7. Classic five day whisky tour

Scotland can be broken into four geographical regions when looking at whisky characteristics. This tour will visit all four of these regions and allow the all important tasting time!  In very broad terms the following descriptions are accurate:

The Lowlands – whiskies from Lowland distilleries tend to be soft and light in character. They often display very malty, grassy characteristics and subtle delicate aromas

The Islands - The islands produce very robust whiskies with coastal influences.  More specifically Islay produces peaty, smoky tasting malts, in particular the distilleries located on the south coast of Islay.

Speyside – this famous area of land located to the north west of Aberdeen produces mellow, sweet, malty and particularly fruity malty whiskies.

Highlands – these whiskies range from dry and heathery to sweet and fruity - some even have a touch of smoke due to their proximity to the west coast.

DAY 1 (Lowlands)
Edinburgh – Glengoyne Distillery - Loch Lomond – Mull of Kintyre

Afternoon minicoach travel from Edinburgh to Mull of Kintyre.  On the way we stop at the Glengoyne Distillery.  Situated in a wooded valley in the southern Highlands the distillery has been producing a high quality single malt for nearly 200 years. After a tour and a dram we visit the ‘bonnie banks’ of famous Loch Lomond before travelling to our hotel for dinner and rest. Stay overnight at the Columba Hotel.

DAY 2 (Islay)
07.00 Ferry to Islay – Distillery Visits

Today is spent travelling around the beautiful island of Islay, such a popular destination for whisky lovers from all over the world and an essential part of any Scottish whisky tour. Islay malts are famous for their distinctive peaty flavour and all seven distilleries are open to the public.  Choose from three or four of the following:

Caol Ila - magnificent views over the Sound of Islay

Bunnahabhain - views towards Colonsay and Mull from this distillery at the north end of the island. Bunnahabhain is also home to the popular Black Bottle, a blended whisky containing all seven Islay Malts.

Bruichladdich - a delicate, smooth malt with a hint of peat.

Bowmore - the oldest distillery on Islay. One of only a few producing its own floor malted barley, still hand turned using traditional wooden shovels.

Ardbeg - once a notorious haunt of whisky smugglers. Ardbeg is one of Islay’s most robust and powerful malts.

Lagavulin  - this distillery on Lagavulin Bay is commanded by Dunyveg Castle, once home to the Lords of the Isles.

Laphroaig   - Laphroaig means ‘The beautiful hollow in the broad bay’ in Gaelic, and visitors to the distillery on the south-eastern shores of the island will see why. Stay at the Port Charlotte Hotel.

DAY 3 (Sightseeing)
10.15 Ferry to Oban –Commando Memorial (Ben Nevis viewpoint) - Loch Ness - Elgin

Today is spent travelling by ferry and minicoach to Speyside, home to 58 distilleries, more than half the total in Scotland!  The ferry briefly stops at the Isle of Colonsay and we arrive in Oban early afternoon.  After a quick lunch we drive towards Fort William before turning north-east towards Loch Ness.  On our way to the world’s most mysterious stretch of water we stop at the Commando Memorial, with its famous view towards Ben Nevis.  Our ‘monster stop’ at Loch Ness will allow time for photographs and then its onwards to Inverness before coming to rest in Elgin for our overnight accommodation. 

Elgin offers a number of attractions aside from being close to the distilleries:

Elgin Cathedral - http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/elgin/cathedral/index.html
Pluscarden Abbey – www.pluscardenabbey.org
Johnstons of Elgin – www.johnstonscashmere.com
Baxters of Speyside – www.baxters.com

Stay at the Mansion House Hotel.

DAY 4 (Speyside)
Speyside Distillery Visits – Elgin

Today we follow the ‘Malt Whisky Trail’ and fully sample the delights of Speyside whisky. Choose three or four visits from the following:

Benromach – the smallest working distillery in Speyside
Cardhu – a subtle whisky often described as ‘silky’
Dallas Dhu – a Victorian distillery
The Glenfiddich – the world’s favourite single malt (admission free).  The Connoisseurs' Tour is £15 per person.  An in-depth tour followed by a tutored nosing of at least five whiskies from the Glenfiddich range, minimum 2.5 hours.
Glen Grant – a crisp, fresh malt (admission free)
The Glenlivet – complimentary dram (admission free)
Glen Moray – lovely location on the banks of the River Lossie
Strathisla – home of Chivas Regal and the oldest working distillery in the Highlands
Speyside Cooperage – multi-award winning cooperage with visitor centre

Stay at the Mansion House Hotel.

DAY 5 (Highland)
Dalwhinnie Distillery – Edradour Distillery – Edinburgh

As we travel South through Speyside it doesn’t take long before we reach Dalwhinnie, the highest distillery in Scotland.  This very distinctive white building is in a high, remote location at the head of Strathspey and is a well-known landmark for drivers on the A9.

Continuing south into Highland Perthshire we visit the Edradour Distillery (admission free), Scotland’s smallest.  Its picturesque setting in a valley (or glen) above Pitlochry is a perfect way to finish our tour before returning to Edinburgh.

Our drive South takes us across the Forth Road Bridge with stunning views of the famous Forth Rail Bridge.  Opened in 1890 it is 2.5 kms long and was one of the major engineering achievements of the Victorian age. The bridge took seven years to build, and more than fifty men were killed during its construction.  The contractors used 55,000 tons of steel and eight million rivets to complete one of Scotland's most impressive landmarks.

BACK