Finlaggan Port Finished 70cl 46%
This varies, some distilleries have age restrictions for safety or licensing reasons. You might be guided by a distillery manager or long-standing team member, which gives a different kind of insight. Smaller distilleries, especially those that open by appointment, often provide a more intimate, behind-the-scenes look.
Red Wine By Country
A sweet yet spicy palate, opening up beautifully with a drop of water, and a waxy candle smoke touch on the finish. Standard tours will take you through the whisky-making process and typically finish with a tasting of the distillery’s core range. Most distilleries will offer a “driver’s pack” which has small sample bottles from the tasting, so you can enjoy them safely later. Connoisseur tours, in contrast, offer a more in-depth experience. The style of whisky here is soft, honeyed, elegant and with a lovely sea-breeze finish, thoroughly enjoyable.
- The area offers golf, historic sites, wildlife watching, and more.
- The GlenAllachie and Glenfarclas also offer excellent, lesser-known tours with plenty of heart and character.
- As you’ve hopefully gathered, there’s far more to visiting a distillery than simply learning how whisky is made.
Be sure to double-check the colour you’ve selected before buying, by checking your original invoice or looking on the manufacturer’s website.
The reputable chateau who originally managed these casks had filled them three times over with French sweet wine, allowing the oak to mellow and therefore temper its influence in our subsequent spirit. A vibrant herring trade would see casks of silver fish and golden whisky transported around the world from Caithness Harbour. This has a lovely, more restrained nose, blackberry, smoke, touch of cigar box, Very pure. The palate has a chewy entry, good acidity, firm grip with a dense persuasive finish that is First Growth standard. Speyside may be best known for its world-renowned whisky, but the region has far more to offer than a dram of Single Malt.
The Whiskyphiles
One of the most northerly distilleries in Scotland, Old Pulteney has been produced in Caithness since 1826. Low key but in the same idiom as Latour with 71% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a tour de force Pichon Baron.
As you’ve hopefully gathered, there’s far more to visiting a distillery than simply learning how whisky is made. Some distilleries, like The Macallan, also offer fine dining, you can read about our own culinary experience at TimeSpirit here. Can I combine whisky https://smoketouch.com/iqos-bulk/ tours with other activities? Distillery tours are as much about Scotland’s rich heritage, people, and place as they are about the whisky itself. I don’t like whisky, will I still enjoy the tour?
Finlaggan Port CaskSmall Batch
They’re great for those newer to whisky or looking to see the full scale of production. The Balvenie stands out, as they grow their own barley, have one of the last working malting floors, their own cooperage, and a traditional dunnage warehouse. For a more detailed review on a few of our favourite whiskies, visit our blog post on Best Distilleries to Visit in Speyside. You might explore areas not usually open to the public, taste rare or cask-strength drams, and in some cases, enjoy curated food pairings.
You can, though your options to visit more rural distilleries will be more limited. Especially during peak season, many tours (particularly the smaller, more exclusive ones like The Balvenie) book out weeks or even months ahead. How many distilleries can I visit in a day? How do I choose between tours? Insider tips, local insight, and expert advice to help you plan the perfect Speyside distillery visit. They also offer a selection of different finishes, including Sherry and Red Wine.
At Fishpools, we are committed to offering only high-quality products. Our pre-Christmas delivery cut-off has now passed. Good looking and easy to switch through three light settings at a touch. Created from smoked acrylic with a glossy chrome base. Funky touch lamp that brings a modern vibe to any room. The range includes a number of NAS single malts, such as the Finlaggan Old Reserve and the Cask Strength.
Finlaggan whiskies are supposed to encapsulate the Islay region and are known for their smokey and briny character. It experienced a redesign in 2014. Ashes of the peat fire, Late sweetness.
The GlenAllachie and Glenfarclas also offer excellent, lesser-known tours with plenty of heart and character. Are all distillery tours the same? Family-owned distilleries like Glenfiddich or Glenfarclas often offer a more personal touch than larger, corporate-owned sites. These are ideal for whisky lovers who have already visited a few distilleries and are looking for something richer, more detailed, and truly memorable. That said, visiting in winter means fewer crowds and a peaceful, atmospheric experience, as long as you’re prepared for a bit of typical ever changeable Highland weather.
Nowhere delivers this experience better than Speyside, home to more than 50 distilleries and widely regarded as the beating heart of Scotland’s whisky country. If you’re a whisky enthusiast, there comes a time when you feel the pull to visit the source. Join our newsletter for early access to new colour releases, special offers, and expert touch-up advice. We offer precision touch-up paints for both bicycles and golf clubs, perfect for repairing chips, scratches, or customizing accents. This 8 year old was subject to 4 years in American oak and then 4 years in ex-Sauternes wine casks for a smoky and sweet & fruity combination.
What’s the difference between a standard and connoisseur tour? What’s the best time of year to visit? A walking tour with Speyside Tours, or a Safari / Private Tour with CopperCairn are both highly recommended.
And as a courtesy, ask before photographing your guide or fellow tour members. However, some parts of the distillery, particularly warehouses may have restrictions. Don’t be shy about asking what’s on offer. Yes, you’ll always getting to try a few of the distilleries core range at a minimum.