Scotland Peter Irvine’s the best
Distillery tours
Learn about the national drink with a stroll around these scenic distilleries – then enjoy a wee dram
Talisker, Carbost, Skye
From Sligachan–dunvegan road (A863) take B8009 for Carbost and Glen Brittle along the south side of Loch Harport. Since 1830 they’ve been making this classic after-dinner malt from barley and the burn that runs off the Hawkhill behind. The “Classic Tour” is inexpensive, informative and has a dram in it. Good visitor centre.
The Glenlivet, near Tomintoul
Starting as an illicit dram celebrated as far south as Edinburgh, George Smith licensed the brand in 1824 and founded this distillery in 1858, registering the already mighty name so anyone else had to use a prefix. In 1978 when Seagrams took over. Now owned by Pernod Ricard. The famous Josie’s Well, from which the water springs, is underground. Small parties and a walk-through make the
tour satisfying and as popular, especially with Americans, as the product. Excellent reception centre (very frequent tours) with bar/restaurant and shop; the tour on the website’s so good, you probably don’t need to go at all, though you won’t then get the dram in those hallowed surroundings.
Glenkinchie, Pencaitland
Fifteen miles from city centre; one of the most accessible distilleries. Founded in 1837 in a pastoral place watered from the Lammermuirs, two miles from village, with its own bowling green – a trip to the country and a range of whisky tours! “Whisky in the Wild” tour includes both.
Highland Park, Kirkwall, Orkney
A mile from town on main A961 road south to South Ronaldsay. The whisky is great and the award-winning tour one of the best. The most northerly whisky in a class and a bottle of its own. You walk through the floor maltings and you can touch the warm barley and fair smell the peat. Good combination of the industrial and the traditional (and the Viking hype).
Peter Irvine is the author of the essential travel guide Scotland the Best published by Collins, priced £15.99