6 of the Best: Speyside Whisky Tours
If you’re into whisky, the chances are you’ve heard of Moray Speyside. The area stretches from the coastline of the Moray Firth in the north, to the Cairngorm National Park in the south, with the River Spey cutting through its towns and villages – and it’s the water of the Spey which is said to give the whisky its distinctive taste.
There are around 100 Scottish whisky distilleries spread across the five regions in Scotland, and 60 of them are in the Moray Speyside area. We’ve compiled a list of our favourite places to visit to get a real taste of the Highlands. If you visit all six of these stops you’ll be guaranteed a fruitful whisky education (even if you can’t remember it the next day).
1. Benromach
This is one of Speyside’s smallest distilleries positioned at the eastern edge of Moray, close to the coast. Operating since 1898, there’s only space for three experienced distillers, who hand-craft the whisky and ensure that only the highest quality spirit is filled into sturdy oak casks, before being left to mature for a few years.
A tour will show you the three distillers at work, as well as the boby mill, the mash tun, four wooden washbacks, two copper stills, the spirit safe, the filling room, the dunnage warehouses and the visitor centre. (At the time of writing the visitor centre is closed while they undertake renovations. However, there’s a brilliant virtual tour available online.)
2. The Glenlivet
In 1824 George Smith was granted the first legal licence to distil in the parish of Glenlivet. Today, this Scotch is still considered one of the definitive Speyside malts. The distillery is located in a wild and remote glen, on the edge of The Cairngorms National Park – ten miles north of Tomintoul.
Tours vary in price from £15 to £100 depending on the experience you choose. You’ll learn about the history of the distillery, follow the production process and finish with a visit to a bonded warehouse where you can sample a dram straight from the cask. The multi-million-pound visitor centre features a swanky bar, as well as an exhibition where you can see the pistols used by George Smith to defend himself from smugglers.
3. The Macallan
The contemporary visitor centre, which reopened its doors in July 2020 after a £140 million revamp, is worth a visit even if you’re not a fan of whisky. Set into the hills in a super-modern design, it made the shortlist for the Stirling Prize for excellence in architecture. Unlike most visitor centres, which are built around an existing distillery, The Macallan was built with guests in minds. The contemporary distillery, surrounded by a 485-acre estate, is fitting for one of the most exclusive whisky companies in the world.
Tour options: there are several experiences available from £50 to £250. As well as the distillery, you can experience a walk on The Macallan Estate, a drink in The Macallan Bar, and some fine food in the Brasserie. Booking in advance is essential.
4. Cragganmore
In 1869, ‘Big John’ Smith – said to have been the most experienced distiller of his day – founded Cragganmore. He lobbied for a railway siding, and using this, his business acumen and skill as a distiller, turned Cragganmore into a popular single malt whisky. It’s a little off-the-beaten-track, set on the far side of Ballindalloch Castle and down a winding road, but if you make the journey, you won’t be disappointed.
Tour options: the basic tour is £12 and the Range Tour is £30, which includes a tasting paired with local foods. The distillery was closed for a period in 2020-21 so it’s a good idea to check their social media channels for current opening times.
5. Glenfarclas
Family-owned for six generations, Glenfarclas is located on the road to the Ballindalloch Castle, near Aberlour. It’s one of the more historic-feeling distilleries, particularly with all the ‘duty-free’ warehouses spread around the property. The tasting room resembles a hunting lodge, with long wooden tables and red leather chairs. Glenfarclas was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to open a dedicated visitor centre in 1973.
Tour options: at the time of writing there’s a Classic Tour available which lasts 1.5 hours and is free. There’s also a Connoisseur Tour for £40 and a Five Decades Tour for £125.
6. The Speyside Cooperage
Although this isn’t technically a distillery, it’s a key location on the Speyside Whisky Trail and a fascinating place to visit. A cooperage is where the iconic barrels are made, and the Speyside Cooperage demonstrates the age-old process of producing and refurbishing barrels for use in the region. These casks are responsible for some of the unique flavour of the whisky and they’re integral to the production process.
The Speyside Cooperage is in Dufftown, on the road that leads from the distilleries around Aberlour, Dufftown and Keith. At the time of writing the Classic Tour is available Monday to Friday on the hour between 9.00am and 3.00pm.
Moray Speyside Tip
Every Spey distillery takes time each year to shut down, conduct maintenance, and allow its teams some down time. This time is called ‘silent season’. Sometimes this lasts only a few weeks, other times for longer. Most distilleries will let you know on their website when their silent season is; for many, it’s in July. During this time tours are offered, but the distillery might not be working. To compensate, distilleries might reduce their price or offer additional tastings to make up for it.
*Banner photo credit: @dylandejonge