Top Whisky Experiences in Speyside

A distillery tour is a great way to learn how whisky is made, understand some of the rich culture and history surrounding it, and taste a few drams. Lots of distilleries offer tours, but the tour at The Balvenie is probably the best in Scotland.

Nestled behind the modern buildings of Glenfiddich, Balvenie has been producing whisky the traditional way since 1893. They claim to be the only distillery that still practices all 5 of the Rare Crafts on-site: growing barley, malting barley, coppersmithing, coopering and blending.

The full tour takes around 3 hours: starting with a welcoming cup of tea and a bite to eat, your guide will then show you around the whole site. The guides here are excellent - many of them were trained by David Stewart, the distillery's Malt Master, who developed the modern technique of finishing whiskies in the 1980s.

On the malting floor, fresh barley is gently heated until it germinates and then needs to be turned regularly to dry it out. Most malt is made in dedicated factories with modern machines these days, but here you'll get to see how it always used to be done: by hand on large open floors.

At the cooperage, skilled workers maintain the wooden casks for ageing the whisky. Scotch whisky is usually aged in casks that have previously held something else (often Bourbon or Sherry) - but these second-hand containers need a lot of maintenance, including the dramatic charring process to re-invigorate the wood: they literally set fire to the cask to improve the flavour of the whisky!

Coppersmiths maintain the stills, which is an incredibly specialised job. Balvenie is known for being one of the only places where you can still learn this rare craft as an apprentice.

At the end of the tour, you'll get to taste a whole variety of Balvenie whiskies. Make sure you're not driving home afterwards (we always arrange a taxi or chauffeur for our guests...).

Tours are limited to 8 people and only run twice a day - so book early to avoid disappointment!

Arriving at Tormore, you could be forgiven for thinking it dated from the 1800s - in fact it was built in 1958. Designed by the architect Sir Albert Richardson, this remarkable distillery was granted listed building status in 1986, despite being less than 30 years old at the time!

Over the years, the copper roof has weathered to a deep green, which sits perfectly in the minimalist gardens surrounding the buildling. Despite the formal appearance, the architect clearly had a sense of humour: there's even a clock which plays a different Scottish song every quarter of an hour.

Tormore is only open to the public for a couple of days each year during the Spirit of Speyside whisky festival. Amazingly though, you can stay in one of beautiful white cottages right next door.

Macallan have been making whisky since 1824, but in 2018 they rebuilt the distillery. The new buildings are undoubtedly the most dramatic of any whisky producer in Scotland. The architects, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, have won multiple awards for this stunning building which is cut into the hillside above the River Spey.

To go with the new distillery, a new range of onsite experiences have been launched. The Macallan Mastery Experience ranks up there with the top whisky activities anywhere in the world. Starting with a welcome dram at the Whisky Wall, you'll then enjoy a two-course lunch with wine at the on-site Elchies Brasserie.

After lunch, you will be led on an in-depth production tour through the distillery before being guided through a tutored tasting of a carefully curated selection of Macallan whiskies in the iconic Cave Priveé.

You will then be invited to The Macallan Bar to enjoy a Macallan whisky flight. Finally, your knowledgeable guides will be available to offer personal shopping assistance in The Macallan Boutique after your experience concludes.