Having been on countless distillery tours ourselves, often with clients as part of an organised group visit, we feel that we’ve built up quite a broad knowledge of them over the years.

Inevitably, we’ve had a lot of questions about Scotch whisky distillery tours, such as ‘What are the best distilleries to visit in Scotland?’, ‘Can we book an Edinburgh distillery visit, a Glenlivet distillery visit, a Talisker visit, etc.?’

So, we’ve decided to put together some of the must-see, best scotch whisky distillery tours, covering each of Scotland’s five whisky-producing regions.

Lowlands

Port of Leith Distillery, Leith, Edinburgh

In Edinburgh’s historic harbour area of Leith, you will find the tallest distillery in the world – the newly-opened Port of Leith Distillery, located in an imposing purpose-built tower next to the waterside. 

On the tour you’ll hear about the founders’ vision and how the distillery came to be, before making your way through the remarkable nine-storey building’s vertical layout to view the production process. The tour concludes with a tasting of The Port of Leith’s new-make spirit. At the bar on the top floor, you can enjoy whisky cocktails and small plates, while taking in the stunning views over the Firth of Forth, Edinburgh, and the Salisbury Crags.

Tours are available Monday to Sunday, year-round.

Glenkinchie Distillery, Tranent, East Lothian

Hidden away in the leafy heart of East Lothian, 15 miles from Edinburgh, lies the Glenkinchie Distillery, famous for producing the light and grassy ‘Edinburgh Malt’ for Johnnie Walker.

The tour, which starts from the brand-new visitor centre, includes a multi-sensory experience where you can identify aromas within the new-make spirit. Then, you’ll witness the production process, and view the giant copper still, currently the largest on the British mainland. 

There’s an opportunity to sample three drams and a whisky cocktail. There’s also a small bar and lounge serving whisky, cocktails, coffee, and food platters.

Tours are available Monday to Sunday, year-round.

Campbeltown

Glen Scotia, Campbeltown

One of only three remaining distilleries in the Campbeltown region, Glen Scotia, known for its traditional distilling methods, is certainly the best distillery to visit in Campbeltown and was even awarded ‘Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year’ at the Scottish Whisky Awards in 2021. 

The tour itself is definitely one for whisky history buffs because much of the original design including the mash tun, stillroom, and dunnage warehouses are exactly as they were when the distillery began operation in the 1830s. You’ll witness the production process in action before rounding it all off with a complimentary dram in the Victorian-styled whisky shop. 

Tours are available Monday to Friday, year-round.

Islay (& Islands)

Lagavulin, Isle of Islay

With its iconic red chimney standing guard over Lagavulin Bay, Lagavulin Distillery is one of the oldest and most traditional on Islay. It is highly famed for producing a complex, rich peaty single malt, notoriously coveted by Parks & Recreation’s Ron Swanson.  

On a guided tour through the distillery, you’ll visit the still house to see the distillers at work and view the unusual pear-shaped copper stills. The tour culminates with a tutored tasting session and, on the distillery ‘exclusive’ experience, you’ll hand-fill a bottle from a cask to take home with you.

Tours are available on varying days of the week, depending on the time of year.

Talisker, Isle of Skye

On the rugged shores of Loch Harport, sits Talisker Distillery, the oldest distillery on the Isle of Skye and known for producing a particularly spicy, peated single malt Scotch whisky. In recent years, it has undergone a multi-million-pound refurbishment resulting in a new state-of-the-art visitor centre.

The tour is a fully immersive experience – utilising audio, and art installations – where you will journey through Talisker’s history and production processes before learning how Talisker’s location next to the sea influences the taste of its whisky. The tour includes a tasting of three of Talisker’s award-winning single malt whiskies.

Tours are available on varying days of the week, depending on the time of year.

Speyside

The Glenlivet, Ballindalloch

Tucked away in a remote glen at the edge of the Cairngorms, you’ll find the impressive Glenlivet distillery (), which for 2023 was voted ‘Scotland’s Leading Whisky Distillery Tour’ at the World Travel Awards.

The tour includes an immersive visual experience as well as a distillery and warehouse visit, where you’ll learn about cask selection and how oak plays a vital role in the maturation. Finally, you’ll have the opportunity to experience a guided tasting, sampling three of The Glenlivet’s whiskies, including a distillery-exclusive dram.

Tours are available on varying days of the week, depending on the time of year.

Macallan Distillery, Craigellachie, Moray

In the middle of the vast 485-acre Macallan Estate you’ll find The Macallan Distillery. The distillery building itself has been cleverly designed to blend in with the natural landscape, appearing from the distance as a series of artificial hillocks.

Inside, the tour starts with a brief history of single malt whisky before a tour guide walks you through the distillery process where you’ll see mash tuns, condensers and stills built on an industrial scale, and rather unusually, arranged in a circle formation. And of course, a visit to The Macallan Distillery wouldn’t be complete without a detour to The Macallan Bar for a final whisky tasting experience.

Tours are available Fridays to Sundays until 17 December 2023. New tour times will be released early in 2024.

Highlands

Nc’Nean Distillery, Lochaline, Morven

Situated on an old farmland estate on the Morven peninsula lies the small, independent Nc’Nean Distillery. Nc’Nean is known for organic and sustainable distilling, and in 2021 became the UK’s first and only distillery to achieve net zero emissions for its operations.

On the tour, you’ll learn about Nc’Nean’s unique approach to distilling; why they consider the spirit stage to be the most crucial and learn about their innovation and experimentation with various yeasts and spirit recipes. The tour includes tea, cake and drams including an alcohol-free option for the drivers in your group.

Tours available Monday to Fridays, year-round.

Glenturret Distillery, The Hosh, Crieff

Situated in the southern Highlands region, The Glenturret Distillery produces handcrafted single malt Scotch whisky using traditional methods and has the claim of being the oldest working distillery in Scotland, tracing its roots back to 1763. 

On the tour you’ll discover the distillery’s traditional production processes, view the mash tun and wooden washbacks and learn about the ‘head’ and the ‘heart of the spirit. Finally, you’ll arrive in the grand tasting room, adorned with two huge crystal chandeliers, where you can sample a dram of Glenturret’s Triple Wood Scotch whisky.

The new visitor centre has a well-stocked shop, a café, a bar and a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Tours are available daily, year-round. 

Final Thoughts

So, if you’re thinking of visiting a distillery in Scotland, hopefully we’ve given you an idea of some of the very best Scotch whisky distillery tours to try, and this is only a small selection of some really fantastic experiences out there.

A good Scotch whisky distillery tour will leave you with a strong lasting impression and a sense that you have fostered a connection with the brand and the makers. Additionally, on a distillery tour you should be able to pick up an essence of the local culture and community, as well as have the chance to savour Scotland’s stunning beauty.