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Grantown-on-Spey Accommodation
You can spend your whole holiday touring the whisky distilleries in Scotland
Glenfiddich is probably the most famous Scottish malt whisky distillery in the area
Woodland walks to Glen Grant Distillery
What better way to stock up on your whisky collection than buying it direct from the distillery
Cardhu Distillery - originally flavoured by baking aromas!
The classic distillery - Strathisla Distillery home of Chivas Regal whiskiesGrantown-on-Spey Speyside Accommodation Scotland Whisky Distilleries Tours
Speyside is the heart of whisky distilleries in Scotland. There are so many that you could end up spending your whole holiday just touring around them. They are an attractive part of the Speyside countryside with their distinctive pagoda towers jutting out of the pines.
Most distilleries offer tours with a taste of the whisky on the way. They are all slightly different due to the malting process and the water used. Make sure you have a designated driver if you're planning a few tours though!
Speyside Malt Whisky Distilleries - Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival
The Speyside area of Scotland is most famous for the many distilleries that are based in the area. The Malt Whisky Trail takes in some of the well known ones but there are a lot more, many of which offer their own distillery tours.
There are more whisky distilleries in this part of Scotland than you could imagine. Many use the water from the peaty River Spey in the distilling process which gives the whiskies their distinctive taste.
The annual Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival attracts thousands of visitors every year. It is usually held around May. The purpose of the festival is to celebrate everything to do with whisky and the culture surrounding it. Hundreds of events are put on all over the Speyside area including tastings, masterclasses by industry experts, dinners and ceilidhs.
Some of the distilleries that don't normally open their doors to visitors put on special tours and tastings as part of the Whisky Festival. Many of the towns including Tomintoul, Glenlivet, Dufftown, Aberlour, Craigellachie and Elgin take part in the festival. Check the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival webpages for up-to-date information. Link right.
The Malt Whisky Trail Speyside
The Malt Whisky Trail is a road signposted trail around the Speyside area that takes you to a variety of well-known distilleries and a cooperage where they make the barrels.
Check the website for a map of the distilleries included and the trail as well as some handy whisky tasting tips.
Alternatively you can plan your own Whisky Trail by checking which Distilleries offer tours. Just make sure a non-whisky lover is doing the driving!
Speyside Whisky Distilleries
The Aberlour Distillery is set on the junction of two rivers, the Spey and the Lour. Spring water from the River Lour is used in its whisky making process. Aberlour Distilery run tours at the following times: Winter: Nov-Mar Mon-Fri: Tour at 10.30am, shop 9.30am-4pm. Summer: Apr-Nov Mon-Sun: Tours at 10.30am and 2pm. Shop: 10am-4pm. Aberlour Distillery, Aberlour Banffshire, AB3 9PJ. Tel: 01340 881249. Fax: 01340 871729.
Visits to Glenfiddich distillery are free. Each visit starts with a film about the history of the Distillery followed by a tour around the whisky making operations. For an in-depth tour you can book onto the Connoisseur Tour Groups of twelve or more are asked to book in advance. Tours run on Mon-Sat: 9.30am-4.30pm. Sun: 12pm-4.30pm. Visitor Centre Telephone Number: 01340 820373
The Balvenie Distillery is the only distillery where you can bottle your own whisky, direct from the cask, in the warehouse. They also run personal tours with a maxiumm of eight people on each tour. on Mon-Thurs 10am and 2pm. Fri 10am only. You need to book on the Balnevie tours for which there is a fee. You can request a tour online from their website or by contacting them direct. The Balvenie Distillery, Dufftown, Banffshire AB55 4DH. Tel: 01340 820 373. Email: info@balvenie.com
Cardhu Distillery was in large part influenced by the women of the Cumming family who fist set up an illicit still at Cardhu farm in 1811. Helen Cumming looked after the mashing and fermenting processes. She hid the illicit still by passing off the aromas as bread making if customs officials came to investigate giving them tea while she snuck out and flew a red flag to warn others. Their daughter in law, Elizbeth Cumming, was considered the most accomplilshed distiller of her time. You can find out more about the history of Cardhu through their regular tours - Winter: Oct-Easter Mon-Fri: 11am-3pm. Tour times: 11am, 1pm, 2pm. Summer: Easter-June Mon-Fri: 10am-5pm; Jul- Sept Mon-Sat: 10am-5pm, Sun 12pm-4pm. Closed between Christmas and New Year Last tour one hour before closing times. Cardhu Distillery, Knockando, Morayshire. Tel: 01340 872555 Fax: 01340 872556.
More Speyside Whisky Distilleries
Glenfarclas Distillery has been managed by the Grant family since 1865. It houses the largest pot stills in Speyside. The distillery run guided tours and has a Visitors Centre where you can try a compliemntary dram. Visitor Centre open: Apr-Sept Mon-Fri 10am-5pm. Jun-Sep Sat: 10am-4pm. Oct-Mar Mon-Fri: 10am-4pm. Glenfarclas Distillery, Ballindalloch, Banffshire, AB37 9BD. Tel: 01807 500209. Fax: 01807 500234. Email: info@glenfarclas.co.uk. For details and group bookings call: Tel: 01807 500257 Email: imcw@glenfarclas.co.uk. Last tour of distillery leaves approximately 90 minutes before the stated closing times.
Glenlivet Distilery is situated on the River Livet which flows into the Spey. It was the first licensed distillery in Scotland. The distilery has a visitor centre with exhibition on the history of the distillery, shop and cafe. It holds an Open Day during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival with tastings and tours. Visitor Centre open: Apr-Nov Mon-Sat 9.30am-4pm, Sunday 12pm-4pm. Admission: free of charge. For details Tel: 01340 821 720.
The Macallan Distillery Visitor Centre is within the Easter Elchies Estate at Craigellachie. It has the smallest spirit stills in Speyside and its whisky is only ever matured in casks formerly used to store sherry from Jerez in Spain. During July the distillery enters the "Silent Season" when tours are not available in the distillery itself. You can also book onto a tutored tour of the Macallan range. Winter Hours: Nov-Easter Mon-Fri: 11am-3pm. Summer Hours: Easter-Oct Mon-Sat 9.30am-4.30pm, last regular tour 3.30pm. Closed Sun.
Strathisla Distillery is one of the most picturesque distilleries in Scotland with its cobbled courtyard and twin pagoda towers built in 1786. It produces the Chivas Regal range of whiskies first developed by the Chivas brothers. Winter Hours: Shop 9.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4pm. Summer Hours: Apr-Nov Mon-Sat 9.30am-4pm. Sun 12pm-4pm.
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