Scotland - Whisky Distillery Tour
Nov 28th, 2005, 02:07 PM
#21
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I enjoyed the tour at Glenkinchie near Edinburgh. It was only a few pounds and they give you a certificate for the same few pounds off your purchases in their store.
The guide was very nice, and during the tasting we were permitted to try other distilleries products as well as their own.
I brought back minitures of Glenkinchie as gifts for friends. They were a hit, and now two of my friends are drinking Glenkinchie.
Keith
The guide was very nice, and during the tasting we were permitted to try other distilleries products as well as their own.
I brought back minitures of Glenkinchie as gifts for friends. They were a hit, and now two of my friends are drinking Glenkinchie.
Keith
Nov 28th, 2005, 11:32 PM
#22
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Glenkinchie is part of UCD (see above) and is marketed with 5 others as "The Classic Malts" the other 5 are (can I do this without looking it up?) Lagavulin, Oban, Dalwhinniealisker adn Cragganmore (I admit it. I had to look up Cragganmore).
IMHO, Glenkinchie is the least pleasant of those, but I freely admit it is a matter of taste.
IMHO, Glenkinchie is the least pleasant of those, but I freely admit it is a matter of taste.
Nov 29th, 2005, 08:01 AM
#23
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Maybe I missed it, but didn't see anyone mention the Maccallan (sp) tour near Craigallachie. Not being a Scotch whisky drinker, I enjoyed it for the marvelous outlooks across the River Spey. However, my husband found it to be a really comprehensive tour.
Dec 1st, 2005, 02:23 PM
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I've been deprived of Fodors too long. How could I have missed this topic for a week? In no particular order of preference:-
I refuse to visit the Famous Grouse place on two grounds. First, anything that markets itself as an "experience" should be treated with suspicion. Second, a distillery that makes some more than palatable single malts sells out to the marketing bods and uses the name of a blend (a BLEND!!!) to get people in the door. DiAblo, loved your reminiscences, but their definition of the "local" whisky was a wee bit out. One of the reasons that Grouse is better than your average blend is that it contains a higher than average content of decent malt whisky - Highland Park to be precise, from Orkney - the furthest distillery from Edinburgh. You usually find with whisky as with beer, the ones that sell best in pubs do so on account of advertising, not the quality of the drink.
As for the choice of which distillery to visit, if you've never been to one you'll find it an interesting experience whichever one you go to. I wouldn't go near a distilery that charged more than a token fee for the tour - if they really think their whisky is any good they'll be confident that after a free taste you'll buy some to take home - except the ones that assume all tourists are idiots who won't notice that a bottle bought from the distillery where it was made costs more than it does in the shop five miles down the road. Seriously, check out the prices in the local shops before you go, you might save a lot of money buying there than at the distillery.
I refuse to visit the Famous Grouse place on two grounds. First, anything that markets itself as an "experience" should be treated with suspicion. Second, a distillery that makes some more than palatable single malts sells out to the marketing bods and uses the name of a blend (a BLEND!!!) to get people in the door. DiAblo, loved your reminiscences, but their definition of the "local" whisky was a wee bit out. One of the reasons that Grouse is better than your average blend is that it contains a higher than average content of decent malt whisky - Highland Park to be precise, from Orkney - the furthest distillery from Edinburgh. You usually find with whisky as with beer, the ones that sell best in pubs do so on account of advertising, not the quality of the drink.
As for the choice of which distillery to visit, if you've never been to one you'll find it an interesting experience whichever one you go to. I wouldn't go near a distilery that charged more than a token fee for the tour - if they really think their whisky is any good they'll be confident that after a free taste you'll buy some to take home - except the ones that assume all tourists are idiots who won't notice that a bottle bought from the distillery where it was made costs more than it does in the shop five miles down the road. Seriously, check out the prices in the local shops before you go, you might save a lot of money buying there than at the distillery.
Dec 20th, 2005, 05:16 PM
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We're thinking of 10/11 days in Scotland in June/July 2005. Would love to visit islay and the highlands but not sure how to do it. We like to spend a few days in any hotel...not one night stands.
Any suggested driving itineraries appreciated.....
Any suggested driving itineraries appreciated.....
Dec 21st, 2005, 12:53 PM
#27
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ghstudio,
You'd be better posting a new thread asking for ideas. Do a search first as there have been lots of threads on similar themes.
The ferry for Islay leaves from Kennacraig about 60 miles south of Oban.
While you're in the neighbourhood, the whole west coast from Oban to the Mull of Kintyre is worth a few days, especially if you're into ancient history. This is where the first Scots, or Scotti as they were then, came over from Ireland and there are some historic sites that would be swamped with tourists if they were a few hundred miles further south.
"The Highlands" is a huge area and you'll need months if not years to see it all. Go north up the coast from Oban, visit Glencoe if you like, through Fort William (superb setting, ugly town). Nearly everyone shoots straight up to Inverness but a detour west to Mallaig is worthwhile - you can even get the ferry from Mallaig to south Skye, through the island and back across the bridge to Kyle of Lochalsh and continue from there. The west coast from Kyle of Lochalsh to Cape Wrath on the top left hand corner of Scotland is unmissable. You won't have time to do justice to it all, but whatever else you do, spend a few days in this corner of heaven on earth. Then to Inverness - if you're not a town person there's no reason to stay here, though it's a convenient base for day trips. Spend some time around Deeside and / or highland Perthshire on your way south towards Edinburgh.
This will be more than enough to fill 10 or 11 days and you haven't been anywhere near Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, the Moray Firth coast, the Kingdom of Fife, the Borders, Ayrshire, Arran, Galloway, ... Sorry, you'll need to come back every year for the next ten years at least!
Merry Christmas.
You'd be better posting a new thread asking for ideas. Do a search first as there have been lots of threads on similar themes.
The ferry for Islay leaves from Kennacraig about 60 miles south of Oban.
While you're in the neighbourhood, the whole west coast from Oban to the Mull of Kintyre is worth a few days, especially if you're into ancient history. This is where the first Scots, or Scotti as they were then, came over from Ireland and there are some historic sites that would be swamped with tourists if they were a few hundred miles further south.
"The Highlands" is a huge area and you'll need months if not years to see it all. Go north up the coast from Oban, visit Glencoe if you like, through Fort William (superb setting, ugly town). Nearly everyone shoots straight up to Inverness but a detour west to Mallaig is worthwhile - you can even get the ferry from Mallaig to south Skye, through the island and back across the bridge to Kyle of Lochalsh and continue from there. The west coast from Kyle of Lochalsh to Cape Wrath on the top left hand corner of Scotland is unmissable. You won't have time to do justice to it all, but whatever else you do, spend a few days in this corner of heaven on earth. Then to Inverness - if you're not a town person there's no reason to stay here, though it's a convenient base for day trips. Spend some time around Deeside and / or highland Perthshire on your way south towards Edinburgh.
This will be more than enough to fill 10 or 11 days and you haven't been anywhere near Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, the Moray Firth coast, the Kingdom of Fife, the Borders, Ayrshire, Arran, Galloway, ... Sorry, you'll need to come back every year for the next ten years at least!
Merry Christmas.
Dec 22nd, 2005, 11:00 PM
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I have an Islay itinerary I can send you if you email me.
As you may know Islay has a whisky festival. I just went looking for the web link and found this in this week's Ileach (the local paper)
http://www.ileach.co.uk/festival/
This year's details aren't up yet, but see:-
http://www.feisile.org/
As you may know Islay has a whisky festival. I just went looking for the web link and found this in this week's Ileach (the local paper)
http://www.ileach.co.uk/festival/
This year's details aren't up yet, but see:-
http://www.feisile.org/
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