built in Scotland, and James V’s Royal Palace, with its lavishly decorated Renaissance façades, was a masterpiece of the period.

Your ticket to Stirling Castle includes a guided tour , available every half hour. Find out more on our  castle tours Scotland on Facebook

Lunch is available at the Unicorn cafe inside Stirling Castle.

This castle is managed by Historic Environment Scotland ( Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba ) , a government agency . Ticket income is used to maintain the castle.

Your tour guide is David , an experienced tour guide and travel photographer. He is a landscape photographer on Photogold

For last minute bookings phone / Whatsapp +447305294773 for more details or online on our bookings page

Private tours Edinburgh has five star reviews for its unique range of private tours.

The refurbishment of the Great Hall and other parts of the castle was completed ten years ago at a cost of £11 million . A particular feature of the Great Hall is stained glass windows featuring clan crests . A number of banquets and concerts are held in the Hall throughout the year .On New Year's Eve a concert is held on the castle esplanade.

On the tour we pass the Kelpies , The Kelpies are 100 feet high statues of Clydesdale horses and each one was made from 300 tonnes of steel . Unique Day tours from Edinburgh

Our  photo tours of Scotland  set off from Edinburgh and feature visits to the top scenic locations in the Highlands of Scotland .

Take tour from Edinburgh of Scotland's historic castles and film locations. Castle pictures gallery

Book tours of Scotland on +44-7305-294773

Five star rated tour from Private tours Edinburgh.

Your tour guide is David , an experienced tour guide and travel photographer. He is a landscape photographer on Photogold prints

Private tours Edinburgh  Contact us now on Whatsapp +447305294773 for enquiries and bookings .

Your tour guide is  David  , an experienced tour guide and travel photographer. He is a landscape photographer on  Pictures of Scotland  . Find out more about him on  Tripadvisor

Outlander tours

What are the top castle tours for 2024 ?

Tour of St Andrews and Historic Fife

Scottish whisky and castles tour  - private tour

Four castles tour of Scotland

Game of Thrones and Outlander tours

Custom tours of Scotland  are also available

Informatie coronavirus

Safe Travels

Deze onderneming heeft bevestigd dat ze het Safe Travelsprotocol van de World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) heeft geïmplementeerd en dit naleeft. Het keurmerk Safe Travels wordt na een zelfevaluatie uitgereikt en is daardoor geen waarmerk.

Vanaf £90 per persoon

Vertrekdagen.

  • T Donderdag

Januari — December

Contact gegevens

Tour information

  • Edinburgh - City Centre
  • Edinburgh Airport
  • Glasgow Airport
  • Glasgow City Centre
  • Driver guide
  • Small Group (1-16)
  • Film and TV

Tour prijzen

Vanaf £90 Per Persoon

Prijzen zijn afhankelijk van het seizoen

JavaScript moet ingeschakeld zijn om dit te zien. Je kunt dit instellen in je browserinstellingen.

Tour galerij

Private tours Edinburgh Scotland

Informatie over toermaatschappij

Private tours edinburgh scotland.

Private Tours Edinburgh offers custom tours of Scotland with a professional guide on hand to give advice & information . Our four castles tours of Scotland including Stirling are five star rated . Outlander & Blood of my Blood tours to Lallybroch ( Midhope Castle ), Castle Leoch (Doune Castle) and other locations . Game of Thrones & James Bond tours. Tour the amazing scenery of Glencoe and the Highlands. Custom tours of Scotland .Shore excursions. Five star reviews . Private Tours Edinburgh distillery tours.Whatsapp +447305294773 for more details of special offers and availability

Social Media

Bezoek Private tours Edinburgh Scotland

Openingstijden

10 am to 6 pm seven days a week Text / Whatsapp customer services 24/7 on +44-7305-294773

Andere tours van dit bedrijf

Safe Travels

Private Outlander tour Scotland - Castle Leoch, Fort W...

Vertrekt: Edinburgh - City Centre, Edinburgh Airport, Glasgow City Centre, Glasgow Airport, Edinburg...

Our private group tours from Edinburgh , Scotland take up to four people to thre...

Prijzen vanaf:

£80pp

Mary Queen of Scots tours from Private tours Edinburgh

Mary Queen of Scots tours from Private tours Edinburgh

Vertrekt: Edinburgh - City Centre, Edinburgh Airport

Our private Mary Queen of Scots tour features a visit to the key places in the...

Op aanvraag

Scottish Whisky and castles tour from Private tours Edi...

Scottish Whisky and castles tour from Private tours Edi...

Our private group visits a malt whisky distillery and two unique Scottish castle...

Top Scottish film locations tour - Private tours Edinbu...

Top Scottish film locations tour - Private tours Edinbu...

Vertrekt: Edinburgh - City Centre, Edinburgh

Top Scottish film locations featuring Doune Castle ( Monty Python , Game of Thro...

De inhoud van veel van onze web listings is afkomstig van derden en niet van VisitScotland. VisitScotland is niet verantwoordelijk voor (1) eventuele fouten of verkeerde voorstellingen in de listings van derden, en (2) de inhoud van externe links in de web listings ((1) en (2) samen hierna te noemen de "Inhoud"). VisitScotland sluit alle aansprakelijkheid uit voor verlies of schade veroorzaakt door het vertrouwen op de Inhoud. De Inhoud is alleen ter informatie en wordt niet onderschreven door VisitScotland.

  • Work & Careers
  • Life & Arts

On the trail with the whisky detectives

scottish whiskey tour

  • On the trail with the whisky detectives on x (opens in a new window)
  • On the trail with the whisky detectives on facebook (opens in a new window)
  • On the trail with the whisky detectives on linkedin (opens in a new window)
  • On the trail with the whisky detectives on whatsapp (opens in a new window)

Alice Lascelles

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

“World’s oldest whisky found in Scottish castle to be auctioned” read the Whisky Auctioneer release sent out to press late last year, following the discovery of a stash of whisky in the cellars of Blair Castle in Perthshire. Distilled in 1833, and reputedly sipped by Queen Victoria, these 40 bottles (24 of which were up for auction) were some of the oldest and most historic whiskies ever to come up for sale.

Almost as soon as the release hit the newswires, though, it began being picked apart. The whisky’s age, it turned out, had largely been surmised from a placard found near the bottles. Carbon dating had only confirmed the “possibility” of it being early-19th century. The fill level of the liquid in the bottles didn’t look quite right; some had an abv that was suspiciously high. Had they been topped up over time? (This was acceptable practice back in the day – but if this was the case, it needed to be explained.) A historian argued that the Queen Victoria story, alas, was also unlikely. Whisky Auctioneer revised its language to be much more speculative.

There was no suggestion of tampering or deception here – only wishful thinking. The whiskies were clearly old, but perhaps not quite as old as the sellers wanted them to be.

A table of the bottles found in the cellars at Blair Castle in Perthshire

“For too long the industry has been marking its own homework,” says whisky expert Isabel Graham-Yooll. “I’m not saying people are being dishonest for the most part, but far too often the depth of research isn’t there.” 

Graham-Yooll knows the rare whisky market better than most – she was auction and private client director of Whisky.Auction , which is owned by The Whisky Exchange , for seven years. Before that she was a spirits buyer for whisky specialist Milroy’s , and also set up the spirits department for fine wine trading platform Bordeaux Index .

Her new company, Wisgy , is the first whisky consultancy to offer wholly independent advice to whisky collectors: “We offer a suite of services ranging from authentication and valuation of bottles through to advice on buying casks and building your collection.”

Isabel Graham-Yool, founder of Wisgy

Unlike other companies in this space, Wisgy doesn’t buy or sell any whisky itself – so its advice is far less likely to be influenced by an ulterior motive. “It’s great there’s finally an independent authentication for spirits,” says Berry Bros & Rudd ’s commercial manager for spirits, Sam Philipps. “It’s long overdue.”

There has been a growth of shouty, self-styled experts in whisky social media Dr Nick Morgan

The process of authenticating a bottle is complex, says Graham-Yooll, “so I will be working with a pool of experts ranging from distillers, valuers and collectors to crime agencies and fraud specialists.” Techniques such as carbon dating and chromatography have their part to play in authentication, she says, but they need to be tempered by experience. Some of the experts she’s working with will be coming out of retirement, and many worked previously in the trade. “Often what you want is that person who was around when that whisky launched, or who was the person who actually distilled or bottled it,” she continues. “They’ll say something like, ‘Oh yes, I remember they printed too many labels for that whisky, and sold off the remainder [which would never happen today] which explains why it’s the right label but on the wrong bottle; or because of a printing glitch a few dozen labels had the wrong abv on them.’ One might say: ‘That capsule looks a bit loose, or that distiller only ever did that whisky as a 10-year-old – a 12-year-old never existed.’ Often the company themselves don’t have records and these are the only people who actually remember it. You also need that network to establish who you’re buying from and what their track record is.”

Dr Nick Morgan – formerly head of whisky outreach at Diageo and author of A Long Stride, the definitive guide to Johnnie Walker – will be one of Wisgy’s expert witnesses. A protagonist in the creation of Diageo’s sought-after Special Releases series, Morgan has spent a lifetime working with some of the world’s most collectible Scotch whiskies. (An academic by training, he also wrote a forensic critique of the Blair Castle case that makes for a great read.)

Bar chart of Performance by average price (£)  showing The top 10 premium single malt Scotch whisky brands

“The rapid growth of the secondary market for whisky over the past 10 years has seen many businesses employ relatively inexperienced staff to help with the authentication of old and rare bottles, and there has been a similar growth of shouty, self-styled experts in the world of whisky social media,” says Morgan. “On the one hand expertise has been democratised, on the other it has been severely diluted and diminished. Wisgy offers the hard-won knowledge and experience of genuine industry veterans, learned over decades in the heart of the industry.”

Graham-Yooll’s nose for a fake has helped lead to the arrest of whisky fraudsters and criminals, including one who had amassed a bogus collection worth tens of thousands of dollars. But while counterfeits may grab the headlines, she says, whisky theft is actually the bigger problem. And as a consequence, Wisgy also offers the trade alerts on stolen, as well as fake, whiskies known to be in circulation.

“A lot of the time, though, what clients are seeking is reassurance,” she says. “For example I’ve got one person in the States who has 12 beautiful whiskies and a person in the UK I know would love to buy them, and they don’t know each other, and I’m basically there to say, ‘Trust each other, you’re both fine.’” (Fees are POA, but you can expect to pay around 10 per cent on a successful transaction.)

The number of bad actors is small, she says – but it’s still a case of caveat emptor . “Never buy bottles from social networking sites,” she says, “it’s the equivalent of buying off a bloke in the pub! Always buy spirits from reputable sellers that are authorised to sell alcohol and have strict anti-fraud measures in place. And do your research,” she adds. “At the very least, look at past prices and compare bottles with ones that you know to be genuine – some of this can be done online. Or pay someone else to do that for you.”

And remember that old adage: “If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is.”

@alicelascelles

Promoted Content

Follow the topics in this article.

  • Food & Drink Add to myFT
  • Beer and spirits Add to myFT
  • HTSI Add to myFT
  • Alice Lascelles Add to myFT

International Edition

IMAGES

  1. The Scotch Whisky Experience, Edinburgh

    scottish whiskey tour

  2. 7 of the best Scottish whisky distillery tours

    scottish whiskey tour

  3. Scotland Whisky Tour from Edinburgh: Review, Itinerary & Tips

    scottish whiskey tour

  4. 10 of the most beautiful Scottish whisky distilleries

    scottish whiskey tour

  5. Edinburgh Whisky Tour in Edinburgh

    scottish whiskey tour

  6. Scotland Whisky Distillery Map

    scottish whiskey tour

VIDEO

  1. whiskey tour in Kentucky

  2. Why does Scotland make so much whisky? #shorts #whisky #scotland

  3. Scottish Tour Guides Favourite Whisky

  4. Mark, Tim And Digger Are Excited For The Whiskey World Tour

  5. Irish Cream & Scottish Whiskey

COMMENTS

  1. Guided Whisky Tours in Scotland

    Sample delicious whiskies whilst we whisk you around distilleries. The REAL Scotland. Knowledgeable & friendly drivers. Stress-free, personal tours. Tasty local cuisine in friendly places. Luxurious and homely accommodation. Whether you feel like a weekend of whiskies or a tour getting right into the heart of our whisky, we're the people for you.

  2. Scottish Routes

    This tour takes you to a Scottish island paradise. Islay is home to stunning scenery, ancient history, traditional culture and nine of Scotland's finest whisky distilleries. Book Now. Learn More. From £1515. Islay. 5 days.

  3. Scotland's Whisky Map

    Explore Scotland's whisky distilleries with our interactive map! Browse 100s of whisky distilleries, from Edinburgh to Inverness. Try a Scots whisky tour today. ... There are many fantastic Scottish whisky tours to enjoy. Discover the art of constructing the barrel and find out how the master distillers craft the flavour to absolute perfection ...

  4. Whisky Tours in Scotland

    Tour theme: Edinburgh Day Tours (Group Tours), Whisky Tours. , Duration: 1 Day - 9 hours 30min approx. Starts from: Edinburgh. Day Tour to Loch Lomond Tour and Stirling Castle from Edinburgh, including a Whisky stop at Clydeside Distillery. Castles, lochs and whisky, a perfect day out.

  5. Scotland Whisky Tours 2024

    Hadrian's Wall, Roman Britain & the Scottish Borders - 1 day tour; Discover Malt Whisky - 1 day tour; Highland Lochs, Glens & Whisky - 1 day tour; Outlander Adventure - 1 day tour; Distilled & Bottled: A Journey of Local Flavours - 1 day tour; 2 - 4 day tours from Edinburgh. View all; Loch Ness, Inverness & the Highlands - 2 day tour; Whisky ...

  6. 10 of the best whisky distillery tours in Scotland

    Tours make it possible to mix (and keep) your own unique blend. The two-pagoda distillery is atmospheric, with many of its stones snatched from neighbouring 15th-century Milton Castle. Stay Isla ...

  7. Distillery Tours

    Scotland's distilleries are just a click away, but first please confirm that you are of legal drinking age in your country of residence. Once inside you'll be spoilt for choice with a comprehensive list of Scotland's distilleries from which you can use the Find Out More button to book tickets and tours. You can also plan your next whisky trip ...

  8. The Scotch Whisky Experience

    Tours. The perfect journey through the world of Scotch whisky. We are storytellers; passionate about sharing with you our love for Scotch whisky and Scotland. Take one of our tours to widen your knowledge, explore flavours and create whisky memories. Book a tour Book a tour.

  9. Whisky Tours Scotland

    Scotch Whisky is world-famous for its smokey, peaty, and smooth flavors, and with over 120 active distilleries around the country, you'll not be short of ideas of where to visit on your private tour.. Our bespoke Scotch Whisky Tours allow you to experience the art and craftsmanship of Scotland's world-famous whisky brands and regions - soaked in history and legend.

  10. THE TOP 10 Scotland Distillery Tours (UPDATED 2024)

    A: The best Distillery Tours in Scotland according to Viator travelers are: Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe & Pitlochry Tour from Edinburgh. Stirling Castle and Whisky Very Small Group Tour from Edinburgh. The Ultimate Whisky Experience from Edinburgh.

  11. Scottish Whisky Tours

    Our departures can be from all over Scotland. Have a look at our Whiskywheels Scottish Whisky tours page. Let us know your requirements via 07549 839 684 (UK)or +19299230210 (USA)CLICK HERE TO WHATSAPP USA ONLY or [email protected]. CALL TODAY. WHAT WE DO FOR OUR SCOTTISH WHISKY TOURS.

  12. Scotland Whisky Tours & Distillery Packages : Nordic Visitor

    Whisky Tour Packages in Scotland. Embark on a flavourful journey with these Scotland whisky tours. Discover the rugged Highlands, visit Celtic castles and savour the finest Scotch. Trips include accommodation, local transport, 24/7 support, and more. view tours.

  13. Malt Whisky Trail

    The Malt Whisky Trail is a uniquely immersive whisky experience — but the journey you'll take along The Trail is about so much more. As you embark along the road through malt whisky country, you'll encounter a huge variety of sites to see and things to do. You'll find globally renowned textiles mills, cosy seaside cafes, and world-class ...

  14. Whisky Tours of Scotland

    With Scotch Grand Tour, you can choose from a variety of luxury Whisky tour travel experiences designed to cater exclusively to your needs and preferences as a discerning Scotch whisky enthusiast. Our combined knowledge of Scotch whisky is unparalleled and our wealth of contacts in the industry ensures that we can offer exclusive access to ...

  15. Scotland Whisky Tour

    Classic Whisky. This Scottish whisky tour gives you a comprehensive taste of the range and variety of Scottish single malts with a driving route around the distilleries of the Lowlands, Highlands, Speyside & Islands. The tour itinerary isn't just about whisky and the driving route features some of the most scenic roads through the Highlands and ...

  16. Scottish Whisky Tours by Ronnie Berri

    The 3 night/4 day tour was beyond the amazing distillery visits and whisky tastings. He shared his extensive knowledge of all of Scotland's diverse distilleries through his private collection and deep knowledge of the history. There was also time for great scenic visits, Scottish history, distillery politics/ownership/blender info and much more.

  17. The Beginner's Guide to a Scottish Whisky Tour

    Make a list of Scotland's whisky regions. Though a small country, Scotland has more than 120 whisky distilleries spread across five distinct whisky-producing regions, each one slightly different from the other. Which whisky region you should tour depends on what flavour profile you like most, how much time you have, and whether or not you ...

  18. 7 of the best Scottish whisky distillery tours

    Premier Tour - A walking tour of Campbeltown, a visit to three distilleries, a sample of whisky drawn from the cask and lunch.Price: £75 per person Frank McHardy Tour - Four hours with whisky industry legend Frank McHardy, tour of both Glengyle and Springbank, and a selection of Frank's favourite whiskies from each distillery.Price: £100 per person

  19. Four-Day Islay Whisky Tour

    Slainte Mhath, as they say in Gaelic. Day 4. After a final hearty breakfast, you catch the morning ferry back to Kennacraig. Arriving on the mainland, you head to the loch-side town of Inveraray. This is the seat of the Clan Campbell, home to the Loch Fyne Whisky shop and your stop for lunch.

  20. Scottish Whiskey Tours

    Book a whisky distillery tour of Scotland with Scottish Whisky Tours, the experts in whisky hospitality and tastings. Enjoy the Scottish welcome, the best whisky and the stunning scenery of Scotland. Find out more about the whisky subscription box and the Autumn Distillery Tours.

  21. Whisky and Castle Tour

    Scotland is world renowned for its ancient castles, breath-taking scenery and of course its biggest export, our wonderful whisky. On your bespoke, private tour, you will live the history of iconic castles, absorb the natural beauty of our countryside and indulge in world class handcrafted whiskies from our special selection of distilleries.

  22. Two Scottish distilleries named as top attractions for 2024 at World

    The World Travel Awards - dubbed the 'Oscars of tourism' - have been announced for 2024 and two Scottish distilleries plus a number of hotels have triumphed.. The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery, located in Muir of Ord, has been named Scotland's Leading Distillery Tour 2024 and The Glentlivet was named Scotland's Leading Whisky Distillery Tour 2024

  23. Two Scottish distilleries named as top attractions for 2024 at World

    The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery, located in Muir of Ord, has been named Scotland's Leading Distillery Tour 2024 and The Glentlivet was named Scotland's Leading Whisky Distillery Tour 2024.

  24. Scottish tourism toasts whisky's growing contribution

    In 2022 Scotland's 70-plus whisky visitor centres collectively became the country's top visitor attraction with two million people passing through their doors, narrowly nudging the National ...

  25. Scotland's number one whisky distillery tour crowned at 'Tourism Oscars

    Scotland's top whisky distillery tour has been crowned as part of a prestigious award ceremony dubbed 'the Oscars of tourism'. Earlier this week, the winners of the annual World Travel Awards were ...

  26. Woodburn: Monstrous beauty at Loch Ness

    Like John Muir's Scottish boyhood home-turned-museum in Dunbar, "The Writer's Museum" on the historic Royal Mile in Edinburg was once a three-story residence. Dating to 1622, as Lady Stair ...

  27. Four Scottish castles tour from Edinburgh , small group tours 2024

    Scottish whisky and castles tour - private tour. Four castles tour of Scotland. Game of Thrones and Outlander tours. Custom tours of Scotland are also available. Informatie coronavirus. Deze onderneming heeft bevestigd dat ze het Safe Travelsprotocol van de World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) heeft geïmplementeerd en dit naleeft. Het ...

  28. On the trail with the whisky detectives

    Meet the sleuths sniffing out the fakes. "World's oldest whisky found in Scottish castle to be auctioned" read the Whisky Auctioneer release sent out to press late last year, following the ...