WHISKY-STOP TOUR

Blair Bowman checks out some of Scotland’s finest whisky tours to suit all budgets and levels of interest

Blair Bowman tries out the best whisky tours

For whisky aficionados looking to get fully immersed in whisky and experience more than just a standard hour-long tour, many of Scotland’s distilleries now offer packages that would suit someone looking to stay for a short break or long weekend. From a half day to a full day, three days to a full week, there are packages on offer to suit all budgets and levels of interest and immersion.

If you want to get a more ‘outside the box’ experience of a whisky distillery and learn more about the history of the surrounding area, including fantastic examples of collaborations with local businesses and suppliers on their doorstep then I can strongly recommend ‘The Legends of the Garioch’ tour at Glen Garioch Distillery in Oldmeldrum.

I don’t want to give too much away as the half-day experience is full of fantastic surprises, but as well as a behind-the-scenes tour of the Aberdeenshire distillery you will get to visit locations in the surrounding area that played a part in the distillery’s history with surprises dotted along the way.

The half day concludes with a ‘sensory adventure’ lunch at Meldrum House Hotel (no spoilers, but it is pretty special and like nothing I’ve seen before). This really is a unique and superb whisky tour, which is priced at a very reasonable £150 per person and includes all the drams, a selection of surprises, transport to various locations in the area and lunch.

Meldrum House Hotel also features an impressive ‘cave bar’ in an 800-year-old part of the house. If I was you I’d park the car at the hotel before the tour starts. That way you can enjoy a dram or two and stay the night. You’ll thank me once you’ve tried the fresh butteries (aka rowies) with Glen Garioch marmalade served at breakfast.

If you are looking for something more hands-on when it comes to whisky production, then I’d suggest you try the Whisky School at Strathearn Distillery near Methven in Perthshire. Earlier this month I took part in the three-day whisky school, and as well as helping to make the new spirit for their whisky I also got to help make gin. Depending on which days of the week you are there, different parts of the whiskymaking or gin (or even rum) making process are taking place. You get to spend each full day with the head distiller and can really geek out.

It was great fun getting to muck in and press buttons, hose things down, fill casks, rouse the mash, fill the grist hopper and every other job in between. You’ll even get to help unload two tonnes of malt in 25kg bags. If this sounds like your kind of thing then the three-day course costs £550 per person and includes lunch each day. It has been especially popular with people looking to set up their own distilleries and the team at Strathearn are more than happy to share their knowledge and expertise.

If three days of whisky-making isn’t enough for you, then five days at the Springbank Whisky School in Campbeltown might be what you are looking for. I’ve heard very good things about this course, but it is notoriously tricky to get a space. They only run it one week per year and it books up very quickly. The five-day tour costs £1,200 and includes lunch and accommodation.

Be prepared to put in the work though – as one of a few distilleries that hand malt their barley, you are expected to chip in or let them know in advance if you have any health conditions that might not allow you to participate fully. Make sure you pay attention too as there is a test at the end of the week.

If you aren’t so fussed about making whisky yourself but want to boost your knowledge then the Speyside Whisky School’s threeday course just before the start of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, which features lectures and visits to distillers each day, is immensely popular. Be quick though as there are only 16 places available each year. Priced at £600 per person it includes all site visits, course materials and lunch each day.

If you are an Islay whisky fan then you could try the Islay Whisky Academy, which is run over five days. As well as lectures in the mornings and distillery visits in the afternoons you’ll get to try your hand at cutting peat. Priced at £1,200 per person it includes accommodation on Islay.

So what are you waiting for? If you want to get on any of these courses you’d better be fast as they book up quickly. I can’t think of a better way to spend a short break in Scotland.

“You’ll thank me once you’ve tried the fresh butteries with Glen Garioch marmalade