One of the closest ditilleries to Inverness, Tomatin has a rich whisky making heritage dating back to at least the 1500s. Located just outside the village that shares its name, at 315 metres above sea level, Tomatin Distillery is one of the highest distilleries in Scotland. Its elevated position in the Monadhliath Mountains means the Alt-na-Frith gathers very few minerals on its course, making it the perfect source to create a soft and delicate whisky. Should you decide to take a formal tour of Tomatin Distillery, I recommend taking the Legacy Tour. If you'd just prefer to sample their core range then we can visit their Hogshead Bar.

One of my favourite whiskies and one of the few remaining family owned distillieries. The Grant family have owned Glenfarclas since 1865 and is home to one of the more welcoming visitor centres in Speyside. In my opinion they offer the most informative and best value distillery tours. Like most distilleries, the tours do tend to fill up so if you want to book one, please give as much notice as possible.

Recently upgraded visitor centre and comfortable lounge style tasting area. Glenlivet are currently celebrating their 200th anniversary and have introduced a wider range of tours and experiences for 2024. Slightly pricier than Tomatin and Glenfarclas, their experiences start at £25 per person and last 90 minutes or so.

Cardhu distiller, set in one of the most beautiful areas of Speyside, is one of the best-located distilleries in Speyside: high on the hills on the north side of the Spey Valley with delightful views to the south. Another fairly modern distillery visitor centre. Cardhu highlight the historical role played by women in the whisky industry. Cardhu offer a range of affordable tours/experiences from £21-£28 and also one for the connoisseurs at £60.

Constantly recognised and honoured within the whisky industry, Glenallachie produces some of the finest whiskies around. In the experienced hands of legendary whisky maker Billy Walker, a culture of precision, patience and perseverance has been instilled in his small yet accomplished team of whisky experts. Working together, each element of production is optimised to impart complex layers of character. Please let me know if you'd like to take one of the distillery tours offered by Glenallachie. If not, there is a lovely new bar area where we can sample their produce.