I'll be in Edinburgh for 4 days in September and I would like to take my BF to a Whisky Tour. We don't have a car, so if you've done a tour, or know of a fair priced day tour/ guide, please suggest.
I have friends to visit, and may try to rope them into taking us to the Highlands... but for now, I cannot assume we have transportation (f you know what I mean).
Cheers!
Most of the distilleries are further north, but someone may have a suggestion. If no one does, think about just touring the Scotch Whisky Experience. It's a bit hokey, but it's educational and you get to taste some good whisky.
Thanks! I saw the Whisky Experience, and I did find a guy that will take tourist on a one day tour (leave early, come back late).
Hope someone has a good personal recommendation.
Yes, the Edinburgh Scotch Whisky Experience is a fun and educational tour.
We had a serendipitous experience walking towards Dryman at the start of the West Highland Way. A couple of Englishmen rejoined the path after a detour to the Glengoyne Distillery. They assured us that the detour would be worth it and they were right. We were offered tastings of their 5, 10 and 21 year aged whiskies and the older whiskies are clearly better than the younger.
Haggis Adventures has a day tour from Edinburgh that includes a distillery. I have not been on that one, but have done a 3 day tour with them and it was pretty good. I'm not sure if their one day tours trend as young as the overnight tours. Rabbies also has several options for whisky tours from Edinburgh and they have a good reputation.
Thanks Edgar and Jon!! Great tips
http://www.scottishtours.co.uk/tourindex.asp
there are a few day excursion on this page that also includes a whisky distillery tour.
The Whisky Experience is very good. I did the Platinum tour last year with my brother ( my 60th Birthday present from him), expensive but it really was fantastic with a real top notch meal at the end.
Here's one for you from Rabbie's tours. We did a castles and loch tour (1 day tour) it was fun.
Just 12 in a van, a driver and a guide, very informative, and comfortable too. This is the UK version of the pricing, but you can check when you are in town. We just went on line from our hotel and booked the tour the day before. Rabbie's offices are super easy to find.
Thanks Unclegus and Ellen!! Bookmarked!
Michelle, If you can't get out of Edinburgh, there is a Scotch shop on the Royal Mile called Cadenheads. Very nice tasting of several Single Malts. If you can get out, I highly recommend Aberlour, Speyside. Wonderful tour and a tasting that will knock your socks off, from pure spirits to 20 yr. We were able to fill our own bottle and number it in the registry. ( to be held for our 50th anniversary in the closet) Royal Lochnager near Balmoral Castle is worth a visit.(nice crystal glasses) My favorite is way up in Elgin. Cardu a small distillery and the only one started by a woman. You can buy Cardu in the US so don't pay the extreme prices. All the distilleries we visited were all different. On the coast Oban, very peaty. Highlands, milder.
Yes, we toured Scotland. 1400 miles and I don't think we bypassed any distilleries except for GlenLevit in the Highlands.
Do your homework and visit your local stores to see what can be purchased in the US and only bring home what you can't buy here. I think you are limited to 1 liter a piece, but we saw many on the plane with much more than that. There is a thread on RS regarding this matter.
The pubs will have a Scotch of the day.
Enjoy your trip. The Single Malts are all so different.
