Distillery tours, Aberdeenshire area

[8bit]

Few of us fancy doing one of these later this summer and making a day of it. We're all in Aberdeen but happy to go somewhere that's not too long away on the train or shortish bus journey. Any suggestions as to which ones are good? We do all like a nice whisky, not just looking to get boozed up by lunchtime etc.

[mikecassie]

Glen Garioch is in Oldmeldrum, thats the closest Distillery I know to Aberdeen. It'd be easy to get a bus there and back.
Further afield is Glenfiddich in Dufftown, that was a good tour but it seems the buses go to Elgin, so a train to Elgin first or you'd need a designated driver now we've the new tighter drink drive regs.
Aberlour did a nice tour too, with a taster of 6 different drams. This is closer to Elgin and on the same bus route as Dufftown.

HTH

Mike

[Rickeh]

I'd second glen garioch. Me and a few friends did their extra tasting thing, where they paired whiskies with cheeses and got to go to their seperate whisky tasting snug. Well worth it.

Glendronach isn't that far is it?

[BorkFactor]

A bit further afield, but the one at Aberlour is fantastic. Lots to see and lots to taste, lovely setting too.

[ALBA MELV]

Strathisla Distillery in Keith then take the Keith to Dufftown railway and then do Glenfiddich and Balvenie.

Train from Aberdeen to Keith
The walk from Keith station to Strathisla will take 5 mins max
Strathisla tour
Short wander through Keith to Keith town station
Train to Dufftown
More drams at Glenfiddich and Balvenie
Try and remember to get the train home!

Keith is my home town so I'm maybe a bit biased.


http://www.maltwhiskytrail.com/pages/view/strathis...
http://www.keith-dufftown-railway.co.uk/
http://www.glenfiddich.com/uk/distillery/
https://www.thebalvenie.com/

Edited by ALBA MELV on Friday 29th May 22:28

[thewifescar]

Up Deeside to Lochnagar (bus to Crathie) or south to Fettercairn (train to laurencekirk)

[mikecassie]

Rickeh said:

I'd second glen garioch. Me and a few friends did their extra tasting thing, where they paired whiskies with cheeses and got to go to their seperate whisky tasting snug. Well worth it.

Glendronach isn't that far is it?

No it's close by, between Forgue and Largue, unsure on buses to there so a taxi from Huntly might be the easiest way to get there.

[164 coupe]

ALBA MELV said:

Strathisla Distillery in Keith then take the Keith to Dufftown railway and then do Glenfiddich and Balvenie.

Train from Aberdeen to Keith
The walk from Keith station to Strathisla will take 5 mins max
Strathisla tour
Short wander through Keith to Keith town station
Train to Dufftown
More drams at Glenfiddich and Balvenie
Try and remember to get the train home!

Keith is my home town so I'm maybe a bit biased.


http://www.maltwhiskytrail.com/pages/view/strathis...
http://www.keith-dufftown-railway.co.uk/
http://www.glenfiddich.com/uk/distillery/
https://www.thebalvenie.com/

Edited by ALBA MELV on Friday 29th May 22:28

You beat me to it with Strathisla, being a ex Keith loon too!

[Webdunk]

ALBA MELV said:

Strathisla Distillery in Keith

Did the premium tour here recently. It was excellent albeit predictably corporately polished. Good range of drams alongside the usual tour. Lovely drawing room to sit in too and sample other drams from the Chivas portfolio.

Benriach just outside Elgin offers tremendous value for a tour. It must be pre-booked and have a min of 4 on the tour. A really warm, friendly, informal tour and incredibly generous in the drams that are offered. Good selection of unusual stuff in the shop after too.