Whisky Distillery Tours
Copyright ©John McCormack
The Glenmorangie Distillery at Tain, some 45 miles to the north of Inverness.
There are over 120 active whisky distilleries throughout Scotland and more are opening each year. Whisky production is divided into 5 different areas, each of which tends to produce single malts of distinctive type and flavour depending on the water source used and the peatiness of the area.
Copyright ©John McCormack
The spectacular "Whisky Wall" in the new Macallan Distillery visitor centre.
The two main whisky producing areas which are easily reached from Inverness and the various cruise ship ports around the north of Scotland are Speyside and Highland. Speyside has the largest concentration of distilleries in Scotland with some 50 altogether, all gathered around the River Spey and its tributaries.
Copyright ©John McCormack
The Benromach Distillery, one of some 50 distilleries in the Speyside area.
There are too many individual single malt whisky distilleries in the Speyside area to mention all of them. A Google search will find them for you and there are also some suggested distilleries to visit on VisitScotland's Speyside Malt Whisky Trail.
Copyright ©John McCormack
The Glen Moray Distillery on the banks of the River Lossie just outside Elgin.
The Highland region is the largest whisky producing area in Scotland in terms of geographical size and offers a wide diversity of different types of single malts. On account of the fact that the distilleries are scattered over a large area, it's more difficult to arrange a tour compring several distilleries in one day. However, there are several within fairly easy reach of Inverness, some of the best known being The Dalmore and Glenmorangie (see below). The Glen Ord Distillery is also close by.
Copyright ©John McCormack
The Glenmorangie Distillery at Tain, some 45 miles to the north of Inverness.
For those starting their tour from the west coast of the Scottish Highlands or from the Isle of Skye, the nearest distilleries are Talisker and the recently opened Torabhaig Distillery, both of which are on the Isle of Skye.
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The Talisker Distillery at Carbost on the Isle of Skye.
