"The Whisky trail
Glenfiddich in Dufftown does an excellent tour for free with tasting of 3 different aged Glenfiddichs at the end. I think that it is the only free tour these days. The 36 bus which runs hourly from Elgin will take you there via Craigellachie (twice) and Aberlour.
I also recommend a visit to the Cooperage between Craigellachie and Dufftown where there is an excellent exhibition and you watch the skilled craftsmen on piece work repairing used barrels ready for their next fill with whisky. Well worth the entrance fee but only open Mon - Fri. The coopers need the weekend off when you see how hard they work most impressive and you would not want to arm wrestle with any of them.
I also recommend a visit to the Cooperage between Craigellachie and Dufftown where there is an excellent exhibition and you watch the skilled craftsmen on piece work repairing used barrels ready for their next fill with whisky. Well worth the entrance fee but only open Mon - Fri. The coopers need the weekend off when you see how hard they work most impressive and you would not want to arm wrestle with any of them.
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The Sprinbank distillery in Cambeltown is well worth going to, they do everything on site, barley comes in, bottles go out. As far as I know it is the only fully integrated distillery left, all the others I have been to bring in and or ship out material or liquor. It is not that far from a favourite airfield either...
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....just spoken to a friend who used to run the Strathmill distillery in Keith (where Strathisla is too). The latter is owned by Chivas and their "tours" tend to cover all the brands they are responsible for - ergo a wider selection of tastes.
6K gallons of scotch accidentally flushed down drain
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Again, thanks to all for the ideas. Phil, we did Campbeltown last year and, what a tour that is. It must be the last full process you can see. I think I have a few plans in my mind now. Thanks for all who proffered suggestions, I will use as much as I can to make it a decent week away. I'm hoping to at least anaesthasise myself at some point in the trip. 
Last edited by smujsmith; 27th Apr 2013 at 19:01.
I had my first 'trail' tour in the Benromach distillery in Forres. Good tour(free) - small group and a splendid dram. Hmm, I'm at Lossie next week and if it's raining praps a tour somewhere on Tues -thanks for the thought!
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VMD+12 posted and I won't apologise for repeating this but it's a must. try and build a miniature barrel yourself - it's not easy. But they also manufacture new barrels with wood imported from Canada and the U.S.
Glenfiddich in Dufftown does an excellent tour for free with tasting of 3 different aged Glenfiddichs at the end. I think that it is the only free tour these days. The 36 bus which runs hourly from Elgin will take you there via Craigellachie (twice) and Aberlour.
I also recommend a visit to the Cooperage between Craigellachie and Dufftown where there is an excellent exhibition and you watch the skilled craftsmen on piece work repairing used barrels ready for their next fill with whisky. Well worth the entrance fee but only open Mon - Fri. The coopers need the weekend off when you see how hard they work most impressive and you would not want to arm wrestle with any of them.
Glenfiddich in Dufftown does an excellent tour for free with tasting of 3 different aged Glenfiddichs at the end. I think that it is the only free tour these days. The 36 bus which runs hourly from Elgin will take you there via Craigellachie (twice) and Aberlour.
I also recommend a visit to the Cooperage between Craigellachie and Dufftown where there is an excellent exhibition and you watch the skilled craftsmen on piece work repairing used barrels ready for their next fill with whisky. Well worth the entrance fee but only open Mon - Fri. The coopers need the weekend off when you see how hard they work most impressive and you would not want to arm wrestle with any of them.
Depending on how energetic you and the misses are feeling, here another way of doing Speyside without driving:
http://www.fullonadventure.co.uk/adventure-journeys/inland-kayakcanoe/canoe-trips/canoe-and-whisky-tour-of-speyside/
http://www.fullonadventure.co.uk/adventure-journeys/inland-kayakcanoe/canoe-trips/canoe-and-whisky-tour-of-speyside/
I went to a fair at Inverary Castle last year where they had a whiskey tasting tent and reps from a lot of the distilleries to offer advice as you attempted to drink everything in sight, which wasn't possible. I vaguely recall Heather, peat, quince Oh, and a pipe band doing some green day songs, before falling into a deep sleep
All the taste - None of the travelling.
All the taste - None of the travelling.
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Someone else has mentioned Benromach at Forres. They are an old fashioned traditional distillery with a good range of malts. I spent a lovely few days there (not the whole time at the distillery!) and thoroughly enjoyed it. Nairn and Elgin, Findhorn, Inverness, and Aberdeen are nearby and worth visiting.
I stayed at the delightful Ramnee Hotel in Forres and used that as a base for seeing the area. A very civilised part of the world.
I stayed at the delightful Ramnee Hotel in Forres and used that as a base for seeing the area. A very civilised part of the world.
Myself and Mrs Akro walked the Speyside way last year from Aviemore to Spey Bay. The rules of the holiday included an evening tasting session of the products from each distillery we'd passed during the day. Needless to say there were one or two "fuzzy" mornings as we set off along the trail. The best night by far was in Craigellachie where we hosted by a Japanese whisky sommelier.
If you've the time, and energy, I recommend walking the trail, it follows old railway tracks for the majority of the walk and isn't that strenuous. Whisky and salmon each night culminating in watching an Osprey make light work of it's prey at the end of the trail..... superb.
If you've the time, and energy, I recommend walking the trail, it follows old railway tracks for the majority of the walk and isn't that strenuous. Whisky and salmon each night culminating in watching an Osprey make light work of it's prey at the end of the trail..... superb.
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Originally Posted by NutLoose
Quote:
Is that the one that flushed it all down the sewer?
Is that the one that flushed it all down the sewer?
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How about the Speyside Whisky Festival 2-6 May? Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival
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60024,
Now that sounds good. Thanks to everyone who has advised/recommended and generally ensured that I will find something. Maybe in the future others may find some use in it. I just knew that you boys would know.
Smudge
Now that sounds good. Thanks to everyone who has advised/recommended and generally ensured that I will find something. Maybe in the future others may find some use in it. I just knew that you boys would know.
Smudge
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You could try a meal at the Muckrach Lodge just outside Grantown and during the after dinner drinks at the bar casually suggest that you might know a bit about malt whisky.
I can just about remember an evening when the landlord/owner tried to impress us with his superior knowledge of the stuff and kept getting us to taste the various tipples - without charge. We bowed to his superior knowledge
and everyone had a great time.
I can just about remember an evening when the landlord/owner tried to impress us with his superior knowledge of the stuff and kept getting us to taste the various tipples - without charge. We bowed to his superior knowledge
and everyone had a great time.
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A very smart tactic. I was in a bar in Edinburgh with some locals, and told them (untruthfully) that I didn't like whisky. I was promptly offered a selection of Scotland's finest, and they just kept coming .....
I must say I didn't much like whisky for the next couple of days! I was a write-off at work the next day, I must have drank a gallon of coffee, and that's something I genuinely don't like.
I must say I didn't much like whisky for the next couple of days! I was a write-off at work the next day, I must have drank a gallon of coffee, and that's something I genuinely don't like.
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Gets my vote.
Talisker (skye) is my overall fave or hop over to Islay where almost every roadsign is a single malt and you can do Lagavulin,Laphroaig and Ardbeg within approx 5 miles
Just to reinforce the Springbank option - The Royal hotel has been renovated- very nice it is too but its now part of Mac' golf club. Whiskey AND golf. Ok - that's divource territory..
don't get lured to the 'Roseisle Distillery' (Diageo) near Forres. It is Scotland's biggest producer but all the product is driven away in tankers for blending down south. No visitors allowed. Try Glen Moray - Elgin's local distillery, right on the edge of town. They do some fantastic limited editions in various casks (port wood - mmmm!) and the shop prices are cheaper than Tesco. Agree re the Buccaneer - think the prices are due to there being only small numbers of bottles so the distributors can't sell them through the normal outlets? They also used to have cheap beer that was always close to expiry date but who really looks at that?! Can't stand the Island malts myself - Laphroig smells like Germolene to me!!
