5 of our favourites: Scottish whisky tours

Anyone that has been to Scotland on a cottage holiday knows that there is an absolute wealth of fantastic things to do. One activity that always get visitors excited is a tour of the local distilleries. There really is no better way of experiencing traditional whisky making, with a distillery tour really giving a fascinating insight into the science behind it. So we’e going to take a look at some of the finest the auld country has to offer.

The Ben Nevis Distillery

Established in Fort William in 1825, the Ben Nevis remains one of the oldest licenced distilleries in Scotland. As the name suggests, it is nestled in the beautiful surroundings of Ben Nevis – Britain’s highest mountain, so is a perfect location for a spot of sight-seeing too.

Visitors can enjoy a full guided tour and a complimentary tasting session. Bottoms up!

The Famous Grouse Experience

This is claimed to be Scotland’s ‘premier’ whisky tour. Situated in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, Glenturret has been the home of the Famous Grouse brand for hundreds of years, and guests can enjoy the full milling, mashing, fermenting and distilling process happening right before their very eyes.

This distillery also has an interactive learning zone, which is a really dynamic way to learn more about whisky. There are ‘scent pods’, as well as sensory and touch challenges, and for children a fantastic virtual reality tour of some of Scotland’s finest landmarks on the back of the famous old grouse himself.

Auchentoshan Distillery

This distillery is actually the closest to Glasgow, and can be reached within 20 minutes drive from the city centre. What is unique about Auchentoshan is that it is actually Scotland’s only triple distilled single malt whisky. This creates a smooth and delicate flavour – which you can experience on one of the exclusive VIP tasting sessions.

Auchentoshan was established way back in 1823, and is one of only three distilleries still in operation in the Scottish Lowlands.

Glenkinchie Malt Distillery

For anyone enjoying a cottage holiday in Edinburgh, then a trip to the Glenkinchie Malt Distillery is a must. Just a 20 minute drive or bus trip through the leafy countryside of East Lothian, this listed red brick building is a joy to behold in itself.

Visitors can sample the Glenkinchie Malt – which is renowned for its floral and spicy taste – in the in-house bar, and guests will receive a £3 discount voucher against a bottle of single malt on entry.

Glengoyne Distillery

Easily accessible from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Loch Lomond, the Glengoyne scotch whisky distillery is open for business all year round.

The Glengoyne offers that something extra special on its tours – the chance for guests to create their own blended whisky! This will be bottled for you to take away and wow your friends and family with.

So if you are looking to book a cottage retreat in Scotland, then why not stop by your local distillery, and prepare to be amazed by the sights and smells of whisky making! Find holiday cottages in Scotland.