Whisky Country
Speyside (Aberdeen & Grampian)
A warm welcome awaits you in Speyside - home to more than half of Scotland's distilleries. Our itinerary is a taster of Scotland's Whisky Country, taking you to seven distilleries and a 'cooperage'. Relax in Highland scenery, by the beautiful coastline or amongst historical towns and villages.
Day by day trip details
Benromach & Dallas Dhu
We start our tour at the Benromach distillery, on the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres. Benromach is the the smallest working distillery in Moray. Its distinctive near 100 foot red brick chimney rises high above the neat white distillery buildings below. Learn about whisky at a tutored nosing and tasting and enjoy the exhibition.
Also in Forres, Dallas Dhu is a perfectly preserved time capsule of the distiller's art. It was built in 1898 (the last distillery to be built in the 19th century) to supply malt whisky for Wright and Greig's 'Roderick Dhu' blend.
Stay in the pretty town of Forres, or in the historic cathedral city of Elgin.
Cardhu and Glen Grant
Whisky distilling had carried on in this area long before Cardhu was founded in 1824. The distillery is located at Knockando, west of Aberlour. A rich, full-bodied whisky with distinctive peat flavours, which comes in a bulbous bottle, and is also used in some of the well-known Johnnie Walker blends.
Founded in 1840, Glen Grant is unique in that is the only distillery named after its owners. Situated at Rothes, between Dufftown and Elgin, the distillery uses traditional wooden vats and large copper stills Sample its wares in a heather-thatched tasting pavillion set in attractive Victorian gardens.
Spend the night in Speyside's whisky capital, Dufftown, or the fine town of Grantown-on-Spey.
Glenfiddich and Glenlivet
Established in 1824 by George Smith, Glenfiddich distillery is just north of whisky central, Dufftown. Probably the best known of the malt whiskies, it also has the biggest and slickest of all the distilleries. It is a light, sweet whisky which comes in distinctive triangular bottles.
Glenlivet distillery is set in uplands ten miles north of Tomintoul. This famous name was the first licensed distillery in the Highlands, following the 1823 Act of Parliament that aimed to reduce illicit distilling and smuggling. The Glenlivet 12 year-old is a floral, fragrant and medium-bodied whisky.
Stay in the capital of Speyside whisky country, Dufftown, or south of Glenlivet in Tomintoul which stands at 1150 feet in the foothills of the Cairngorms.
Speyside Cooperage and Strathisla
On our final day on this tour of Speyside's charming 'Whisky Country', we drop in at the multi award-winning Speyside cooperage with its unique visitor centre, in Craigellachie. See highly-skilled coopers and apprentices practising their ancient craft. Each year 100,000 oak casks are used for maturing many different whiskies.
The Strathisla Distillery at Keith is the home of the Chivas Regal blend. Founded in 1786, Strathisla is the oldest working distillery in the Highlands. The buildings have changed little since then, from the old cobbled courtyard to the distinctive double pagodas, making it one of the most picturesque distilleries in Scotland.
Stay in the country town of Huntly, Buckie, on the Moray coast, or choose from many lovely places to stay in whisky country.
Places on route
Why not stop off at some of the following places of interest along your way?
