Top 10 Scotch whisky distilleries to visit

Scotch whisky distilleries may be in the midst of a tourism boom, but which highly rated sites should dram fans should put on their bucket lists?

These are the top 10 most highly rated Scotch whisky distilleries to visit

According to the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), a record-breaking 1.5 million people visited Scotland’s Scotch whisky distilleries last year – an increase of 15% compared to 2010.

The SWA claims this reflects investment by producers to enhance their visitors’ centres, and create bespoke bottlings, tastings and blending sessions.

Collectively, Scotch whisky distilleries are now among some of the UK’s best-known attractions, such as Edinburgh Castle, Stonehenge and London Zoo.

With producers realising the enormous potential of tourism to grow awareness of their brands and also generate significant revenue, sightseers are spoiled for choice when it comes to narrowing down which sites to visit.

But, not to fear, help is at hand. We’ve scoured through the five star distilleries identified by Visit Scotland – Scotland’s national tourism organisation – which have been singled out for their outstanding services and experiences.

Of course the list is not exhaustive, with distilleries such as Bowmore, The Macallan, Oban, Aberlour, Glen Grant and more receiving the coveted five star ranking. For a full list of Scotch whisky distilleries and their tourism rankings, see Visit Scotland’s own extensive list.

Click through the following pages to discover the top 10 Scotch whisky distilleries to visit. If you think any deserving sites have been missed off this list, let us know by leaving a comment below.

 

The Famous Grouse Experience

Based at The Glenturret Distillery – thought to be the oldest working distillery in Scotland which was first officially established in 1775, with illicit production dating back to 1717 – The Famous Grouse Experience was recently named Whisky Attraction of the Year 2015. The distillery and visitors’ centre, owned by Edrington and located in Crieff, revealed a £250,000 refurbishment of its facilities last year, renovating the visitors’ café, shop, tasting experiences and welcome lounge. Only an hour’s drive from Glasgow and Edinburgh, the distillery offers a range of tour experiences, focusing on tasting, blending and maturing. The site received the royal seal of approval last spring when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were treated to their own private tour and officially opened the Bottle Your Own initiative.

Edradour Distillery

As one of Scotland’s smallest Scotch whisky distilleries, Edradour offers visitors a very different experience to some of the larger producers. First established in 1825, the distillery is described as the “last stronghold of traditional handmade single malt from a farm distillery”. Edradour does not use any computer technology in its whisky creation process, offering a unique insight into the traditional Scotch distillation process.

Strathisla Distillery

Owned by Chivas Brothers, Strathisla claims to be the oldest continuously operating distillery in the Scottish Highlands, having first been established in 1786 on the banks of the River Isla. The Highland distillery was bought by the French drinks giant at auction in 1950 and has since produced liquid principally for the Chivas Regal and Royal Salute blends. With its beautiful cobbled courtyard and double pagodas, the distillery is also considered one of the most picturesque in Scotland. The guided tour of Strathisla Distillery takes visitors through the bonded warehouses and includes a tutored tasting session. In addition to its regular tour (£7.50), the distillery also offers two separate tours for connoisseurs, The Ultimate Strathisla Experience (£50) and Straight from the Cask (£35).

Glenmorangie Distillery

Located by the idyllic coast of Dornoch Firth, the legendary Men of Tain have been producing single malts at the Glenmorangie Distillery since 1843. With access to both the distilleries and warehouses, expert tour guides give guests the opportunity to experience all stages of the whisky making process from mashing and fermenting to distilling and maturing, topped off with a dram or two of the finished product. A range of tours are offered to visitors from The Original – which leads guests around the distillery depicting the story of the flagship expression, Glenmorangie Original – to The Heritage Tour. On the Heritage Tour, visitors have the chance to experience a pilgrimage to the Tarlogie Springs – the brand’s own water source – a visit to the Hilton of Cadboll Stone and lunch followed by a tasting at the Glenmorangie House, including Glenmorangie Original, a variant from the Extra Matured Range and Glenmorangie 18 Year Old.

Auchentoshan Distillery

Founded in 1823, this Lowlands malt distillery is situated near Glasgow at the foot of the Kilpatrick hills with views spanning over the River Clyde. Six owners have taken the reigns of the Auchentoshan Distillery since its foundation, most recently Morrison Bowmore Distillers, which acquired the facility in 1984 and has since given the establishment a significant refurbishment. A whole range of guided tours to suit every price point – The Classic Tour costs just £6 for a whole hour – are offered, to cater for the whisky novice and enthusiast alike. Other more advanced tours allow visitors to sample whiskies straight from the warehouse casks – a privilege normally reserved for the master blender and distillery manager. Plus, as an extra pull for those looking to get close with nature, there is the chance to meet the distillery’s highland cow, Hamish. 

Highland Park Distillery

Britain’s most northerly distillery is certainly worth the trek. Located just outside Kirkwall on the Isles of Orkney, Highland Park is one of the few remaining distilleries retain a traditional malting floor, so the hand-turning process is a must see. The sight and smell of the traditional peat kilns are a feast for the senses, and the old, stone buildings make for an authentically atmospheric setting. Highland Park celebrates its Norse roots through its expressions (including the recently launched Odin) so it’s fitting that the distillery focuses on its heritage through a slick video presentation introduction. Add in the whisky and the warm welcome of the visitor centre and it’s easy to see why the guest experience ranks so highly.

Glenfiddich Distillery

One of the rarities of Glenfiddich that sets it apart from other Scotch whiskies today is that it is one of the few single malt distilleries that remains completely family-owned. Situated in Dufftown, Scotland, visitors to the distillery are immersed in the brand’s family heritage and able to explore the still house and whisky warehouses. Each tour is rounded off with a tutored nosing and tasting of a carefully chosen selection of Glenfiddich’s single malts. The more in-depth tours include the Pioneers Tour, which includes a visit to warehouse number 12 which houses the Malt Master’s Selection. The range comprises four casks specially chosen by sixth malt master Brian Kinsman, and those taking part in the tour are invited to fill a 200ml bottle from a cask of their choice as a momentum from the tour. But before you leave, make sure you stop by to sample the culinary delights at the Malt Barn, headed by award-winning chef Addy Daggert, or for a dram in the Malt Barn Bar, which boasts the largest selection of Glenfiddich whiskies in the world.

Glenkinchie Distillery & Visitors’ Centre

Just a short ride from Edinburgh – the distillery even operates a shuttle bus service – Glenkinchie is set in a picturesque location, surrounded by rolling barley fields. A model distillery on the original malting floors gives visitors an insightful overview, before a full distillery tour details the production process in full. The tasting bar comes highly recommended, as does the gift shop and outside seating area – the perfect place to relax after a couple of drams of this classic lowland malt.

The Glenlivet Distillery

Described by the brand as “the single malt that started it all”, The Glenlivet distillery was founded in 1824 by local farmer George Smith who obtained the first license to produce whisky “legally” in the parish of Glenlivet, and has operated near enough continuously since. Nestled deep in Speyside, the distillery has a total of 15 stills, and is currently ageing more than 65,000 casks. The distillery offers an immersive experience for whisky history lovers of all kinds – whether you’d rather capture the rich past of the glen in the warmth of an indoor exhibition in the visitors’ centre, or take to the land surrounding the site and trail through the historical landmarks on a self-guided walk. If you’d rather focus on the here-and-now, a guided tour of the distillery – which includes a visit to one of the brand’s bonded warehouses and a complimentary dram – is essential, while taking up the opportunity to fill your own bottle of whisky straight from the cask is a real treat.

Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery

Aberfeldy Distillery was founded by John Dewer & Sons Ltd in 189, and is the “flagship” visitor centre out of the five distilleries owned by the company. It lies just three miles from the birthplace of founder John Dewar, and relies on the fresh water stream Pitilie Burn which runs alongside the distillery.
The heritage centre, Dewar’s World of Whisky, features a film show, interactive displays – including an “aroma test” to challenge visitors – handheld audio guides, whisky tastings, and memorabilia charting the development of the Dewar’s brand.
 A distillery tour will unlock the conventional aspects of whisky production, including mash tuns, production methods and ageing warehouses – but with the added bonus of a disused steam train in the grounds that used to transport the whisky to the railway line running from Inverness to Perth.