Scotch tasting tours
Jul 15th, 2001, 02:01 AM
#2
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Angela <BR> <BR>I had previously in response to similar questions said that I was unaware of any formal tours of distilleries. In searching for someone else I then found a cruise which did a foray into Speyside when based at Invergordon (Inevitably I cannot now find that web site) <BR> <BR>However I have now found six sets of tours, with web links and they are:- <BR> <BR>http://www.olstravel.com/olstravel/tours/olstour4g.htm <BR> <BR>http://www.islaywhiskysociety.com/tour/ <BR> <BR>http://www.whisky-tours.com/Events__...kylivetour.htm <BR> <BR>http://www.whisky-tours.com/ <BR> <BR>http://www.scottish-heritage.co.nz/whisky.htm <BR> <BR>http://www.scottish-heritage.co.nz/whisky.htm <BR> <BR>Any time of year is a good time to drink whisky; I think your choice should be based on what you want to do. <BR> <BR>Speyside has a Whisky Trail, which leads tourists from one distillery to the next. For the last 2 years they have also held a festival, based on the Criagellachie Hotel, I think about Speyside Whisky and all its works. It might be worth your while independently doing a couple of days of that then foraying into some of the other whisky regions. <BR> <BR>John Begg of Caledonian Heritage would sort out a tailor made tour for you <BR>if you ask him. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps. I'm topping a couple of other threads on the same subject
Jul 16th, 2001, 10:16 AM
#4
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Angela, <BR> <BR>Have a look at <BR> http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/index.html <BR> <BR>This is the website of the whisky festival in Moray. Unfortunately they are still building the site for 2002 but they do give the dates (3rd - 6th May 2002) and also details of what was availible to do in 2001 . This should give you a great idea of what there is to do during the festival next year. A word of warning though, my Dad was definitely NOT fit to drive after the tastings he had sampled! (Taxis should be easy to arrange). <BR> <BR>Get them to be bold and go it alone - the natives are very friendly and the driving is probably as easy as it gets in the UK. <BR> <BR>
Jul 17th, 2001, 08:02 AM
#6
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My husband and I have been living in Scotland for the past 6 months. I recommend coming in May. The weather is reputed to be the best just before the summer holidays (naturally). Travel is less expensive then also. <BR>We just completed a Speyside whisky tour with my Father. My suggestion would be to buy a book on whisky and to start samlping them at home. There are many differences in whisky. Some have more 'peat'flavor than others. Know what you like as each area has it's own character. My Father prefers the speyside whisky so that is where we went. After a couple of tours you will know how the whisky is made. After that skip the expense and the time and...head for the tasting room. Best to have a designated driver as drunken driving is a serious offense here. Look for whisky that you cannot get at home. You can take two bottles back per person I think. My Father brought home four with no problems. The customs officer just smiled. (thank God) <BR>The tours are a great idea and I think the previous posts were quite helpful in that area. Make a list of favorite whiskys and check to see if tours are available. Some of my Father's favorites didn't offer tours. He likes a book by Michael Jackson that rates the different whiskys on a scale system. My best advice is to find brands that you like and persuit those. Tours may be a good way to get around but..you may not have controll over which distilleries you see. Be careful there is nothing like a 'bad dram' to put you off of the drink. So..choose wisely and have fun.
Jul 17th, 2001, 07:01 PM
#8
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If you're in Edinborough, there's a tasting place right outside the castle at the top of the hill - obviously pretty touristy. The other's responses are much more informed than mine, however - if you have that on your itinerary, there's one there, with some pretty lethal stuff!
