Best Whisky Distillery Tours in Scotland
Scotland is home to over 150 whisky distilleries, with many offering exceptional tours and tasting experiences for those making the pilgrimage to our spiritual lands. Whether you’re planning a multi-day whisky tour through Speyside and the Highlands, or visiting individual distilleries on a custom itinerary, this guide covers the best whisky distillery tours across Scotland.
Each distillery offers a unique experience or special tastings for the real whisky connoisseurs, from triple-distilled Lowland malts near Glasgow to heavily peated Islay whiskies. We’ve selected tours that offer exceptional access, exclusive tastings, and genuine insight into the art of whisky-making, from intimate, family-run operations to world-renowned brands.
This guide covers distilleries accessible on day visits, as well as those best experienced as part of multi-day whisky tours from Edinburgh or Glasgow. So pour yourself a wee dram, and let us take you on a journey through Scotland’s finest whisky distilleries.
A Treasure Trove of the Top Scotland Whisky Tour Experiences
When you think of Scotland, what images come flooding into your mind? It may be our bonnie hairy heilan’ coos, or the rolling hills. Perhaps your mind drifts off to the magnificent mountains and lochs, Scots pipe bands or the history laden castles and rugged coastlines. I’d bet my centuries old sporran though, that our golden nectar, our famous national drink, Whisky comes near, if not top, of that list of images and associations of Scotland.
So whether you like a wee dram of a good malt, or just curious as to how it is distilled and produced, we have selected for you, what is arguably the best whisky tours available in Scotland, created for you by a true Scot, who also enjoys the occasional wee nip o’ the guid stuff. Pour yerself a wee dram, sit back, and let us take you on a virtual tour of these braw distilleries.
Auchentoshan Distillery, Lowlands
Auchentoshan, pronounced “ock-un-tosh-un”, is situated on the outskirts of Clydebank, near the ancient Roman Antonine Wall, and has been known as “Glasgow’s Malt Whisky” since its founding in 1823. The name comes from the Gaelic meaning “corner of the field,” a reference to its original rural setting before Glasgow’s industrial expansion swallowed the surrounding countryside.
The distillery was established by John Thorne, an engineer from Greenock, who designed and manufactured the distillery plant. The site’s whisky-making heritage may extend even further back. Records show a monastery stood here as early as 1649, and after Scotland’s monasteries were dissolved in 1560, many monks brought their distilling knowledge to the broader community.
Distilled Different: The Triple Distillation Tradition
Auchentoshan is the only Scottish Single Malt distillery to insist on triple distillation for every last drop, a method traditionally associated with Irish whiskey and rare in Scotland, where most distilleries double-distil. This wasn’t a coincidence. Waves of Irish immigrants fleeing the potato famine arrived in Glasgow throughout the 19th century, bringing with them a taste for the smoother, lighter character that triple distillation creates.
The process takes longer and costs more, but creates Auchentoshan’s distinctive character. The extra distillation produces a more delicate and refined spirit, increasing the whisky’s alcohol content from approximately 8% ABV after fermentation to around 81% ABV. This compares to the 70% typically achieved through double distillation. The result is the sweet, smooth, clean flavour that earned Auchentoshan the affectionate nickname “the breakfast whisky.”
Surviving the Blitz
During the Second World War, Auchentoshan survived the devastating Clydebank blitz. In 1941, a German bomb raid severely damaged the distillery, destroying a warehouse and halting production. The River Clyde and its shipyards were prime targets, and Clydebank suffered terribly, but Auchentoshan rebuilt and continued its craft.
Tours and Experiences
Auchentoshan offers a wide range of tours and experiences at their visitor centre. Options include the Origin Tour (1 hour from £20), the Essence Tour (1.5 hours with four drams from £45), and the Ultimate Tour (2 hours with exclusive access from £75). For true enthusiasts, the Exclusive Whisky Tour includes single-cask warehouse tastings (2 hours, £120).
You can also explore their Three Wood expression in depth through the Cask Exploration experience, or book the Behind Closed Doors option for a private tour. The distillery’s shop stocks their full range, including limited editions, and the knowledgeable team can guide you through their collection.
Don’t miss trying an Auchentoshan cocktail. These are creative twists on Glasgow’s famous ‘hauf an’ a hauf’ tradition, where a whisky is served with an ale chaser, a combination beloved by generations of Glaswegians.
As the distillery says, Auchentoshan is “flavoursome, smooth and drinkable, a whisky as aggressively welcoming as Glasgow itself.”
Getting There
Just 20 minutes from Glasgow city centre, near the Erskine Bridge, Auchentoshan is easily accessible by car (with on-site parking) or bus (757, X22, or 1D). The distillery is closed on Mondays but welcomes visitors throughout the week.
For multi-day whisky tours visiting Auchentoshan alongside Speyside and Highland distilleries, explore our custom whisky tour itineraries or day tours from Glasgow.
Book directly: Call +44 (0)1389 878561 or visit auchentoshan.com
The Glenlivet Distillery, Speyside
Few names in whisky evoke the spirit of defiance and tradition quite like Glenlivet. When King George IV arrived on his state visit to Edinburgh in 1822 and demanded Highland whisky, everyone knew exactly what he meant: pure Glenlivet. Elizabeth Grant of Rothiemurchus later wrote of how the Lord Chamberlain searched everywhere for it, eventually receiving whisky from her “petbin where the whisky was long in wood, long in uncorked bottles, mild as milk and with the true contraband goût in it.”
This romance of Glenlivet’s illicit past set the stage for one of whisky’s most incredible stories of courage and conviction.
The Man Who Carried Pistols
In 1824, George Smith made a decision that would change Scotch whisky forever and nearly cost him his life. Operating from Upper Drummin farm on land leased from the Duke of Gordon, he became the first distiller in the glen to take out a legal license under the new Excise Act.
The decision was hugely unpopular. The glen was a lawless place where smugglers operated illicit bothies, and nearly everyone in the area depended on moonshine to pay rent and survive. As one local farmer recalled, “there were not three persons in Glenlivet in those days who were not engaged directly or indirectly in the trade.”
Smith’s neighbours and fellow smugglers were furious. They threatened to burn his new distillery to the ground. The Laird of Aberlour, recognising both the danger and Smith’s courage, gave him a pair of pistols for protection. George Smith carried those pistols, known as “Long John,” for years, standing his ground against threats and intimidation.
By 1827, a company of dragoons arrived in the glen to put an end to smuggling once and for all. The battle was won, and Smith’s Glenlivet began to prosper. Shipments reached Aberdeen, Perth, and Leith by sea, though sailors occasionally employed creative methods to sample the cargo, drilling holes beneath barrel hoops to siphon off drams.
The Original Single Malt
By the mid-19th century, Smith was supplying malt whisky to Andrew Usher, the father of blended Scotch, who launched “Old Vatted Glenlivet” in 1853. The distillery moved down the glen to its current home at Minmore, and production soared to 4,000 gallons a week. Casks were carted to Ballindalloch station on the newly opened Strathspey railway line for distribution across Britain and beyond.
When George Smith died in 1871, Glenlivet had become the best-known distillery in Scotland, with its single malt penetrating the furthest corners of the world. In London alone, it sold over 100 casks annually.
The Copycat Wars
Success bred imitation. Distilleries many miles from the glen began piggybacking on the name, creating what was dubbed “the longest glen in Scotland.” At one point, 28 distilleries were using “Glenlivet” in their names, hoping to capture some of the original’s prestige.
After a costly two-year legal battle that ended in 1882, ten distilleries were allowed to retain “Glenlivet” as part of their names, but only George Smith’s distillery could officially call itself THE Glenlivet. That definite article remains its unique distinction today, a legal and cultural victory won in the courts over a century ago.
A Remote Highland Setting
The distillery sits in a wild, remote bowl surrounded by the braes of Glenlivet. A Victorian visitor noted: “There is not a village or town anywhere near the place; the nearest railway station is about seven miles distant. A more lonely spot in winter, or a more delightful one in summer, could not be found.”
That isolation shaped both the distillery’s illicit past and its character. Today, three Smuggler’s Trails start from the distillery, taking visitors through the landscape where excisemen once pursued illegal distillers. These clearly signposted walks immerse you in the dramatic history that made Glenlivet legendary.
Tours and Experiences
The Glenlivet offers experiences ranging from introductory to exclusive:
The Original (1.5 hours, £28) takes you through the distillery with an immersive visual experience in the Process Room, a walk through production areas, and a visit to Warehouse 1. You’ll sample three expressions, including distillery exclusives, while learning how George Smith’s vision continues today.
The Visionary (1.5 hours, £55, May-October only) opens the door to the rarely accessed new still house, showcasing how modern technology meets old traditions. An exclusive visit to a racked warehouse explores maturation and cask selection, concluding with a tutored tasting of four expressions.
The Reflection (2 hours, £125, Friday-Sunday) walks in George Smith’s footsteps, visiting the historic Minmore still house, closed to the public for over ten years. Sample whisky straight from the cask in a traditional bonded warehouse, then enjoy a hand-selected tasting including a rare expression from the Archive.
The Generations (1 hour, £300) celebrates 200 years of whisky-making with an exclusive tasting of some of Glenlivet’s oldest and rarest whiskies, featuring expressions up to forty years old.
The Drawing Room bar offers whiskies by the dram, creative cocktails, and original bar snack pairings (blue cheese popcorn, anyone?). You can also fill your own bottle, explore the Sample Room, and add bottle personalisation for a truly unique souvenir.
Getting There
The Glenlivet sits deep in Speyside, approximately 3.5 hours from Edinburgh. The remote location that once protected smugglers now offers visitors a glimpse into whisky’s wild past amid stunning Highland scenery.
Our Speyside whisky tours include The Glenlivet, alongside other legendary distilleries, or we can create a custom itinerary that explores the region’s rich whisky heritage.
Book directly: Call +44 (0)1340 821720, email theglenlivet.admin@pernod-ricard.com, or visit theglenlivet.com
Opening Hours: November-March: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4pm; April-October: Daily 10am-5pm (closed two weeks over Christmas/New Year)
The Balvenie Distillery, Speyside
Step inside the heart of Dufftown and discover The Balvenie, one of the few distilleries in Scotland to keep every craft in-house. From malting barley on traditional floors to hand-coopering casks, The Balvenie maintains five rare crafts that most distilleries abandoned generations ago.
Built in 1892 by William Grant, founder of neighbouring Glenfiddich, The Balvenie was constructed using the buildings of New Balvenie Castle. The distillery shares the same precious water source as Glenfiddich, the Robbie Dubh spring, which William Grant was determined to protect. When a local man inquired about leasing land next to Glenfiddich to build a distillery, Grant acted swiftly, purchasing the land and castle to secure exclusive rights to the water supply.
The Legend of the Fair Maid
Nearby stand the ruins of the original Balvenie Castle, roofless since 1742, where centuries earlier the Fair Maid of Galloway married two of the swashbuckling Black Douglases. The first was murdered, and the second was routed in battle in 1455 by King James I of Scotland. The king was so captivated by the Fair Maid’s beauty that he reinstated her in Balvenie Castle for the annual rent of a single red rose. This rose symbol appears today on The Balvenie Classic bottle label, connecting each dram to centuries of Highland history.
The Five Rare Crafts
The Balvenie is the only traditional distillery in the Scottish Highlands maintaining all five rare crafts on a single site. Walk the warm, grain-scented malting floor where barley is hand-turned using wooden shiels, just as it has been for over a century. Watch skilled coopers shape oak casks with practiced precision in the working cooperage. Step into the cool hush of Warehouse 24 to sample whisky straight from the cask, where time and wood work their magic on the maturing spirit.
The distillery’s original copper pot stills, acquired from Lagavulin and Glen Albyn distilleries, feature taller necks than those at Glenfiddich, creating The Balvenie’s distinctively smooth, honeyed character with notes of orange blossom and nuts.
An Intimate Experience
The Balvenie offers only two tours daily, limited to a maximum of eight people. This intimate approach allows for exceptional attention to detail and genuine interaction with the craftspeople who shape every drop.
The Distillery Tour (2.5 hours, £75) takes you through every stage of whisky-making, from the malting floor through the cooperage to Warehouse 24, concluding with a guided tasting of five distinctive drams. Available Monday to Friday at 10am and 2pm.
For those seeking a more focused experience, the Warehouse Tasting (1 hour, £75) explores how different cask types shape aroma, texture, and flavour. Held in the atmospheric Warehouse 24, this tutored tasting of five unique casks reveals the profound influence of wood on whisky character. Available weekends only at 11am and 2pm.
Both experiences offer the opportunity to bottle your own Balvenie directly from a cask, an exclusive souvenir of your visit.
Why The Balvenie Stands Apart
While neighbouring Glenfiddich welcomes thousands of visitors weekly, The Balvenie maintains a quieter, more traditional approach. This isn’t a place for coach parties on whistle-stop Highland tours. It’s for those who want to truly understand how exceptional whisky is crafted, witnessing rare traditions that define quality over efficiency.
The distillery’s commitment to these labour-intensive methods means that most production still goes into blends, as it has always done. But those who taste The Balvenie as a single malt experience something increasingly rare: whisky crafted with techniques that have barely changed since William Grant’s day.
Getting There
Located in Dufftown, the whisky capital of Speyside, The Balvenie sits approximately 3.5 hours from Edinburgh. The intimate nature of the tours means advance booking is essential.
Our Speyside whisky tours include The Balvenie, alongside other renowned distilleries, or we can create a custom itinerary tailored to your whisky preferences.
Book directly: Visit The Balvenie Distillery to reserve your experience. Tours book out weeks in advance, particularly during the summer.
Talisker Distillery, Isle of Skye
Talisker, located on the wild shores of Loch Harport on the Isle of Skye, with the majestic Cuillin Hills rising behind, is renowned for its ‘made by the sea’ character and distinctive maritime and coastal flavours.
As Skye’s oldest working distillery, Talisker has been crafting maritime whisky since 1830. The Atlantic crashes against rocky shores, sea spray drifts across the buildings, and every tour demonstrates how this wild setting shapes the spirit inside each bottle.
The distillery takes its name from the Gaelic “Talamh Sgeir“, which means Land of the Cliff or Sloping Rock.
This remote location was chosen by Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill, farmers from the Isle of Eigg, who spent £3,000 building the distillery after a failed attempt five miles north at Fiskavig.
The Minister’s Curse
Not everyone welcomed Talisker’s arrival. The local minister, Reverend Macleod, was passionately opposed to liquor and called “the erection and establishment of a whisky distillery… one of the greatest curses which, in the ordinary course of Providence, could befall” his parish. In 1854, his prayers seemed answered when Talisker was put on the market for just £1,000, a third of what it cost to build.
Various owners struggled until entrepreneur Roderick Kemp from Aberdeen took charge and business finally took off. Visitors noted the regular sight of “puffers,” small steamers calling at Talisker to deposit grain and collect whisky.
Floating Casks and Desperate Letters
For decades, Talisker operated without a pier. Filled casks had to be floated three or four hundred yards out into Loch Harport and winched aboard waiting vessels. Despite increasingly desperate letters to the laird, Macleod of Dunvegan, the pier wasn’t built until 1900. By then, Kemp had given up on Skye and sold out, eventually buying Macallan instead.
Fire and Rebirth
In 1960, disaster struck. Low wines trickled from a still through an open manhole onto the coal fire below. The still house was gutted, along with the stills themselves. They were replaced exactly as they were, but with steam coils inside to prevent another fire.
One peculiar feature survived and defines Talisker’s character today: the unique lyne arms. These pass from the neck of the two spirit stills straight through the distillery wall into the open air, then kink upwards to form giant U-bends before plunging into wooden worm tubs kept brimming with cool water from the Carbost burn.
Very few distilleries still use worm tubs, and none have such oddly shaped lyne arms. One theory suggests the coppersmith was experimenting to recreate the original Talisker style.
Until 1928, Talisker was triple-distilled like Irish whiskey, but perhaps too many off-flavours were creeping in. With no nearby distillery to consult, the only solution was to improvise. Whatever the reason, it works. The result is Talisker’s beguiling mix of smoke, pepper, and maritime character.
A Modern Transformation
Following a major refurbishment, Talisker now offers visitors a stunning experience combining distillery heritage with contemporary design. The newly designed waterfront space features an exclusive culinary collaboration with The Three Chimneys, Skye’s renowned restaurant, showcasing the local provenance and culinary heritage of the island.
The Campfire Bar provides a welcoming space to sample drams and carefully-curated cocktails, while the retail store offers Scottish apparel, gifts, and exclusive bottlings.
Tours and Experiences
Talisker offers a range of tours and tastings exploring the distillery’s history, mystery, and magic. From introductory experiences to in-depth guided tastings, visitors discover how Skye’s wild elements shape every drop.
Early booking is strongly recommended, especially during summer when Skye swells with visitors.
Note that Talisker observes a “silent season” from November 9 to 24 for essential maintenance, although the retail store and bar remain open with special tasting experiences.
Getting There
Talisker sits on Skye’s west coast, approximately 30 minutes from Portree. The island is accessible by bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh or by ferry from Mallaig. The journey itself is spectacular, with views across to the mainland and the dramatic Cuillin range.
Our Isle of Skye tours combine Talisker Distillery with the island’s stunning landscapes, fairy pools, and historic sites, or we can create a custom Highland and Islands itinerary including multiple distilleries.
Book directly: Visit the Talisker website or call +44 (0)1478 640 314
Bowmore Whisky Distillery, Isle of Islay
Bowmore isn’t just Islay’s oldest licensed distillery, founded in 1779; it’s also the island’s beating heart. Built right into the harbour wall of Islay’s capital, the salty breeze from Loch Indaal regularly batters its iconic whitewashed walls. This exposure is more than just for show; the sea air seeps into the legendary No.1 Vaults, the world’s oldest stone maturation warehouses, enhancing Bowmore with its distinctive character.
The distillery’s Gaelic motto, “Fioghinn agus Soir Bhuanaghadh,” meaning “full and excellent quality,” reflects a dedication to craftsmanship that has endured for more than two centuries.
A Town Built Around Whisky
Bowmore, the distillery and Bowmore, the town grew up together. In 1769, Daniel Campbell, laird of Islay, decided to create a new economic centre for the island. Among the first to arrive was David Simson, a remarkable character who was simultaneously a farmer, part-time distiller, quarryman, postmaster, and operator of a steam packet between Port Askaig and Tarbert. Somehow, he found time to establish a distillery at the bottom of Hill Street by the waterfront.
Walk up from the distillery and you’ll encounter one of Bowmore’s most distinctive landmarks: the round church built the same year the town was founded. It has no corners because the local congregation believed this would deny the devil any place to hide and tempt them into sin. The church stands as a reminder that whisky-making and community have always been intertwined here.
Pioneering Green Energy
Long before sustainability became fashionable, Bowmore was innovating. In the 1980s, facing a £100,000 annual fuel bill, the distillery installed a waste heat recovery system at a cost of £300,000. The investment paid for itself in under three years. More remarkably, the waste heat from the distilling process now warms the town’s public swimming pool, located in what was once the No. 3 warehouse. It’s the only distillery in Scotland whose production literally keeps the local community warm.
The system uses low-temperature steam from the condensers to heat the stills and coppers, while hot air from radiators filled with distilling wastewater dries the malting barley. This integrated approach eliminates the need for heavy fuel oil entirely.
The Craftsman’s Experience
The Bowmore Craftsman’s Tour offers something increasingly rare: the chance actually to participate in whisky-making. You’ll turn and rake barley on the malting floors, shovel peat into the kiln, and discover how this ancient fuel creates Bowmore’s distinctive smoky character.
Descend into the atmospheric No.1 Vaults, where the cool, damp air and proximity to the sea create ideal maturation conditions. Here, you’ll extract your own dram directly from a cask using a whisky thief, then bottle and name your own unique bottle of Bowmore, a souvenir that captures both the whisky and the experience.
Tours and Experiences
Bowmore offers several ways to explore its heritage:
The Intentional Craft Tour and Warehouse Experience (2.5 hours, £85) takes you through every stage of production with access to the legendary No.1 Vaults.
The Cask Discovery Warehouse Tasting (1.5 hours, £65) focuses on how different casks shape the flavour, allowing you to sample whisky straight from the barrel.
The Bowmore Signature Cask Tour (1.25 hours, £25) provides an introduction to Bowmore’s distinctive character.
For a truly immersive experience, the Essence of Islay Tasting with Seafood Selection (1.5 hours, £100) pairs Bowmore’s smoky whiskies with fresh Islay seafood, where smoke meets sea in perfect harmony.
Stay in Distillery History
Bowmore offers unique on-site accommodations in 19th-century cottages dating back to the 1840s. Stay in the Distillery House, once home to the Cooper, or the old Maltman’s Cottage, experiencing life as the distillery workers and their families once did. These beautifully restored cottages provide a rare opportunity to wake up on distillery grounds and immerse yourself entirely in Islay’s whisky heritage.
Getting There
Islay is accessible by ferry from Kennacraig (a 2-hour journey) or by plane from Glasgow (a 40-minute flight). The island’s dramatic landscapes, stunning beaches, and eight working distilleries make it a pilgrimage destination for whisky lovers worldwide.
Our multi-day tours can include Islay as part of a comprehensive Scottish whisky journey, or we can create a custom Islay whisky tour focusing on the island’s distinctive peated malts.
Book directly: Visit Bowmore to reserve your distillery experience.
Springbank Whisky Distillery, Campbelltown
Springbank’s story is one of gritty determination and survival against impossible odds. When Campbeltown, once proclaimed “Whisky Capital of the World” with over 30 distilleries, collapsed spectacularly in the 1920s and 30s, Springbank was one of only two distilleries left standing. Today, it remains in the hands of the Mitchell family, who founded it in 1828, making it one of just two family-owned distilleries in Scotland, a remarkable feat in an industry dominated by corporate giants.
The Mitchell family arrived in Campbeltown from the Lowlands in the 1660s as farmers and maltsters, almost certainly distilling on the side. Archibald Mitchell built Springbank on the site of his illicit still, and the distillery was granted its license, becoming the town’s 14th legal distillery. His sons, John and William, took ownership in 1837, and by 1838, John Walker of Kilmarnock was already buying 118 gallons, recognising the quality of Springbank’s malt long before his famous blend existed.
The Rise and Fall of Whisky Capital
At its peak in the late 1800s, Campbeltown was an unlikely industrial powerhouse. With a population of just 1,969 in 1891, it was reputed to be the richest town in Britain per capita. Twenty distillery chimneys belched smoke into the sky, and the town’s malts were in huge demand from Glasgow’s blending houses. Fast sea routes up the Firth of Clyde meant casks could be shipped straight to the blenders’ warehouses on the Broomielaw.
The town’s whisky fame even inspired the famous Scottish folk song “Campbeltown Loch,” whose chorus playfully laments the loch itself, wishing it were filled with whisky instead of water. While that particular wish was never granted, the song captures the town’s identity as a place where whisky wasn’t just an industry but a way of life.
Then disaster struck. Some Campbeltown distilleries, desperate to meet demand, cut corners catastrophically. Rumors spread that whisky was being aged in herring barrels, earning the town the damning nickname “stinking fish.” Whether true or malicious gossip from rivals, the damage was done. Blenders turned to the milder Speyside malts, and one by one, Campbeltown’s distilleries collapsed. By 1934, only Springbank and Glen Scotia remained of the original 30+.
Scotland’s Most Handmade Whisky
Springbank survived because the Mitchell family never compromised on quality, and because they controlled every single stage of production on one site. Today, Springbank is the only distillery in Scotland to complete 100% of the whisky-making process on-site, from malting barley on traditional floors to bottling the final dram. Every step involves human hands and human judgment.
The distillery produces three distinct single malts from one site, something no other Scottish distillery achieves. Springbank itself is moderately peated and distilled two-and-a-half times (a unique process). Longrow is heavily peated and double-distilled in the Islay style. Hazelburn is unpeated and triple-distilled for a lighter character. By carefully controlling peat levels and distillation, distillery manager Frank McHardy crafts three completely different whiskies from the same stills.
The Wee Toon Experience
Springbank’s “Wee Toon Walking and Warehouse Tour” offers something wonderfully unique: a walking tour through Campbeltown itself, visiting both Springbank and Glengyle distilleries (the latter resurrected by the Mitchell family in 2004). Your guide shares the town’s rise and fall, the origins of the famous folk song “Campbeltown Loch” (whose chorus pleads “I wish you were whisky”), and the stories of the distilling families who shaped this remarkable place.
The experience includes whisky tastings direct from the cask, a delicious Scottish platter lunch in the tasting room, and complimentary miniature bottles from both distilleries. It’s as much a cultural and historical experience as a whisky tour.
Tours and Experiences
Beyond the Wee Toon tour, Springbank offers several ways to explore their craft:
The Springbank Tour (1 hour, £15) takes you through the historic distillery where every stage of production happens.
The Barley to Bottle Tour (4-5 hours, £250) is a hands-on, access-all-areas experience where you actively participate in the whisky-making process.
For the ultimate immersion, the Springbank Whisky School runs over five days, allowing you to participate in every aspect of crafting whisky from floor maltings through distilling, cask filling, and bottling. This is arguably one of the finest whisky experiences available in Scotland.
Cadenhead’s Warehouse Tastings (£45) and Kilkerran Warehouse Tastings (£40) explore the distinctive character of casks from various distilleries.
The Washback Bar and Cadenhead’s Tasting Room offer opportunities to sample the full range in atmospheric surroundings.
A Living Museum
Walking through Springbank feels like stepping back in time. Sunlight streams through the windows of buildings that date back to 1828, the aroma of malting barley fills the air, and around every corner, you encounter a skilled team working with equipment maintained for decades, sometimes even centuries. The 1940s Porteus mill still grinds the malt, the century-old cast-iron mash tun continues to extract sugars, and the wash still is fired by live flame—a method increasingly rare in modern distilling.
This isn’t preservation for nostalgia’s sake. These traditional methods, combined with never chill-filtering and never adding artificial colouring, produce whisky of exceptional character and quality. It’s why a bottle of Springbank’s 1919 50-year-old sold for £50,000 to a Chinese collector in 2013.
Getting There
Campbeltown sits at the southern tip of the Kintyre Peninsula, approximately 3.5 hours from Glasgow. The journey itself is spectacular, with views across to Arran, Ailsa Craig, and on clear days, the coast of Ireland.
Our multi-day tours can include Campbeltown as part of a comprehensive Scottish whisky journey, or we can create a custom Campbeltown experience exploring this unique whisky region.
Book directly: Call +44 (0)1586 552009, email info@springbank.scot, or visit springbankdistillers.com
Experience Scotland’s Best Whisky Distilleries
Whether you’re a whisky connoisseur or simply curious about how Scotland’s golden nectar is crafted, these distilleries offer experiences that go far beyond a simple tasting. From triple-distilled Lowland malts to heavily peated Islay drams, from family-owned survivors to pioneering legends, each distillery tells its own story of Scotland’s national drink.
These aren’t just production facilities. They’re where history happened, where smugglers once ran from excisemen, where families fought to survive industry collapses, where innovation meets centuries-old tradition. When you visit, you’re not just sampling whisky, you’re stepping into stories that shaped Scotland.
Multi-Day Whisky Tours from Edinburgh and Glasgow
While many operators focus on day trips, we specialise in multi-day whisky tours that let you truly immerse yourself in Scotland’s whisky regions. Visit Speyside’s concentration of legendary distilleries, explore Islay’s peated malts and dramatic coastlines, or combine multiple regions in a comprehensive journey from the Lowlands through the Highlands to the Islands.
Our tours are completely bespoke. Want to focus on family-owned distilleries with traditional floor maltings? Prefer heavily peated Islay styles? Interested in the stories behind the whisky as much as the drams themselves? We’ll craft an itinerary that matches your preferences, coordinate all distillery visits, and ensure you experience Scotland’s whisky heritage properly, not rushed.
As a wee bonus, you’ll have your very own kilted piper as your guide and chauffeur, a true Scot who enjoys the occasional wee nip o’ the guid stuff himself.
Explore our Speyside whisky tours or contact us to design your perfect whisky journey.
Slàinte mhath! (Good health!)