Cheers! Slange var! No visit to Scotland is complete without a wee dram or two of the Uisge Beatha, the “water of life”. A Whisky Distillery guided tour with a professionally qualified Blue Badge Tourist Guide is simply a must for all Whisky novices or those with a more experienced nose!
Whisky has been distilled in Scotland for hundreds of years and “Scotch” is now Scotland’s most famous export and the aperitif of choice across the world.
Our professional Blue Badge tourist guides can design a whisky tour to suit your very own personal palate; as every Scotch connoisseur knows there are more than just geographical differences between the Scottish Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside or Islay malts; every region and distillery produces its own, unique ‘single malt’ (eg Glenfiddich or Glenmorangie), while usually contributing to the popular ‘blends’ from more than one distillery, such as world-leading Johnnie Walker.
There are umpteen distilleries to choose from with a concentration in the remote Highlands, where illicit operations in hidden ‘glens’ (valleys) used to avoid the tax man! Speyside alone is home to nearly 50 distilleries, many of which are open to the public including the Macallan, Glenfiddoch, Aberlour and Glenlivet.
Our specialist guides can take you to the extraordinary small island of Islay (pronounced “aye la”) off the west coast. This small island is home to no fewer than nine distilleries – the oldest, Bowmore, dates back to 1779 – with more to come as the popularity of ‘Scotch’ reaches around the globe. The peaty soil and the salt spray from the sea here gives a smoky, dry and briny strong taste to the local whisky which is not for the faint hearted!
For visitors whose time is confined to Edinburgh, the city now has a ‘Johnnie Walker’ themed attraction, while right next to the city’s famous Castle is the Scotch Whisky Experience. The city of Glasgow has its own recently opened distillery, Clydeside, typical of the opening of new distilleries across the country to cater for growing international demand.
Explore Scotland’s finest distilleries (old and new) either as part of a specific Whisky Tour, or combine with a fascinating heritage tour of Scotland’s most stunning locations.
Get ready for a taste of a ‘wee dram’ and raise a glass in the old Gaelic language – Slange var! (written as ‘Slàinte Mhath’) meaning Cheers! or Your Health!
