Advice needed planning a Whisky tour for 2014 - where to go?

[autofocus]

Hi there,

Ok, so it's the big 40 for me next year.

Working in the drinks industry means I come in contact with lots of people from the various whisky brands and distilleries etc.

So to celebrate my 40th I am planning to head to Scotland and visiting some of the best distilleries up there. I reckon on a 5 day trip by car with just myself and my wife.

We are still relatively new to Whisky (being more into gin really) and are pretty keen to learn the different types, styles etc.
I have previously toured Edradour and also the one of the bigger distilleries (might have been Bells or similar in the Perthshire area) although this was about 10-12 years ago.

Would like to head to Islay for sure as it looks stunning so can you guys please suggest a route for the trip and the distilleries I should definitely visit ?

Thanks in advance.

Regards

Tim

[ClassicMercs]

It will have been Blair Athol you visited before, for the Bells tour. We managed to give the guide a tour Edradour wasn't much better - back to front and rude attitude in the shop as the coach tours took preference. I might have spent more if it wasn't for that.

I would head up a day before the Islay ferry and stay the night in Campbeltown. Time to visit Springbank so get there in time. The living casks in the Cadenheads shop can be rather good and represent value. The Indian just down the lane from Cadenheads is also very acceptable. We ended up in a farm B&B near Southend (only place with space for dogs).

Time to fit in anything else before then ?? Deanston is nice. Or Auchentoshan. I doubt there is time though. Although Loch Fyne Whiskies should be ok as you drive past. I'm told Glen Scotia is possible if you ask nicely, but never been there at the right part of the week.

The rest of the time can easily be taken up on Islay - and Jura if you want a day trip there.
Get yourself signed up for the Friends of Classic Malts before you go - and make sure your ''passport'' booklet arrives. Get free tours at the Diageo distilleries - which in turn means you get cheap upgrades to the better tours. The Lagavulin warehouse tour was an experience.
Which one would I miss out ?? Umm - hard. You need to tick them all off really - but all the south is a must. The best tours can be the one's when its only you - and they know you are not a ''tourist''. The guides get tired of giving the same tour and welcome an opportunity to do something a bit different. Less likely to happen on Islay than other areas.

If your hand is still steady there is plenty to get the camera out for.
We normally stay at Port Charlotte - again, places that take dogs. Claddach Cottage opening onto the beach is recommended (if you want self catering - just Google the name).

If you want anything more specific just ask. Only a handful of the distilleries we have NOT done. Each distillery experience will be determined by the guide - lucky dip. Your fellow visitors though can also make the visit an experience to remember.
You will need more than five days to start accumulating distillery numbers. A fortnight on Speyside always helps, and the willingness to drive big mileage each day (we once did a 350 mile day trip to Talisker - and the same for Old Pultney !).

Coming from your side, see if you can time Bladnoch, Arran ferry - and distillery, then across and down to Campbeltown. Not managed it myself despite juggling timetables. Must try and fit in a special visit to Bladnoch next year. <We did a special day trip to Arran, from Campbeltown - remember MrsMercs driving me too fast around Arran (@ 30 !! - poor passenger) - that was a good post tour tasting>.