Speyside’s Malt Whisky Trail offers another great experience. This trail is a microcosm that includes working distilleries as well as a historical still house and the UK’s only cooperage which repairs and produces nearly 150,000 casks of oak every year. Each stop should be a chance to experience Scotland’s wild landscape.
Maybe the essential draw of a whiskey trip—by rail, road, or ferry—is that everyone feels implicit in the experience, lost to it and in love with Scotland’s landscapes anew, and this helps bring you into closer touch with its communities, but also with a deeper part of yourself. Everybody agrees on this, whether they are teetotallers or not. Whiskey gives the traveler a sense of confidence.
Ben Shakespeare
Visit six of Scotland’s best distilleries
GlenmorangieTain
This part of the Easter Ross coast, crumpled and folded with low, brooding hills and patched with barley fields, lies invisible to many visitors—that is, with the exception of this world-renowned distillery. Since 1843, the distillery in this farm has produced floral, citrus spiced whiskey. However, the distillery continues to evolve. As well as a glass tower housing two swan-necked stills—the tallest in the country—and a half-mad laboratory for new creations, there are tours galore and innovative dram tastings. To stay overnight, whiskey-flavor-inspired rooms and cottages are the reward at deliciously handsome Glenmorangie House nearby.
The GlenturretCrieff
The Glenturret, founded in 1763 and Scotland’s oldest distillery still operating, has a unique feature that no one else can boast about. a Michelin-star restaurant. The Glenturret Lalique currently has two stars, thanks to Mark Donald, chef, for his commitment to creating wonderful dishes with tattie, langoustine, and juniper smoked sika deer. But this is just one aspect of its appeal. Aberturret Estate House is a 12 bed private hideaway with a Lalique Boutique, whisky maker experience, and bespoke tours. The drink itself? The 12 Year old is rich with dried fruit, gentle spices, and smooth oaky sweetness. Like the distillery, it is accessible.
The MacallanAberlour
Central Speyside has become a Valhalla for spirit enthusiasts, as distilleries such as Aberlour Cardhu Craigellachie Knockando pay tribute to past and current maltmen. The Macallan Estate, in the heart of Spey Valley, looks like it’s always been there. The building appears to be emerging from the earth, half as if it were a mythical Scots monster rearing its tail. The architecture is arresting and a reflection of the forests around it — a visual display of woven steel, wood and vaulted interiors beneath a wildflower-turfed roof. Undeniably romantic, it is also a place for insightful tours and next-level fine dining, thanks to the arrival of TimeSpirit, a fantasy restaurant collaboration with three-Michelin-starred El Celler de Can Roca.
The Port of Leith DistilleryEdinburgh
This vertical distillery is the first in the nation. It’s located down the coast. Every other building in Leith seems to be obsessed with heritage, but not this hyper-modern, nine-storey black waterfront tower—the idea was originally for a conventional distillery, but ambition drove co-owners Ian Stirling and Paddy Fletcher towards the clouds. Along with tours and tastings the mezzanine-level bar on top of the building offers whisky cocktail views and unforgettable skyline views. Vaibhav S., head of whisky at the distillery, says: “We want to examine every step of the production process of whisky in order create a balanced spirit.” “People are in love with the tradition and in an age of digitalization, we produce something organic and steeped is heritage.”
Glen ScotiaCampbeltown
In the 1800s this small town at the end of the road in Kintyre was the whisky capital of the world, with over 35 distilleries packed into the streets. Only three distilleries remain today. Glen Scotia’s Victorian-era warehouse, whose story began in 1832, is still raw and warped. Yet, it makes the perfect setting for tours that teach about mashing, fermentation, distillation, and maturation. Iain McAlister, the distillery manager, is a whiskey polymath. His dedication to single-cask expressions led him and his team to win many awards for best-in class. Don’t miss a flight-tasting masterclass. This distillery is a far cry from the other expensive distilleries. You’ll feel part of an exclusive club.
Ardbeg
Nowhere is the character of whisky so influenced by sea and land as on the Southern Hebridean island of Islay — you can feel it in the air, with your senses slammed. The 10 obsessive distileries on Islay produce phenol-heavy drams that are oily and characterized by sea spray. They also have a pungent peat aroma. Ardbeg, the coastal home of dram in detail warehouse tours plus fine food from The Old Kiln Cafe, and Ardstream trailer, is located here. Ardbeg House will be opening in Port Ellen this fall, complete with 12 themed rooms, restaurant, bar, and meticulous attention to detail. Colin Gordon, distillery manager at Ardbeg Distillery says that whisky lovers will be interested in where the Ardbeg is made after tasting it somewhere like Shanghai. “On a rock in the Atlantic Ocean — and that’s so captivating.”
The original version of this article appeared on Condé Nast Traveller UK.
