Speyside Whisky Connoisseur Tour - 3 day tour
Speyside Whisky Connoisseur Tour
3 day/2 night tour
From Edinburgh, travel through the Highlands to reach Grantown on Spey in the heart of “Whisky Country” for a two-night stay. Accompanied by your expert driver/guide, this tour will give the whisky enthusiast behind-the-scenes access to some of Scotland’s finest distilleries, including Aberlour, Glenfarclas and Strathisla. As well as tutored tastings during your distillery tours, you’ll get to meet the experts who skillfully create some of Scotland’s most treasured whiskies.
Small Group Tour - travel in an intimate group of just 16 passengers
Lindores Abbey Distillery - enjoy a tour and tasting at this modern distillery that can trace its roots back to 1494
Strathisla Distillery - participate in the famous cask tasting and blending experience
Speyside Cooperage - watch the skilled workers create and repair the barrels used to store whisky
Aberlour Distillery - join a whisky specialist for the “Casks from the Past” tasting
Movie Locations - The Angels’ Share, Centurion and Quest for Fire
Guest house accommodation included
Full Tour Itinerary
Select Day:
Day 1 - Edinburgh - Stonehaven - Grantown on Spey
Join your fellow passengers for a three-day whisky adventure. Leaving Edinburgh behind, we travel over the Firth of Forth, enjoying the views of the Forth Road and Rail bridges along the way.
Soon we enter the Kingdom of Fife and make our way to Newburgh to visit Lindores Abbey Distillery where, after a break of 500 years, single malt whisky production has started again.
The Cloister exhibition tells the fascinating heritage of this attractive distillery, then enjoy a guided tour and taste their delicious Aqua Vitae botanical spirit produced here while the whisky matures.
Next, we cross the River Tay and make our way through Dundee and into the fruit-growing region of Angus. We’ll make a stop in the attractive harbour town of Stonehaven for lunch and free time.
This afternoon travel to Keith to visit Strathisla Distillery, one of the oldest in Scotland, for a cask tasting and blending experience. Just in case you experience strange goings-on during your visit, you should know that the water used to make the whisky here is drawn from a local spring that is haunted, according to local legend.
The last part of our journey takes us to the attractive town of Grantown on Spey, our home for the next two nights.
Overnight: Grantown on Spey (2 nights)
Day 2 - Glenfarclas, Glenfiddich and Aberlour Excursion
Today we tour through the Cairngorms National Park and along the winding banks of the River Spey to reach Glenfarclas Distillery, one of the few family-owned distilleries left in Scotland. On arrival enjoy a VIP tour and tasting.
Next, we’ll visit Glenfiddich Distillery where you enjoy lunch in the restaurant accompanied by a wee dram if you wish.
We’ll make a stop in Craigellachie so you can see the famous iron bridge that spans the River Spey. It was built by the renowned engineer Thomas Telford and completed in 1814.
Also located here is the famed Speyside Cooperage, where the rare skills of a cooper, the craftsmen who make and repair whisky barrels, flourish. It makes for a fascinating visit.
Later we make our last stop of the day at Aberlour Distillery, where a unique tasting awaits.
Day 3 - Grantown on Spey - Glenlivet - Edinburgh
After a relaxed breakfast, we make our way to The Glenlivet Distillery, which sits in a wild and remote glen. The distillery has a fascinating history, as we will discover during our private tour. Our visit ends with a special tasting and time in the distillery shop before taking to the road again.
Sadly we leave Speyside and all those lovely distilleries behind, but there is much more to enjoy. Our scenic drive continues through the Cairngorms National Park, then a descent through the Grampian Mountains.
We’ll make a stop in the attractive village of Dunkeld, which straddles the River Tay. There is time to explore the town or take a walk by the river during our time here.
The last part of our journey sees us travelling through the Kingdom of Fife and returning to Edinburgh.
Due to various reasons (weather, closures and special events), it may not always be possible to visit all distilleries mentioned. If this is the case, suitable alternatives will be offered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect on this Connoisseur Tour?
For the discerning whisky enthusiast these special tours will immerse you in the traditions and heritage of whisky making.
With unique behind-the-scenes access at some of Scotland’s most distinctive distilleries you’ll get the chance to learn the age-old methods of production from experienced whisky makers followed by tutored nosings and tastings.
Each tour is led by a professional driver/guide, who has been chosen for their enthusiasm, driving skills and knowledge.
This specialist tour is limited to a small group of just 16 whisky fans.
Comfortable guest house accommodation featuring en-suite bathrooms, tv and other amenities is included in the price.
A wonderful Scottish breakfast will be served each morning of your stay.
Admission fees and tastings are included in the price.
Tell me what the visit to a whisky distillery will be like?
A visit to a traditional whisky distillery is a feast for all the senses. After a warm welcome you’ll normally have a short audio/visual presentation on the the history of the distillery and the traditional methods used in the distilling process.
Next is a tour of the distillery where you you will experience all stages of the whisky making process from mashing and fermenting to distilling and maturation.
Your tour will end with a tutored tasting of a malt whisky and the opportunity to buy a souvenir of your visit in the distillery shop.
How much luggage can I bring?
Luggage space on the tour is restricted so the amount of luggage that you can bring is limited to 1 bag per person that weights no more than 15kg and has maximum dimensions of 55 x 40 x 20cm.
Luggage larger than this will only be carried if space is available.
What meals are included ?
A full Scottish breakfast is included from day 2 onwards.
This hearty meal can consist of fruit juice; a choice of cereal; bakery basket; cooked items such as eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, tomato and, maybe, a taste of haggis! plus tea or coffee. Vegetarian and vegan options are always available.
Lunch and dinner are not included in the price.
During the touring day there will be a stop where you can enjoy lunch in a local pub or restaurant. Your driver/guide will be happy to suggest a conveniently located restaurant where you can enjoy good food for dinner.
Inclusions
Accommodation
- 2 nights guest house accommodation
- Location: Grantown-on-Spey (2)
Meals
- Scottish/Continental breakfast (2)
Visits, Admissions and Experiences
- Tour and tastings at LindoresAbbey Distillery and Glenfarclas Distillery
- Cask tasting and blending experience at Strathisla Distillery
- "Casks from the Past" tasting at Aberlour Distillery
- Visit to Speyside Cooperage
- Special tutored tasting at Glenlivet Distillery
Tour Essentials
- Transportation by luxury air-conditioned minicoach
- Live commentary in English
- Services of an experienced driver/guide
- Service charges and taxes
Exclusions
- Admission charges
- Meals, snacks or items of a personal nature
- Gratuity to your driver/guide
Departure information
From 1 Parliament Square
Royal Mile/High Street
Edinburgh EH1 1RE
Check-in: 07:45 hrs
Tour Departs: 08:00 hrs
Tour Returns: 18:00 hrs
Child details
We are sorry but children aged under 18 years cannot travel on this tour.
Price Notes
Accommodation
The price of this tour includes guest house accommodation with en-suite bathroom.
Admission Prices
Distillery visits and tastings are included in the cost of this tour.
FAQs
Please see the FAQ section for more information on this tour.
Product code
SR 02892
Blogs and Guides - discover insider tips and ideas
Customer Reviews Overall Rating:
-
Rating: (5 /5) 21 Apr 2023
First off, Jamie is and excellent guide!! This tour was an amazing journey through Spey and a great chance to taste rare and excellent whiskies! The drive though the Cairngorms is majestic as well. Some distilleries were different than advertised due to their own closings for public view as it was the cleaning period in between production, but there are more than enough fine distilleries to whet the palate!
Stephen from Diamondhead, US
LOADING...
