Let's get the obvious one covered off first, then - Speyside is THE place for whisky in Scotland, and what a place it is!
The Malt Whisky Trail takes in eight distilleries (seven of which remain operational today) and the Speyside Cooperage, where whisky casks are still made according to traditional methods. If you can, go for the longer 'VIP' tour of the cooperage, where you'll get a much more in-depth insight into the process. The distilleries featured in the Trail are Glenlivet, Cardhu, Glenfiddich, Glen Grant, Strathisla, Glen Moray, Benromach and Dallas Dhu (the last of which is no longer working but provides an excellent insight into the history of whisky production in Speyside).
Whilst the Malt Whisky Trail is what Speyside is best known for, there are a great many other distilleries worth your time. The right ones to concentrate on will vary depending on your tastes and preferences, so check out our detailed guide to Speyside whisky to help you decide.
A couple of the cooler distilleries to visit include Macallan, where the architecture alone will immediately grab your attention. An engaging tour will take you through the entire production process. This is one of the grandest and most exciting distilleries in the whole of Scotland.
A tasting at Aberlour, guided by the knowledgeable team, is also not to be missed. Dufftown's Balvenie distillery offers a range of experiences to suit your available time and budget, and Glenrothes is another traditional Speyside site full of stories. One of the newer Speyside distilleries (commissioned in 2014), Ballindalloch, is located on the grounds of the castle of the same name. It offers private tours and sampling sessions by appointment only.
Many distilleries are only open to the public for a limited period during the annual Speyside Whisky Festival. But if you don't ask, you don't get - let us know if you're keen on a visit, and we'll see what we can do.
These are just a few examples of the visits, tours and experiences available in Speyside - when you book, we'll ask about your personal interests and your favourite whisky, and we'll use that to decide which distilleries are most likely to suit you best.
If you're looking to buy a particular variety of whisky, especially something rare, the best place to start is the aptly-named Whisky Shop in Dufftown. This stocks the classics, the specials and the weird and wonderful, and the knowledgable team will be able to advise you on new types to try according to your tastes and interests.
Distillery tours and tastings aside, there are some wonderful and well-stocked whisky bars in the region. Two of our favourites are The Still at the Dowans Hotel in Aberlour and the world-renowned Quaich bar at the Craigellachie Hotel, which boasts over 900 varieties of single malt!
With so much whisky around, self-drive itineraries in the region are not recommended. However, if Speyside is part of a longer multi-stop self-drive tour, we can arrange transfers to and from your distillery visits to allow you to take part in tastings to your heart's content! We can also offer fully chauffeured tours accompanied by a knowledgeable guide. You can use the Stagecoach whisky trail bus, which operates 7 days a week in July and the first part of August and connects all the main destinations on the trail.
If this has got you excited about whisky, then check out our guide to the top whisky experiences in Speyside!