Agriculture and viticulture Scotland

Here, we boast about taking its time in the manufacture of malt. Between Glasgow and Loch Lomond there are several types of visits, the shortest of which lasts 45 minutes and ends with a Glengoyne dram 12 years old. This distillery opened its doors in 1833 and has the particularity of producing a Highland whisky, which matured in the Lowlands, its production site being horse between the two regions.

Founded in 1794, this distillery is one of the only ones you will find in the city centre of a very touristic destination, which makes it a must-see during a visit to Oban. Its production site has never really expanded for lack of space and the techniques are faithful to the principles of this fascinating industry. The £12 tour is particularly complete and informative and includes a first tasting of the whisky, directly from the cask, and a second one, once the product is bottled. You will discover the 14 year old, which goes remarkably well with ginger and dark chocolate. This single malt no longer has any followers in the world, thanks to an identity between sea and land, which is found in its iodized, fruity and slightly smoky flavours. Two other visits are proposed to the most passionate: the "Exclusive Distillery Tour" of 2 hours, with discovery of the warehouses and tastings, and the "Distillery Manager's Tour & Tasting" with the site manager.

The site is also very pleasant to visit even without a guided tour, with a shop where you can bottle an exclusive whisky yourself, and engrave your bottle to make it unique. Upstairs, the bar area offers an exhibition on the history of Oban and its distillery, and plunges you into the atmosphere of an old rigging. Here you can taste the Oban whisky of your choice or try the cocktails. Why not the old fashioned Oban: Oban 14, syrup, bitter and ice cubes? Or the Oban Hot Toddy: Oban 14, honey, spices, hot orange juice?

Created in 1898, it is the smallest distillery of Speyside. It reopened in the presence of Prince Charles in 1998, after 15 years of closure. It draws its spring water from the hills behind Forres. You will discover that it is not only the taste that is concerned by whisky, but that its production appeals to the touch, the sight and the ear. The standard visit lasts 1 hour and ends with a 10-year-old dram. There are different options for visits and tastings according to your desires and your knowledge of whisky.

Founded in 1824, The Glenlivet Distillery is one of the oldest distilleries in the region and the second largest distributor in the world after Glenfiddich. In the early ^19th century, it was the favorite whisky of aristocrats and the king. The tour will take you behind the scenes of this famous whisky: the history of its distillery, the production process, the storage in the warehouse. You can even taste the spirit directly from the barrel. Audioguides in French are available to follow the tour, even if you don't speak the language.

It is difficult not to succumb to the charm of this so familiar distillery. Its discovery during a guided tour invites you to discover the secrets of the making of this world-famous whisky. The stills are certainly what impresses the most, by their size as well as by their beauty. The visit, even the simplest, ends with a commented tasting in the reserved area. The immediate surroundings of the site, with the breathtaking view of the Dornoch Firth, a protected area for bird watching, are also an undeniable asset of the visit.

This ultra-modern distillery is the novelty of the Speyside to see. The place is absolutely sumptuous and whether you are sensitive or not to contemporary architecture, this site seduces every time, for its incredible originality and aestheticism. In addition to the visits (please remember to book), stop here to see the exhibition retracing the history of Macallan and presenting exceptional decanters and bottles. It is free and freely accessible. Brasserie and bar will be a must, with a very appreciable quality-price ratio.

This distillery is a place of pilgrimage for whisky lovers. After a 523-year hiatus, the copper stills at Lindores Abbey are back in operation. The distillery offers simple tours to understand everything about whiskey making and "apothecary experiments" around the Aqua Vitae, first created in 1494. The welcome center, in a cloister, is another asset of the place, as well as its café and its afternoon teas... whisky and champagne!

The Talisker Distillery is the star of the island and one of its main attractions. Celebrated throughout the world, it was founded in 1830 and was much appreciated by Robert Louis Stevenson. The simple tour lasts about 45 minutes and is very complete, through the entire manufacturing process. It ends with the tasting of the 10-year-old, a single malt with a 45.8% strength and a full-bodied, peaty, spicy and pleasantly iodized character. Another tour combines whisky and chocolate, and a third offers a guided tasting with an expert.

At the eastern entrance of Aberfeldy, the Dewar's distillery enjoys a huge fame in the whisky industry. Worked by the Dewar family, it started distilling in 1898 and produces very appreciated and varied single malts and blends. The classic tour is very informative and includes the tasting of a dram of your choice. There is also a tour combining the flavours of chocolate and whisky. There is also a very pleasant café-bar on site.

Created in 1825, this small distillery is named after its famous neighbour, the giant Ben Nevis. It does not really offer the longest and most complete visit of Scotland, but still has the advantage of being in the city centre of a tourist destination. The 10 years of age is the lighthouse malt. It's 46% percent, is pretty rounded, soft and dry.

The Singleton of Glen Ord is the miraculous meeting between the barley of Black Isle and the water of White Burn. The Glen Ord distillery, set in a green setting, tells the story of its whisky and its particularities through an exhibition (with multilingual translations) and guided tours, ranging from the simplest with tasting, to those for the most passionate and expert: with tutored tasting live from the casks, with tasting of 6 different whiskies... The bar, accessible to all, overlooks the barrels and is beautiful.

Here we visit a mid-19th century farmhouse, which was occupied until the 1960s. The main resources came from the sea and the man was generally a fisherman, while women and children worked the land. The whole family lived in this space - grandparents, parents and children - divided into two parts: the Ben end or bedroom and the But end or kitchen. The site offers a striking experience and an interesting perspective of life at that time, devoid of superfluous and keeping to the bare essentials of life.

Created in 2015, this distillery opened its doors to the public in spring 2019. It invites you to discover how gin is made through 3 visits. They will show you the premises, the manufacturing techniques, the perfect recipe for gin and tonic and will allow you to taste one or more drinks, depending on the formula chosen. The guided tours are special in that they also tell you about Stirling, its history and its legends: that of the Red Cap and the Green Lady in particular. You can also follow a 2-hour workshop to distill your gin.

On the border of the National Park, Dalwhinnie is a world-famous distillery. The location alone is quite impressive, beaten by the wind between the mountains. Founded in 1898, it is the highest in the country. The visit is very complete and interesting, and lasts about 45 minutes. It was voted the best in Scotland in 2017. At the end, a tile of chocolate accompanies a 15 year old dram, a 43% single malt, complex, thick and aromatic. An in-depth chocolate & whisky tasting is also offered.

If you've ever been to a few pubs in Orkney or even the rest of Scotland, this is a brewery you've heard of. Its beers are among the best in the country and are all produced here, before landing in the pints of real ales lovers. Tours last 40 minutes and depart regularly, but reservations can be made to ensure a schedule. A tasting concludes the experience (beer for adults, fruit juice for children) and there is also a café renowned for its food on site.

The second Orkney distillery, Scapa, was created in 1885 but went through a deep crisis in the 1990s and almost closed down... Fortunately, this never happened and facts proved that there was indeed room for two great whisky names in Kirkwall. The tour takes in the entire production site and its magnificent surroundings, before tasting a 14 year old dram, less peaty than most single island malts but radiantly fruity and spicy. Those under 18 have no access to guided tours.

Founded in 1810, Jura is one of the most isolated distilleries in Scotland. It almost fell into oblivion in the 1950's, before two landowners of the island took it over. Today, it is an important activity provider for the island community and offers visits of its production. Two of its single malts are well known: Jura Origin is a typical western whisky, slightly smoked, with a grainy aroma and a touch of brine. The Jura Superstition is more unctuous, peaty and spicy.

Distillery established in 2005, it is the latest addition to the island scene. Its production is low by local standards, but the one-hour visit remains instructive for all enthusiasts and includes the tasting of two dramas. She has the particularity of producing a whisky that you will only find in Islay, made from a malt exclusively grown on the island's farms and property. The Kilchoman Café offers lunch and all day dining, which is convenient for a gourmet snack on this side of the island.

Founded in 1991, the Bruichladdich distillery presents itself as innovative and progressive. Recognizable by its turquoise blue bottles, it works with three types of single malts: Bruichladdich, not peaty, Port Charlotte, very peaty, and Octomore, claimed to be the most peaty in the world. You will discover that the Bruichladdich blue has quite a history, since it is present in the distillery and outside, on certain days of good weather, when the sun lights up the Loch. The distillery also makes The Botanist gin.

Springbank is one of the last distilleries still active in Campbeltown. Present in its current premises since 1828, it claims to conduct 100% of its production on site, which is extremely rare in Scotland. The tour unveils the process from A to Z and ends with a tasting of the 10-year-old, a single malt with tastes of citrus fruits, spices and peat smoke, with a hint of vanilla. You'll leave with your miniature as a gift to prolong the pleasure or just to enjoy it if you have to drive.