Scottish Whisky Distillery tours - any must do's ??

[autofocus]

Hi there,

I am heading up to Scotland in August for a couple of weeks.

I will be heading to the Lakes Distillery in Cumbria on the way up and then have a motorhome for 10days to tour Scotland.

I work in the spirits industry so have many contacts at most of the distilleries and will be trying to avoid the tourist tours and have something a little more behind the scenes where I can.

Current plan is as follows: -

Tuesday 9th August
Drive from home to Lakes Distillery at Bassenthwaite Lake for visit
Spend Tuesday locally

Wednesday 10th August
Drive from Bassenthwaite to Perth to collect Motorhome - 3 hours approx
If got time in the afternoon head to Famous Grouse Experience. This is 30 mins from where we collect the Motorhome.
After this we are heading down to Islay.
Spend the night overnight somewhere en route

Thursday 11th August
Deanston Distillery
Auchentoshan Distillery
Head for Ardrossan

Friday 12th August
Ferry Ardrossan to Broderick
Day on Arran
Visit Arran Distillery
Night on Arran

Saturday 13th August
Ferry Lochranza (Arran) to Claonaig
Drive to Kennacraig
Ferry Kennacraig to Port Askaig
Night on Islay

Sunday 14th August
Day on Islay
Bruichladdich
Caol Ila
Bowmore
Laphroaig
Lagavulin
Ardbeg

Monday 15th August
Day on Islay
Bruichladdich
Caol Ila
Bowmore
Laphroaig
Lagavulin
Ardbeg
Ferry from Port Ellen to Kennacraig
Departs 6:15pm
Spend the night in Kennacraig.

Tuesday 16th August
Kennacraig to Dalmore Distillery should take around 4.5 hours
Do Oban Distillery on the way up
Spend the night locally to Dalmore distillery

Wednesday 17th August
Dalmore Distillery in the morning
Head over to Speyside in the afternoon for Benromach

Thursday 18th August
Distilleries to visit in Speyside, inc Balvenie
Thursday night Speyside

Friday 19th August
Head to Pitlochry
And Edradour
Poss Aberfeldy as well
Night in local area

Saturday 20th August
Head back to drop Motorhome off
Afternoon drive to Edinburgh via Kingsbarn Distillery

Saturday afternoon and night in Edinburgh

Sunday 21st August
Edinburgh for Festival ?
Plus distillery tours Pickerings and Edinburgh Gin
Night time in Edinburgh

Monday 22nd August
Checkout and drive home

How does that sound as a plan.

Anything I have missed ?

Please feel free to add your input as this will be something I may not do again so want to make sure I pack in as much as possible.

Regards

Tim

[Podie]

Not sure you could do more than one tour in a day. I was absolutely stfaced after each one.... or are you not drinking?

If going to Balvenie, join Warehouse 24 before hand.

Aberlour "casks from the past" is a nice alternative to a tour, as they are a bit samey after a while.

Whatever you do, book before hand with every distillery.

[Adam Ansel]

You will hate whisky after that. The distilleries really are not that dissimilar to one another.

Edradour is nice because it is so small and pretty. I enjoyed Talisker and Glenfarclas most. Some distilleries are very geared up for it and it is touristy with no access to the people who make the stuff. Others are much more informal and you can chat with the makers.
Any whisky enthusiast going anywhere near Edinburgh should drop in in Cadenheads on the Royal Mile. They really understand. It is like Alladin's cave, there is an interior view on Google Maps to amaze. Once in there is so much that it takes you a while to get your bearings!

Move this image around: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Cadenhead+Whis...

Edited by Adam Ansel on Monday 15th February 09:58

[Catz]

The Kennacraig to Dalmore journey is likely to take you about 6 hours, especially in a motorhome at that time of year.

That's the thing with a lot of Scottish roads, the distance might not seem far but the reality is that journeys take a bit longer than expected in more rural areas.

[Podie]

Adam Ansel said:

Any whisky enthusiast going anywhere near Edinburgh should drop in in Cadenheads on the Royal Mile. They really understand.

Good shout. Also a good one in Dufftown.


It depends what the objective is... is it to see as many distilleries as possible? (largely once you've seen one you've seen them all), to drink as many as you can? or to buy a bottle from as many as you can?

In some cases, you can just buy a distillery bottle from the gift shop (Glenfiddich, Glenglassaugh) whereas others you need to go on a tour (Balvenie, Aberlour)

[haggishunter]

I wouldn't spend the night in kennacraig it's just a man made island with a ferry terminal. Drive to Tarbert just up the road or Lochgilphead or Oban if you have the time. There's some nice places to eat in Oban.

[Blown2CV]

i'd suggest you read "raw spirit" by Iain Banks! Firstly it will give you a guide to the unusual and interesting, and secondly it will tell you that you probably don't want to be taking on that many in one trip. Some tips from me:

• Arran is great stuff.
• Ardbeg is amazing and so is the food.
• don't bother with Lakes just yet, their product is too young
• don't go to the same places more than once (or was that a mistake in your itinerary?)

[autofocus]

Podie said:

Not sure you could do more than one tour in a day. I was absolutely stfaced after each one.... or are you not drinking?

If going to Balvenie, join Warehouse 24 before hand.

Aberlour "casks from the past" is a nice alternative to a tour, as they are a bit samey after a while.

Whatever you do, book before hand with every distillery.

Hi,

Many thanks, will be sampling but only tiny amounts as to stay well within the drink drive limits.

I have joined Warehouse 24, thanks for the tip.

Will look at the Aberlour tours not sure we will be there on the right day for the Casks from the Past tour but will try.

Regards

Tim

[autofocus]

Adam Ansel said:

You will hate whisky after that. The distilleries really are not that dissimilar to one another.

Edradour is nice because it is so small and pretty. I enjoyed Talisker and Glenfarclas most. Some distilleries are very geared up for it and it is touristy with no access to the people who make the stuff. Others are much more informal and you can chat with the makers.
Any whisky enthusiast going anywhere near Edinburgh should drop in in Cadenheads on the Royal Mile. They really understand. It is like Alladin's cave, there is an interior view on Google Maps to amaze. Once in there is so much that it takes you a while to get your bearings!

Move this image around: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Cadenhead+Whis...

Edited by Adam Ansel on Monday 15th February 09:58

Many thanks, don't forget I sell this stuff day in day out so it will take quite a bit for me to hate Whisky.
This trip is more about the history of each of the distilleries and the craftsmanship that goes into making the liquid.

Planning on tapping up most of my contacts to get the non tourist tours for that little bit of difference.

Will be sure to check out Cadenheads, thanks for the tip.

Regards

Tim

[autofocus]

Catz said:

The Kennacraig to Dalmore journey is likely to take you about 6 hours, especially in a motorhome at that time of year.

That's the thing with a lot of Scottish roads, the distance might not seem far but the reality is that journeys take a bit longer than expected in more rural areas.

Thanks, that should be ok as I was planning on taking a slow drive up there so 6 hours will not affect my plans to much.

Regards

Tim

[autofocus]

Blown2CV said:

i'd suggest you read "raw spirit" by Iain Banks! Firstly it will give you a guide to the unusual and interesting, and secondly it will tell you that you probably don't want to be taking on that many in one trip. Some tips from me:

• Arran is great stuff.
• Ardbeg is amazing and so is the food.
• don't bother with Lakes just yet, their product is too young
• don't go to the same places more than once (or was that a mistake in your itinerary?)

Hi thanks,

Will look out the Iain Banks book.

I need to go to the Lakes as I sell their Gin and Vodka (as part of my day job) and have been promising to go for quite a while

Will make sure to do Arran and Ardbeg, thanks for the heads up.

No mistake in the itinerary if you mean the fact 14th/15th are the same just haven't decided which to do on which day but want to try and fit in as many as possible.

Regards

Tim

[Blown2CV]

autofocus said:

Blown2CV said:

i'd suggest you read "raw spirit" by Iain Banks! Firstly it will give you a guide to the unusual and interesting, and secondly it will tell you that you probably don't want to be taking on that many in one trip. Some tips from me:

• Arran is great stuff.
• Ardbeg is amazing and so is the food.
• don't bother with Lakes just yet, their product is too young
• don't go to the same places more than once (or was that a mistake in your itinerary?)

Hi thanks,

Will look out the Iain Banks book.

I need to go to the Lakes as I sell their Gin and Vodka (as part of my day job) and have been promising to go for quite a while

Will make sure to do Arran and Ardbeg, thanks for the heads up.

No mistake in the itinerary if you mean the fact 14th/15th are the same just haven't decided which to do on which day but want to try and fit in as many as possible.

Regards

Tim

the gin and vodka will be good i'm sure! Whisky needs a touch longer in the wood IMHO.

[VTECMatt]

It does need longer, how ever I really enjoy it, we serve it at our hotel and it sells well, might be down to the fact we are local though. Would be a hard sell outside the lakes IMHO.

[Captain Benzo]

not many nice places to stay near Dalmore, if you can make it south to aviemore, glenmore is a nice campsite and aviemore has some excellent places to eat. then you are nearer to speyside for aberlour.

Old Pulteney in Wick would be a good trek, however Wick is a sthole (what has one eye and fking stinks?) - i grew up there.

enjoy the roads, no point in rushing when you can take in the scenery.

[FredericRobinson]

If you're heading north from the lakes Annandale isn't much of a diversion off the M74, only problem is the distillery has only just re-opened after a century so they're not making anything worth drinking for a few years yet

[autofocus]

FredericRobinson said:

If you're heading north from the lakes Annandale isn't much of a diversion off the M74, only problem is the distillery has only just re-opened after a century so they're not making anything worth drinking for a few years yet

Hi there,

Great shout this and fits in with my route. Really interested in anything like this so will make sure to add it onto our itinerary.

Regards

Tim

[Podie]

Not whisky, but the Seafood cafe at Loch Leven is fab.

Shame you're not in a car, as the road around it is pretty good....

[FredericRobinson]

autofocus said:

Hi there,

Great shout this and fits in with my route. Really interested in anything like this so will make sure to add it onto our itinerary.

Regards

Tim

Despite driving past twice a day I've still not been myself, if I manage it before August I'll let you know

[ClassicMercs]

That's a lot in 10 days - a full week just about covers Islay and Jura at a leisurely pace. But the van will make a big difference.
Grouse is fun - Deanston is a very good choice.
I personally would try to head to Campbeltown as others have mentioned for Springbank/Cadenheads (but beware - they are different - malt/distil/malt/distil - they alternate every three months with some downtime as well).
With possibly no night spent on Arran - dependant on Ferry times. (Our first Springbank visit was as 350 mile day trip from Perth !)
Kilchoman would be nice - small scale - and like Springbank you get to see their wee bottling room.
See the Eagle if you head towards Bunna.
I would personally bypass Oban and head up to Speyside/Highland. As mentioned Aberlour is a must. Dalmore's wood room is a good addition in recent times. Glendronach, to get a bottle of the Managers cask.
AnCnoc/Knockdhu - phone to arrange - Gordon will take you up to the top of the worm tubs (everyone else is H&S crazy now) - and prepare to park up until you are legal. Cash preferred in locals only cupboard / shop.
If you want to go way north - Wolfburn. The early quality of the spirit - its all in two new warehouses. (Another 400 mile day trip we did from Forres)
And another to arrange as a special - Ardmore - with retired manager from the days of family ownership.
Edradour - in August - good luck. Back to front tour, and prepare to be pushed along in the shop to make way for the next group (despite the fact you might still be browsing ready to decide what to buy - arrrgh!)
For the way home - Glenkinchie - have a re-discovered model of a distillery from The Great Exhibition - stunning model.
Sign up to Diageo ''friends'' for free / cheaper tours.
Option 2 - save some and do it all again next year. It may also be worth ringing around to check who might be in their silent season / summer shutdown - and make a decision based on that as well.

[ErnestWorthing]

6 distilleries in 2 days on Islay is really pushing it. I'd aim for 2 a day at a push.