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DillyT
Master Of Malts
Joined: 18 Oct 2017
Posts: 333
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 Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2019 12:38 pm Post subject: Scottish whisky tour |
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I have a about 5-7 days to take off work before the end of the year and I am thinking of having a drive around a few distilleries and I was just wondering where would you all think the best ones are for visitors?
Also which part has the most consecrated number of distilleries? as I am looking at parking my camper somewhere and riding my bike around so I do not get stuck at just one. |
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Brummie
Master Of Malts
Joined: 08 Feb 2010
Posts: 661
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| Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2019 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Speyside is the obvious suggestion but I would add if you have a personal preference for a particular whisky or style like say Islay that is going to be perhaps a more enjoyable destination/trip. |
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AB53Coo
Double Malt Member
Joined: 21 Oct 2018
Posts: 93
Location: Aberdeenshire
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| Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2019 1:02 pm Post subject: |
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Speyside is definetly a big hitter. Dufftown and aberlour area alone would give you plenty choice.
I'm head north this weekend to do glenmorangie, balblair and clynelish |
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DillyT
Master Of Malts
Joined: 18 Oct 2017
Posts: 333
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| Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2019 1:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Brummie wrote: | | Speyside is the obvious suggestion but I would add if you have a personal preference for a particular whisky or style like say Islay that is going to be perhaps a more enjoyable destination/trip. |
I was thinking of going to Campbeltown Via the Lakes distillery on the way up but then just as you said Speyside has loads in such a small area and I also have friends in Elgin. |
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Alexppp
Master Of Malts
Joined: 16 Jul 2010
Posts: 1791
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| Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2019 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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| AB53Coo wrote: | Speyside is definetly a big hitter. Dufftown and aberlour area alone would give you plenty choice.
I'm head north this weekend to do glenmorangie, balblair and clynelish |
Do let us know about your visit - I'd be particularly interested in how Balblair is and whether the distillery too has been affected by the recent premiumisation. I was there last year and thought everyone at Balblair was very welcoming and generous. (posted about it here: http://www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7488) |
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AB53Coo
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Joined: 21 Oct 2018
Posts: 93
Location: Aberdeenshire
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| Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2019 6:41 am Post subject: |
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| Alexppp wrote: | | AB53Coo wrote: | Speyside is definetly a big hitter. Dufftown and aberlour area alone would give you plenty choice.
I'm head north this weekend to do glenmorangie, balblair and clynelish |
Do let us know about your visit - I'd be particularly interested in how Balblair is and whether the distillery too has been affected by the recent premiumisation. I was there last year and thought everyone at Balblair was very welcoming and generous. (posted about it here: http://www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7488) |
Reading your review it seems nothing has changed. Due to tour times and our schedule we ended up doing the glenmorangie tour. Fortunately this week is the 1 week a year they are producing signet, so it was slightly different. Our tour guide was spot on and very knowladagble, answer all questions and was pleasant. Can't complain there were 4 distillery only bottles available. Port, sherry, red wine and extra mature bourbon finishes but all at around £500. Yikes
Headed over to balblair after that and we were the only people there. Far less corporate and once i explained balblair was the first whisky I enjoyed enough to buy a second bottle. And that I hadn't bought a balblair since they moved from vintages I was sampling they're new range. Bottled my own 13 year old single cask and left a happy chappy |
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havaska
Double Malt Member
Joined: 27 Nov 2016
Posts: 141
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| Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2019 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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| DylanInYork wrote: | | Brummie wrote: | | Speyside is the obvious suggestion but I would add if you have a personal preference for a particular whisky or style like say Islay that is going to be perhaps a more enjoyable destination/trip. |
I was thinking of going to Campbeltown Via the Lakes distillery on the way up but then just as you said Speyside has loads in such a small area and I also have friends in Elgin. |
The Lakes Distillery is lovely and well worth a visit. The bistro there does excellent food too. Also, don’t forget Annandale Distillery is just across the border and not far off the M6/A74(M). |
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Colonel_Blinky
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Joined: 19 Oct 2019
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| Posted: Sat Oct 19, 2019 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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| DylanInYork wrote: | | Brummie wrote: | | Speyside is the obvious suggestion but I would add if you have a personal preference for a particular whisky or style like say Islay that is going to be perhaps a more enjoyable destination/trip. |
I was thinking of going to Campbeltown Via the Lakes distillery on the way up but then just as you said Speyside has loads in such a small area and I also have friends in Elgin. |
I would definitely pay a visit to Campbeltown. 3 distilleries which are all within an easy walk I've been a couple of times and I'm a huge fan as the place just oozes whisky. We visited Glen Scotia first and if you're not that bothered about the tour, the visitor centre do a great tasting session, which turned out to be a bit raucous on our second visit. We had planned to go to the Cadenhead shop afterwards, but ended up going for a lie down! 
We end up in the Black Sheep Pub drinking lots of Springbank and visited Cadenheads the next day, which was very worthwhile. Maybe not a good idea to drive the next day though. |
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DillyT
Master Of Malts
Joined: 18 Oct 2017
Posts: 333
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| Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2019 11:40 am Post subject: |
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@havaska
Thanks I did not know there was a distillery there I will have a look at Annandale Distillery and see how my route works out.
@Colonel_Blinky
I was planning on spending a couple of days there and kipping in my camper to save on the cost so I hopefully buy an extra few bottles with the money 
My plan is, which ever distillery I am heading to I am going to park up somewhere near by maybe near a pub? and ride a bike to the distillery just so I am not stuck somewhere with no other transport.
I have always wondered how people go on the tours and then drive away, as I know I would be over the limit... |
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Alexppp
Master Of Malts
Joined: 16 Jul 2010
Posts: 1791
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| Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 12:47 am Post subject: |
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| Most distilleries give samples for drivers to take home so they don't have to drink there. (although I hear some of them make you pay for the sample bottles - not the case in any of the distilleries I've visited) |
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BigShing
Master Of Malts
Joined: 21 Feb 2019
Posts: 283
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| Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 1:26 am Post subject: |
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I really want to do a tour of Islay one year during Feis Isle, but I can never figure out when you are allowed to book rooms for that period at the few hotels on the island. I paid close attention this year and it seemed to go from being unavailable to book to fully booked for that week literally overnight. It's completely insane!
I reckon me and some friends will eventually make it into Scotland sometime in the next two years for a tour. I'm thinking Campbeltown for quality or Speyside for quantity! :D
I'd really love to visit Oban someday too. Looks about as picturesque as British towns get. |
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DillyT
Master Of Malts
Joined: 18 Oct 2017
Posts: 333
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| Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 1:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Alexppp wrote: | | Most distilleries give samples for drivers to take home so they don't have to drink there. (although I hear some of them make you pay for the sample bottles - not the case in any of the distilleries I've visited) |
That would be amazing if they do as there are some that I would love to go to but I know I will have to drive after so I have discounted them.. (also the bottles would be a big help as I have loads of bits of really nice bottles that I want to keep)
Also now the forecast is not looking good for the West coast I may have to change my plans and to the East coast which is looking better.. |
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Alexppp
Master Of Malts
Joined: 16 Jul 2010
Posts: 1791
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| Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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| They definitely do give samples for drivers, the only question is whether you have to pay extra for the sample bottles or not. |
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DillyT
Master Of Malts
Joined: 18 Oct 2017
Posts: 333
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| Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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As long as they are not more then a couple of pounds I would not mind as I would be keeping them for a very long time!
So which distilleries have amazing tours have you been to? I have been looking at a lot of them and some seem to have extensive tours and others seem to be basic (standard) |
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Alexppp
Master Of Malts
Joined: 16 Jul 2010
Posts: 1791
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| Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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I haven't been to Campbeltown so I don't know anything about visiting those distilleries I'm afraid. I've done tours at Glengoyne, Deanston and Tomatin and have also visited Balblair (see the above link), as well as flying visits to Glenmorangie and Dalmore. In all three distilleries I toured, my wife and friends did the basic tour and I did more advanced ones.
In the cases of Glengoyne and Deanston, the tours were exactly the same except I got more (and better) whiskies to try at the tasting in the end. At Tomatin I did the single cask experience, which was two and a half hours instead of the usual 1-1 and a half. It included visiting warehouses not open to the basic tour, and finished with a tasting of five single cask whiskies, all of which were available to bottle in the end. The guide was quite generous and also offered me samples from some of Tomatin's core range, as well as a miniature of the Tomatin 18 to take home. That tour cost £40 and it's definitely worth the money as it includes a lot, both in terms of touring and tasting (bottling the single casks is a separate cost though). I'm not saying you have to visit Tomatin in particular (indeed Glengoyne especially is a far more picturesque distillery), but I would use this kind of tour as a benchmark for what you can book elsewhere. |
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