Thirsty for authentic culture and a taste of the water of life? Head to Scotland for a top rated distillery tour.
Scotland is a destination I have been to many times and one of a very few places I long to return to more and more. The whisky’s got a lot to do it. But more than the buzz and the flavour, it’s the culture and the craft behind it that makes it so appealing to me. So when the folks at Holidu – the search engine for holiday homes – got in touch with me about their list of Scotland’s top rated whisky distilleries to tour I was keen to take a look and to share those finding with my readers. The data for the list of eight of the best distillery tours in Scotland was collected Google reviews.
Take a look, have a fun and drink responsibly. Slàinte!
Laphroaig, Isle of Islay – 4.8 ★ of 220 reviews
Top of the list is Laphroaig, located on the Isle of Islay, and is a must-see attraction when you are visiting the southern coast of the whisky-rich Scottish island in the Inner Hebrides. With a history of over 200 years, this distillery was founded by brothers and passed through family hands for a further 139 years after its opening. The standard tour here includes sampling of three whiskies of your choice. Laphroaig has been the best-selling malt whisky from Islay since 2002 and is also famously known to be Prince Charles’ favourite whisky!
Ticket cost: Experience Tour – £10
Opening hours: 9:45am – 5pm
Price of accommodation nearby: £32pp per day
Lochranza Distillery, Isle of Arran – 4.7 ★ of 541 reviews
Hopping across the Hebrides to the remote Isle of Arran, Lochranza Distillery comes in second place on Holidu’s list. Arran was actually at the heart of Scotland’s whisky history in the late 18th and early 19th century, back when the whisky export during this time was an illegal practice. Once the home to over 50 distilleries, now, it is home to just this one. This distillery first started production in 1995 and claims its water is the purest in Scotland, sourced from Loch Na Davie. This distillery situated in Lochranza in the north of the island enjoys stunning views of the island and out to sea. Visit for a full day of tours, whisky tasting and finish your experience at the on-site café.
Ticket costs: The Standard Distillery Tour – £10.00
Opening hours: 10am – 4pm (Nov – March)
Price of accommodation nearby: £26pp per day
Lagavulin Distillery, Isle of Islay – 4.7 ★ of 212 reviews
The second distillery on the Isle of Islay to feature in this ranking is Lagavulin. Located at Lagavulin Bay, roughly one mile away from Laphroaig, this building is complemented by its dramatic surroundings of both the lush green land of Islay and its waterside location. Recommended more for experienced Scotch drinkers, Lagavulin Single Malt Whisky has a strong peat flavouring with iodine overtones, often a love or hate feature especially among those newer to the spirit. Whether you want a warehouse demonstration or a premium tasting experience, Lagavulin offers it all.
Ticket cost: Lagavulin Distillery Tour – £8
Opening hours: 10:15am – 4pm (Nov – Feb)
Price of accommodation nearby: £32pp per day
Oban Distillery, Oban – 4.6 ★ of 379 reviews
On to the mainland and the quaint west coast town of Oban for the Oban Distillery. One of the oldest distilleries as well as one of the smallest in Scotland, Oban Distillery oozes charm. It dates all the way back to 1794 when it was founded by brothers, John and Hugh Stevenson. Take the tour here and truly appreciate the story behind this wonderful distillery’s history whilst enjoying a dram of Oban 14 year old West Highland Malt.
Ticket costs: Sensory & Flavour Finding Tour – £12.00
Opening hours: 9:30am – 5pm
Price of accommodation nearby: £25pp per day
Kingsbarns Distillery, Fife – 4.6 ★ of 368 reviews
The youngest distillery on Holidu’s list, the Kingsbarns Distillery in Fife, opened its doors in 2014 and has a special twist – it is a gin distillery as well! Lovers of both spirits will be in a complete haven here. If you’re a whisky novice and know nothing about the liquor, the Kingsbarns Tour will introduce you to the world of liquid gold drink whilst exploring the exhibition space, working distillery and tasting room to try the award-winning product for yourself.
Ticket cost: Kingsbarns Tour – £10
Opening hours: 11am – 4pm (Nov – Feb)
Price of accomodation nearby: £25pp per day
Blair Athol Distillery, Pitlochry – 4.6 ★ of 222 reviews
Another long-running distillery is Blair Athol Distillery in Pitlochry. One of the oldest in Scotland, this is a stunning building nestled at the gateway to the picturesque Scottish Highlands. The exterior of the distillery is covered by sprawling ivy, making it blend in with the green countryside surroundings. For those of you interested in more than just the standard tour, there are a variety of tour packages that feature a number of tasting opportunities and a hosted lunch with the operator.
Ticket cost: Blair Athol Standard Tour – £9.50
Opening hours: 10am – 5pm
Price of accommodation nearby: £33pp per day
The Glenlivet Distillery Brand Home, Ballindalloch – 4.6 ★ of 210 reviews
Founded in 1824, The Glenlivet Distillery Brand Home has been in operation almost continually since it opened. Take the Glenlivet Classic Tour to gain an understanding of the day-to-day process and then wander around the museum that details the history of the whisky production at Glenlivet. Round up your day at The Old Maltings Coffee Shop where you can treat yourself to a slice of their Glenlivet whisky cake! The distillery is currently closed for the winter, but plan ahead and book your trip for March 2020 when it reopens.
Ticket cost: The Glenlivet Classic Tour – £12.50
Opening hours: 10am – 4:30pm
Price of accommodation nearby: £23pp per day
Glenfiddich Distillery, Dufftown – 4.5 ★ of 375 reviews
The final place goes to the victorian-era Glenfiddich Distillery located in Dufftown, Moray. First founded in 1886 by William Grant, a budding whisky entrepreneur who had a vision of producing ‘the best dram in the valley’. William, with the help of his family, built the distillery themselves by hand, taking one year to finish the stone building which would then be the hub of their Glenfiddich product. Take the explorers tour and you will be shown a film explaining the history of this traditional, family-owned distillery before being shown around by knowledgeable guides guiding you through the process of how their world’s best-selling single malt whisky is produced.
Ticket cost: Explorer Tour – £10
Opening hours: 9:30am – 4:30pm
Price of accomodation nearby: £23pp per day
About Holidu
Holidu’s mission is to finally make the search and booking of holiday rentals easy. Its search engine for holiday rentals allows travellers to book the ideal accommodation for the lowest price. The company also helps holiday rental owners multiply their bookings with less work through its software and service solution under the Bookiply brand. The brothers Johannes and Michael Siebers founded Holidu in 2014. The high-growth startup is headquartered in Munich and has local offices in the most attractive travel destinations in Europe.
For more information, go to holidu.co.uk and bookiply.com.
