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Visit a Distillery to Learn How Scotch Whisky is Made on Speyside

By , About.com Guide

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Distillery Tours on Speyside in Scotland
Visit a Distillery to Learn How Scotch Whisky is Made on Speyside

Glenfiddich Warehouse 1 is the original warehouse built by William Grant and his family in the 19th century.

©Ferne Arfin
Warehouse 1 at Glenfiddich, built in 1886 by William Grant, his children and a stone mason, is still in use, holding 242 casks of maturing malt whisky. It is the only one of the company's 46 warehouses normally open for the free public tour. Glenfiddich was the first distiller to open its doors to whisky tourism, 40 years ago. But it is not the only one. Find out more about visiting Glenfiddich. Then check these links to learn more about other distillers and related attractions you can visit on Speyside:
  • Aberlour In depth tour includes nosing and tasting of 6 malt whiskies and costs £10
  • Benromach The smallest working distillery on Speyside, tours priced from £3.50 to £17.50. For £50 you can hand fill your own bottle.
  • Cardhu Claims to be the only malt whisky distillery pioneered by a woman (albeit as an unlicenced 19th century still) Tours cost from £3 to £8.
  • Dallas Dhu Historic Distillery A visitor museum run by Historic Scotland in a distillery that ceased production in 1983. Admission £5.20
  • Glenfarclas Visitor center, bar and shop. Tours cost £3.50
  • Glen Grant A guided tour of the distillery and the Victorian Garden with a dram in Major Grant's study, cost £3.50
  • The Glenlivet First licenced distillery in the Highlands. Tours are free.
  • Glen Moray, Small and informal distillery in Elgin, the capital of Speyside. Tours from £3 to £15.
  • The Macallan A one hour standard tour and two hour "Precious" tour is available and must be booked in advance. Prices on application to the visitor center.
  • The Speyside Cooperage The only working cooperage open to the public in the UK. Tours cost £3.30
  • Strathisla The oldest working distillery in the Highlands (circa 1786), this is the home of Chivas Regal. Tour costs £5 and includes a dram of 12 year old Strathisla.

And One Last Tip

When you've had your fill of distillery tours, sampled the best and all the rest, stop in to one of the best malt whisky retailers in the world, Gordon & McPhail in Elgin. In addition selling 750 different malt whiskys, the company now owns the Benromach distillery. The retail shop on South Street in Elgin is an Aladdin's cave for whisky lovers and a must visit for anyone on the whisky trail.

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