• Home
  • About
    • Who We are
    • Affiliates
    • Disclosures & Guidelines
    • FAQs
    • Privacy Notice
  • Funding Your Travels
    • Banking on the Road
    • Credit Cards in Our Wallet
    • Spending
  • Contact
    • Media
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Partnership Opportunities

i should log off

log off and live!

  • Travel & Planning
    • Travel Reflections
      • Good, Bad & Ugly
      • Re-Entry
    • Travel Resources
      • Travel Tips
      • Travel Bloggers
    • Reviews
      • Gear
      • Operators
      • Travel Clothing
    • Travel Gear
      • Cameras
      • Danny’s Clothes
      • Electronics
      • Health & Hygiene
      • Jillian’s Clothes
      • General Gear
  • Destinations
    • Travel Guides
    • Africa
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Lesotho
      • Kenya
      • Malawi
      • Morocco
      • Mozambique
      • Namibia
      • South Africa
      • Sudan
      • Swaziland
      • Tanzania
      • Uganda
      • Zimbabwe
    • Asia & Oceania
      • Armenia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Georgia
      • India
      • Kazakhstan
      • Laos
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uzbekistan
      • Vietnam
    • Caribbean
      • Antigua
      • Cuba
      • Jamaica
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
    • Europe
      • Armenia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Czech Republic
      • France
      • Georgia
      • Germany
      • Hungary
      • Italy
      • Spain
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Mexico
      • USA
    • Middle East
      • Egypt
      • Israel
      • Jordan
      • Oman
      • Turkey
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Bolivia
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
      • Uruguay
  • Weekend Adventures
    • Cycle
      • Pastimes
        • Beer & Wine
        • Books
        • Cooking
        • History & Culture
    • Dive & Snorkel
    • Hike
    • Trek
    • Whitewater
  • Photos
    • Photo of the Day
  • Family Travel
You are here: Home / Destinations / Scotch Tours in Scotland

Scotch Tours in Scotland

September 25, 2011 By Guest Blogger

Like Edinburgh castle and Burell collection in Glasgow, Scotch is virtually an international symbol of Scotland. The liquor is in fact named for its home –where it’s been brewed arguably since the fifteenth century. Fortunately you don’t have to return to the Scottish monastery where the first brew was recorded to get a taste of the genuine thing, the distilleries are easily accessible from Glasgow or Edinburgh. Make an apartment in Edinburgh your home base, using websites like Wimdu, enjoy one of the many Edinburgh pubs, and branch to the highlands from there.

Glenlivet Distillery, Scotland whisky tour

If you’re a connoisseur, your first stop on a tour of Scotland’s whisky distilleries should be Speyside. Speyside is Scotland’s Whisky Country in the north-eastern highlands. More than half of Scotland’s distilleries make their home in the region, including some of the major Scot whisky distilleries such as Glenfiddich and Balvenie. It’s a gorgeous area with dolphin watching and golf for those that have had too much scotch. A popular and well-trod route, the region’s Malt Whisky trail will take you through the legendary Scotch distilleries, many of whom sit along the River Spey. You’ll find a significant number of the more sophisticated single malt scotch whiskies in this area. Increasingly these companies are opening up to tours of their facilities, if no individual tour is available, check to see whether group tours are allowed.

scotch whisky barrels in scotland

Besides Speyside, Scotland has other famous Scotch whisky producing regions: the Lowlands, the Highlands, Islay and Campbeltown. Islay, an island just off the western coast of Scotland, has eight Scotch distilleries and is home to an annual cultural festival which takes place in May. Scotch whisky from the lowlands is generally deemed simpler and better for beginners, something to keep in mind if you’re traveling with a bigger crowd.

There are over 125 distilleries in Scotland spread out across the country. If you’re serious about your scotch whisky, check out this detailed Scotch Distillery Map, which gives information on each and every distillery. Most organized Scotch tours will start in the lowlands, conveniently where both Glasgow and Edinburgh are located, so truly you don’t have to go too far to visit distilleries. Several of the multi-day organized tours from Glasgow stay at atmospheric bed and breakfasts along the way, a nice touch to the whole experience. If you stay at a bed and breakfast in Glasgow you might even have the opportunity to share a Scotch whisky or two, or three with your host!

IF YOU GO: Organized Scotch whisky tours generally run out of Glasgow, but you’ll find many of the distilleries offer tours themselves. Visit Scotland has a great set of itineraries and activities along the Scotch whisky route that’s worth a peak before you visit.

This article produced in collaboration with Adam G. of Wimdu who is a graphic designer traveling around the world. He enjoys doing things and seeing places all over the world.

Filed Under: Destinations, Europe, Headline, United Kingdom Tagged With: scotland, tours, whisky

Comments

  1. Caanan @ No Vacation Required says

    September 27, 2011 at 10:13 pm

    I just drooled on my keyboard. Sign us up!

    • Jillian says

      September 28, 2011 at 5:53 am

      I had a feeling you guys would enjoy this one!

  2. robin says

    September 28, 2011 at 6:06 am

    As an Irishman I of course frown upon this inferior beverage…

    • Jillian says

      September 28, 2011 at 5:40 pm

      haha! Lead us on a tour of Irish Whisky dear friend- what is the suggested route?

  3. jamie - cloud people adventures says

    September 28, 2011 at 7:28 pm

    and i thought i got drunk on a wine tour! this is a whole new level. i wonder if there are vodka tasting tours in russia? this post has really opened my mind up to endless possibilities (and potential headaches!).

    • Jillian says

      September 30, 2011 at 7:51 am

      I know, it would be difficult to stay on the stool during this tour 🙂

  4. Red Nomad OZ says

    September 29, 2011 at 8:53 pm

    Wow! That’s a new take – but it probably won’t catch on downunder here in OZ! Beer tours on the other hand …

    • Jillian says

      September 30, 2011 at 7:52 am

      I’ve done a few beer brewery tours, but never a day long or multi-day brewery trip. What part of Oz is the brewery capital?

  5. jenjenk says

    September 30, 2011 at 8:39 pm

    i just discovered an appreciation for scotch!! this is great!!! yet another thing to add to my bucket list…

    • Jillian says

      October 2, 2011 at 7:25 am

      fun! Any favorites?

  6. Iain Miller says

    October 19, 2011 at 8:16 am

    Another international symbol of Scotland – http://www.travel-wonders.com/2011/05/irn-bru-scottish-wonder-drink.html

    • Danny says

      October 19, 2011 at 8:40 am

      Now is that wonder drink added to Vodka or used to cure hangovers 😉

      • Iain Miller says

        October 19, 2011 at 10:00 am

        It really doesn’t matter if it’s on its own or if you add vodka, either work as hangover cures.

Connect With Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Featured Posts

Our Bucket List
How We Travel For Free
$ Travel Tips

Recent Comments

  • Barbara on Kayaking Kauai’s Na Pali Coast
  • Lori Hubbard on Review: Eneloop Batteries and Charger
  • TK on The Trouble with Philadelphia

Banking on the Road

It can be very hard to keep track of your finances while you're on the road long-term. Be sure to check out how we took care of our finances while traveling and feel free to email us any questions you have.

Adventure Guides

Torres Del Paine
China Adventure
Uzbekistan Overland
Egyptian Odyssey
Malaria
Argentina Adventure
DIY African Safari
South Africa Guide
Bolivia by Bus
How-To African Visas

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright 2008-2015 · All Rights Reserved · Contact I Should Log Off · RSS · Partner With Us · Privacy