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A memorable week visiting Speyside and Highlands Distilleries …
One of my favourite jobs is as the driver for the esteemed whisky writer Ingvar Ronde. He normally visits Scotland twice a year to do research for his next edition of The Malt Whisky Yearbook. Last week we visited many Speyside Distilleries and Highland Distilleries, the highlight for me was the opportunity to visit some very new ones plus some favourites which are closed to the public.
We started the week from our Elgin base of Kilmorie House and visits included Knockdhu, Auchroisk and Benrinnes. There was also a chance to visit the brand new Cabrach which is owned by a charitable trust bringing back distilling to a previously famous area. Two highlights for me were Craigellachie Distillery, which I have driven past so many times but is closed to visitors and Dailuaine, a deceptively large site where most of the production goes into Johnnie Walker blends but their 16 year old single malt is one of our favourites.
We then travelled north for the rest of the week and to our base in Dornoch at the Castle Hotel. From there we visited Toulvaddie Distllery, one of the first for centuries to be started by a woman. In addition, some favourites like Balblair and Glenmorangie. The visitor centre at Glen Ord is especially impressive and Singleton single malt is fast becoming a firm favourite of mine.
But the standout visits have to be the recently reopened Brora Distillery which has been lovingly restored closely as possible to the original distillery. It has been finished to perfection and you could still feel the history and character. Tours there are very high end but I can see why!
And then there is Dalmore! One of my favourite drams but the scale of the distillery expansion is breath taking. I was very fortunate to visit the still hard hat site with not only the distillery manager but also the architect. Very few have had the opportunity to see the work in progress. There were 86 construction personnel on site that day. I hope to visit again next year when the work is completed. For those of you who like a cigar we recommend the Dalmore Cigar Malt and our personal favourite for special occasions is the Dalmore King Alexander III.
Our tour concluded with a visit to Tomatin a first for me but certainly not the last. Back in the last century it was the biggest producer in Scotland. We ended the day in Edinburgh where it was time to say goodbye to my passengers. I’m already looking forward to the next tour with Ingvar, in April 2025.
We highly recommend our Sensational Speyside whisky tour, 4 night/5 day tour staying in Elgin, the heart of Speyside, a great short tour around some of our favourite places!.
For those fancying seeing some of idyllic Scottish islands then try our Highlands tour
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