Whisky Distillery Tours Edinburgh: Here are 8 of the best distilleries you can visit in and around Scotland's capital
From the year-old Johnnie Walker Experience on Princes Street to the Scotch Whisky Experience on the Royal Mile, there are no shortage of great attractions for whisky lovers visiting Edinburgh.
To really experience Scotland’s national drink a trip to one of the country’s many distilleries is a must.
Many of the famous names that produce whisky offer tours of the premises to visitors.
These tend to involve a tour of the premises with an expert guide divulging all the appropriate facts and figures, followed by the all-important tastings then a trip to the shop to stock up on your new favourite dram.
While many of these temples to the water of life are relatively far-flung in Scotland’s Highlands and Islands, several distilleries are within a 90 minute drive of Edinburgh.
Here are eight of them.
These tend to involve a tour of the premises with an expert guide divulging all the appropriate facts and figures, followed by the all-important tastings then a trip to the shop to stock up on your new favourite dram.
5. Lindores Abbey Distillery
The spiritual home of Scotch whisky is also not far from the capital, it was here, that in 1494 that King James IV sent a commission to a friar living at the Abbey to make for him aqua vitae. This would be the first recorded (in written form) reference to (whisky) spirit making in the country, nowadays what was once home to Friar John (the original spirit maker) is now home to one of Scotland's new distilleries, and perhaps rather aptly, Aqua Vitae is being made there once again. A tour costs £12.50 and (well behaved) dogs are welcome to join. Find the distillery on the outskirts of the Fife village of Newburgh. Photo: Lindores Abbey Distillery
6. Kingsbarns Distillery
This shiny new distillery is part of the resurgence of whisky making in the kingdom of Fife and is another great production site doing things their own way. Check out one of their excellent tours before relaxing with a soup, coffee or a sandwich on the south-east facing cafe and terrace. Don't worry, if you have a larger group and want to stay for dinner, there are no less than two impressive rooms you can rent out for private dining. It's near the village of Kingsbarns, eight miles down the Fife coast from St Andrews. A basic tour including two samples is £12, with more in depth tours (with more drams) available for £25 and £50. Photo: Kingsbarns Distillery
7. Tullibardine Distillery
Located less than 90 minutes from the Capital, Tullibardine Distillery sets in the picturesque Perthshire town of Blackford - on the edge of the Scottish Highlands. It's one of the oldest locations for brewing and distilling alcohol - a young James IV stopped by in 1488 to buy beer, awarding the brewery a royal charter. A classic tour costs £9, but pay £30 and you'll get more samples and a goody bag. Photo: Tullibardine Distillery
8. Glenturret Distillery
Around 90 minutes from Edinburgh, Glenturret is one of Scotland’s oldest working distilleries. Based in the heart of Perthshire on the banks of the Turret River just outside Crieff, there's also a restaurant attached to the distillery should you be feeling peckish. The basic tour costs £15, but for the real whisky buff £100 gives you the chance to create your own unique whisky to take home with you. Photo: Glenturret Distillery