FREE INSIDE: SCOTCH WHISKY DISTILLERY GUIDE
Highland
THE Highland region is geographically the largest Scotch Whisky producing region. The rugged landscape and changeable climate, and in some cases, coastal locations, are reflected in the character of its whiskies, which embrace wide variations. As a group, Highland whiskies are rounded, robust and dry in character, with a hint of smokiness/peatiness. Those near the sea carry a salty tang; in the far north the whiskies are more notably heathery and slightly spicy in character; while in the more sheltered east and middle of the region, the whiskies have a more fruity character.
Aberfeldy Distillery (John Dewar & Sons Ltd) Aberfeldy, Perthshire PH15 2EB Tel: 01887 822010 www.dewars.com
Steeped in history and craftsmanship, since 1898 their stills have produced the beautifully balanced Single Malt whisky at the heart of dewar’s Scotch. distillery tours take place daily (not Sunday from november-March) and include access to their atmospheric warehouse and heritage centre.
Abhainn Dearg Distillery (Abhainn Dearg Distillery) Carnish, Isle of Lewis HS2 9EX Tel: 01851-672429 www.abhainndearg.co.uk
Abhainn dearg distillery (pronounced aveen Jarraek), is located in Uig on the outer hebridean Isle of Lewis. They don’t have ancient stills, granite storehouses or computerised processing. abhainn dearg is new, literally hand-made and unlike anything you have seen before. Tours for £3 per person are available Monday-Saturday during summer and Monday-Friday in the winter.
Ardnamurchan Distillery Adelphi Distillery Ltd Glenbeg, Ardnamurchan, Argyll PH36 4JG Tel: 01972 500285 www.adelphidistillery.com
on the shores of Loch Sunart, the ardnamurchan distillers opened in July 2014. Tours from £7 are available daily from Monday-Friday. See website for times.
Isle of Arran Distillery (Isle of Arran Distillers) Distillery Visitor Centre Lochranza KA27 8HJ Tel: 01770 830264 www.arranwhisky.com
Lochranza in arran really is perfect location for producing the perfect Malt. It is home to the purest water in Scotland and the island’s warm microclimate is ideal for the speedy maturation of single malts. Tours from £7.50 are available daily. closed January.
Balblair (Inver House Distillers) Edderton, Tain IV19 1LB Tel: 01862 821273 www.balblair.com
The Balbair tour gives visitors an insight into their pursuit of producing the finest quality Vintage Malt Whisky, using methods that have changed very little over the years. In the Time capsule room, visitors can learn more about the history and experience the sights and sounds of particular years in the past when Balblair Vintages were created. Tours from £6 available Monday-Saturday from april-September and Monday-Friday from october-March. Booking required.
Ben Nevis (Ben Nevis Distillery Ltd) Lochy Bridge, Fort William PH33 6TJ Tel: 01397 700200 www.bennevisdistillery.com
Established in 1825, Ben nevis distillery is one of the oldest licensed distilleries in Scotland. The distillery is nestled at the foot of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben nevis. This imposing peak provides an impressive background to a traditional Scottish craft. open all year. Tours from £5.
Blair Athol (Diageo) Pitlochry, Perthshire PH16 5LY Tel: 01796 482003 www.discovering-distilleries.com/blairathol
Blair athol distillery stands at the gateway to the highlands in the picturesque Perthshire town of Pitlochry. Take a distillery tour and see how they make our uisge beatha from golden malted barley, water and yeast, distilled in our traditional copper pot stills and matured in oak casks where the angels’ Share is lost to evaporation during the maturation process. Tours from £7 available daily from March-december. Monday-Saturday during January and February.
Clynelish (Diageo) Brora, Sutherland KW9 6LR Tel: 01408 623000 www.discovering-distilleries.com/Clynelish
Clynelish distillery is the popular coastal holiday town of Brora, Sutherland. With beautiful views of the north Sea and the hills to the north, clynelish distillery produces a fruity, waxy, slightly smoky single malt. distillery tours from £6 are available from Monday-Friday from october to May and Monday-Saturday from June to September
Dalwhinnie (Diageo) Dalwhinnie Inverness-shire PH19 1AA Tel: 01540 672219 www.discovering-distilleries.com/dalwhinnie
Located in the cairngorm
Whisky is liquid sunshine
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW, PLAYWRIGHT AND CRITIC
Whisky has made us what we are. It goes with our climate and with our nature. It rekindles old fires in us, our hatred of cant and privilege, our conviviality, our sense of nationhood, and, above all, our love of Scotland
R.H. BRUCE LOCKHART, JOURNALIST AND SECRET AGENT
National Park, Dalwhinnie Distillery is the highest in the land. Its tours and tastings offer something a little different – a range of classic Single Malts paired with specially selected luxury highland chocolates. a match made in heaven. tours from £8.99 are available daily all year. Booking is advised.
Deanston (Burn Stewart Distillers Ltd) Deanston, By Doune Perthshire FK16 6AG Tel: 01786 843010 www.deanstonmalt.com
the distillery first opened as a cotton mill in 1785. With the industry in decline and the mill closing its doors in 1965, it heralded a new beginning for the community. When the distillery formally opened in 1967, a new craft was born. tours from £8.50 are available daily all year. Booking is advised.
Edradour Distillery (Signatory Vintage) Pitlochry, Perthshire PH16 5JP www.edradour.com
Dating back to 1825, edradour still hand makes single malt whisky from its farm distillery. Retaining authentic smallscale production, edradour uniquely boasts more than 25 distinctive expressions of highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky with their wonderful characters and flavours. tours from £7.50 are available from april to October, Monday-Saturday.
Fettercairn Distillery (Whyte and Mackay) Fettercairn, Laurencekirk AB30 1YB Tel: 01561 340244 www.whyteandmackay.com
Fettercairn Distillery and is tucked away at the foot of the cairngorms, from which it takes spring water supplies. this area is one of Scotland’s most fertile regions, which is why Fettercairn produces a balanced malt whisky with a fine character. tours from £2 are available from Monday-Saturday.
Glen Garioch (Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd) Distillery Road, Oldmeldrum Aberdeenshire AB51 0ES Tel: 01651 873450 www.glengarioch.com
One of the oldest operating distilleries in Scotland – and its most easterly – glen garioch (pronounced geery in the ancient Doric dialect) has been making its mighty malt in the quaint and historic market town of Oldmeldrum near aberdeen ever since 1797. tours from £7 are available daily all year. closed Sundays from October to May.
Glenglassaugh Distillery (BenRiach Distillery Company) Portsoy Aberdeenshire AB45 2SQ Tel: 0131 335 5130 www.glenglassaugh.com
Glenglassaugh is produced using the highest quality of Scottish barley and traditional distilling methods. Only the finest casks are selected to slowly mature their precious spirit in their coastal warehouses until it is ready. tours from £5 are available daily.
Glengoyne Distillery (Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd) Dumgoyne, Nr Killearn, Glasgow G63 9LB Tel: 01360 550254 www.glengoyne.com
the glengoyne tour starts with a dram of the glengoyne 12 Year Old, overlooking the waterfall and the secret glen where it all began. then you will follow the journey the sprit makes – through mashtun and wash backs to the swan necks of our copper stills. You’ll discover how they capture every ounce of flavour before they send the spirit to the cask. tours from £8.50 available daily all year. Booking required.
Glenmorangie Distillery (Glenmorangie Co Ltd) Tain, Ross-shire IV19 1PZ Tel: 01862 892477 www.glenmorangie.com
BY the tranquil shores of the Dornoch Firth you will find a warm highland welcome from the legendary Men of tain, the skilled craftsmen who ensure that glenmorangie is made in the same unhurried and uncompromising way it has always been through its long and distinguished history. tours from £5 are available daily from april-September. By appointment only October-February. Booking is advised.
Glen Ord Distillery (Diageo) Muir of Ord, Ross-shire IV6 7UJ Tel: 01463 872004 www.discovering-distilleries.com/glenord
Glen Ord distillery was founded in 1838, making it one of the oldest in Scotland. Situated on the edge of the Black Isle west of Inverness, glen Ord continues to malt its own barley and to use the long fermentation and slow distillation methods followed there for generations. tours from £6 are available all year round. check website for dates and times. Booking is advised.
Glenturret Distillery
(Edrington) The Famous Grouse Experience The Hosh, Crieff, Perthshire PH7 4HA Tel: 01764 656565 www.thefamousgrouse.com
Scotland’S oldest working distillery, since 1775. the distillery offers a diverse range of award-winning tours for visitors to discover how the distillery’s glenturret single malt is carefully blended with other grain and malt whiskies to create the UK’s No.1 whisky, the Famous grouse. tours from £10.
Harris Distillery (Isle of Harris Distillers Ltd) Tarbert, Isle of Harris HS3 3DJ Tel: 01859 502212 www.harrisdistillery.com
the hearach, being the gaelic word for an inhabitant of harris, is the name it has given to its defining single malt whisky. every drop of the hearach is distilled, matured and bottled here in the island. the distillery is open Monday-Saturday for visitors. Price is £10 per person.