We’re back with another top 5 list (following up our top 5 campsites in Scotland post), this time collating our top 5 (scotch) whisky related experiences in the bonnie country of Scotland. Again, we have a narrow exposure to the broad spectrum of Scottish distilleries so this is a very personal list. We hope this is useful to our readers.
We are of the strong opinion that once you have done a basic distillery tour (at your favourite distillery), you’ve done them all as they’re really similar in the knowledge they impart & the processes they show. The only thing different is the dram to taste. So try to limit yourself to 1-2 tours and focus on speciality tours or tastings to experience the best of Scotland’s distilleries.
- Ardbeg full range tour & tasting (£20)
- Edradour basic tour + tasting room (£7.50)
- Tasting the world’s most peated whisky at Briuchladdich (Free)
- Isle of Arran tour + whisky icecream (£8)
- Staying in an erstwhile excise house on Lagavulin
1. Ardbeg Full Range Tour & Tasting (Islay)
Hands down the best tour we’ve experienced in the whole of Scotland. It starts off with the basic tour but at Ardbeg, they do things a bit uniquely. This is the only distillery where they let you taste the barley wine stage of the whisky and my group gobbled it up (it is like a strong sour beer in case you’re wondering). There are also funny pictures of the distillery dog Shortie across the tour. 😀
Only tour to give out barley wine filled in this pail
Painting 2016 on a freshly-filled barrel, so cool!
The real deal is however the tasting itself. You get to drink 3 drams from the core range and 2 from past ranges that aren’t in production anymore. Their whisky is stunning and the tasting leaves you spellbound. Plus you get a 5 GBP voucher to spend on the shop which you inevitably will on a whisky from their core range (Corryvrecken is our pick).
The Ardbeg range
Price : £20 (it is a steal)
2. Edradour basic tour + tasting room (Pitlochry)
The focal point of any visit to Edradour must be its tasting room. However, as access is granted only if you take a tour, it is worth it to do the basic tour and then spend the next hour or two at the tasting room (full blogpost on my own experience doing so). We have written a full blog post about how awesome their collection is at a very affordable price point. Plus their basic tour is very charming as they’re one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland by still size.
1975 Rare Ayrshire – An example vintage
The full Edradour selection
Warehouse visit on the basic tour
Price : £7.50
3. Tasting the worlds most peated whisky @ Bruichladdich (Islay)
Briuchladdich is kind of like what BrewDog is for beer, irreverent (one look at their bottling confirms that). Their whiskies start from 5 years aged instead of the normal 10 and believe me, it is good. But the main reason to visit their distillery is to taste some of the world’s most peated whisky called Octomore. There are 4 version of this whisky and they all taste different and much different from what you’d expect due to the peat content (not at all medicinal tasting like Laphroig). After the taste, you’ll surely be tempted to part with £125 of your money to get a bottle 🙂
4 versions of Octomore – the world’s most peated whisky (4x peat vs Laphroig)
The distillery – a disruptive institution
Port Charlotte Valinch – Another great expression
Price : Free to taste
4. Isle of Arran tour + whisky ice cream (Arran)
One of the most scenic distilleries in Scotland is located near Lochranza on the Isle of Arran. It is a small distillery too and has a cozy feel to its tour, especially if the distillery is in a production cycle. But our favourite part of the distillery is the shop where we can buy delicious whisky ice cream made in partnership with the excellent Arran Dairies ice cream. It is so yummy!!!
Whisky icecream enjoyed in Arran’s beautiful scenery
The wort is building 🙂
The distillery in its great Lochranza setting
Price : £8
5. Staying at an erstwhile Excise House (Lagavulin, Islay)
If you are a lover of whisky like Dalek, you are probably getting nerd chills knowing that you can stay in an erstwhile Excise House, that too in the village of Lagavulin. It is actually a very affordable B&B at £65 per night with modern & comfortable rules. The breakfast is out of this world and includes my favourite food product from Islay, Laphroaig & Orange Marmalade If you’re visiting Islay, a stay here is highly recommended, right opposite Lagavulin distillery and in between Ardbeg & Laphroig 🙂
Whisky nerd chills staying at an erstwhile Excise House
The excellent full Scottish breakfast – checkout the Laphroig marmalade on the right
The attraction next door 😀
What is your favourite whisky related experience in Scotland? Leave a comment below, we’d love to know!! (P.S. we love Islay as is evident ❤️️)
© 2017 Beyond Our Horizons
These look amazing! I’m not a big whiskey drinker but I could be persuaded to change my mind 😁
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We always say that if you don’t like whisky, you just haven’t tasted the one you like. There is a mind-boggling variety out there (as can be gleaned)
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Thanks so much for mention of our Excise House B&B, I must clarify that the Laphroaig marmalade is not made here. It is made locally by a company called MA McKinnons. Delighted you enjoyed your stay with us!
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Thanks Claire, we fixed the content. We read a blogpost on Islay Info and believed it was made at your B&B
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I’m so going to check out some of these when I go
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That sounds great nationsvic@, glad we could help you slightly change your travel plans 🙂
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