Whiskey has rebellious roots in Scotland; the truant distillers who lived north were evading English taxmen for almost 200 years. To know more about distilleries of this type; you could check out our extensive page on Glengoyne distillery. In the late 18th century there were only 8 legal distilleries and more than 400 illegal ones. As of now the production of whiskey/ scotch is valued at more than 4.3 billion pounds and is the main export item of Scotland.
Scotch is divided into 7 regions and each has a distinct nature but most whiskey/ distillery tours introduce guests to 3 basic types; Lowland, Highland and Westland (Isle of Islay). While browsing through distillery tours know that there are third party tour operators who offer region-wise whiskey bar crawls and distillery visits in attractive combinations. But for a detailed insight, travel to their location and take their offered tours while talking to the staff and gaining a local feel about the place.
Some of the distilleries mentioned on this page like Glengoyne, Auchentoshan, Deanston and Tullibardine offer excellent day trip destinations from Glasgow.
You can scan through many Distillery Tours from Glasgow, check rates and book online through this Viator site.
Once Upon A Whiskey
Once Upon a Whiskey offers the best-reviewed Whiskey walks that Glasgow has to offer and these walks combine in-depth knowledge about whiskey with discussions about architecture, history and culture. Camilo (the founder and principal guide) was a whiskey ambassador for William Grant and Sons and has many years of experience in the drinks industry. He has travelled globally for research, conventions, seminars and associations all related to Whiskey and is a partner of both People Make Glasgow and Visit Scotland for tailored whiskey tours.
1. West End Whiskey Tour
The West End whiskey tour is a wander through the top offbeat track bars in town. The art of whiskey tasting, discovering different facets about whiskey and learning a lot about the glorious concoction that the world proudly refers to as Scotch. There are 4 bars covered in this West End Whiskey tour and the very first one is the legendary Ben Nevis Whiskey Bar on Argyle Street Glasgow G 3 8TB… in fact, this is the meeting point for the tour group. This place serves the best Scotch in town which is why the group spends about half an hour here before moving to the Bon Accord, Chinaski and Dram (all 3 popular West End bars).
At each bar, there is a whiskey tasting of a different kind and at the end of the tour, guests should be able to differentiate between the triple distilled smoothness of Auchentoshan to the highly peaty flavour of Laphroaig. The guide of the West End tours is usually Camilo and he is passionate about all things Glasgow and Whiskey. At some points, he even uses his IPad and his own stories to illustrate how whiskey is made, the history of single malts and the people who have created these malts.
The West End Whiskey tour is about 3 hours long and is offered every day from 4.30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Booking
You can check the rate and book the tour from this Viator site.
2. Glasgow City Center Whiskey Tour
The Glasgow City Center whiskey tour is kind of a story episode all about whiskey and it takes in the most lavish whiskey venues in City Center. The group meets up at Principal Blythswood Square Hotel located on Blythswood Square. The group spends half an hour at this location while the glories of the single malt are discussed along with the heritage and architecture of the building (the hotel is one of the heritage buildings of Glasgow). The group then moves to George Square and then to Merchant city.
The guide is very enthusiastic and discusses all aspects of whiskey production like maturation and appreciation. The history of whiskey, patterns of its consumption in separate countries, its manufacturing hubs and distribution points are all parts of the tour discussions. The tour moves across different parts of the city and there is a moderate amount of walking involved but almost anyone of normal mobility can do it.
The Glasgow city centre area is full of beautiful architecture and history and the guide shares a lot of knowledge about these aspects as well. The tour exposes guests to 5 Scotches including 2 very rare ones. Many people end up appreciating non-conventional whiskey choices like Longbrow that they have discovered on this tour.
The West End Whiskey tour is about 2.5 hours long and is offered every day from 1.00 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. People taking the city centre whiskey tour get a 5 pound discount on any 70cl bottle that they buy from associate shops.
Booking
You can check the rate and book the tour from this Viator site.
3. Single Malt Whiskey and Distillery Tour
The Single Malt Whiskey Distillery tour lets guests visit 2 traditional whiskey bars plus a distillery where the manufacturing and production process of whiskey is explained in detail. The 2.5-hour tour starts off at Bon Accord whiskey bar at North street Glasgow. Where there is a half an hour stop relishing the wide range of whiskey aspects and tasting the fruit-infused lighter whiskeys of the Lowland.
The next stop is the Ben Nevis bar and tastings of the stronger highland whiskeys. The last stop is an hour-long tour of the new Clydeside distillery and tastings of all 3 versions (highland, lowland and Westland whiskeys… these are smoky and heavy). The spirits are offered in the tasting room in the presence of the guide. The views over the River Clyde from the distillery and the modern gleaming Stillhouse are just some of the special perks of the tour. The Clydeside distillery also shows live footage of Glasgow and animated slides that explain the history of the city and its connection with the city.
This tour is a great option for guests who want to take a distillery tour plus a whiskey pub crawl in a limited amount of time. Unlike most other distillery tours this one is done right at the heart of Glasgow. The single malt Whiskey and distillery tour is about 2.5 hours long and is offered every day from 2.30 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Booking
You can check the rate and book the tour from this Viator site.
Contact details
Once Upon a Whisky
Address: 1 Holyrood Crescent, Glasgow, G20 6HJ
Phone: +44 (0) 7504744205
Email: [email protected]; Website
Glengoyne Distillery Tour
The picturesque setting in the lush Dumgoyne countryside and its proximity to hills and natural attractions makes Glengoyne distillery a wonderful destination. The Glengoyne single malts are prized creations and have a distinctly different taste and this has attracted many whiskey connoisseurs who want to know what exactly lurks behind Glengoyne’s whitewashed walls.
You can visit the distillery on your own and sign up for their fabulous curated tours. There is the basic 45 minute Glengoyne tour for people who cannot invest too much time in a distillery tour. Then there is the Wee tasting tour that’s about an hour long and includes two matured whiskey tastings. But if you want a proper distillery tour then the Glengoyne gold parade that’s about 1.5 hours long is best suited for you as this will take you right inside the distillery.
If your interest is in whiskey making then the 1 hour 45 minutes Glengoyne malt master tour will allow you to mix spirits and create a unique brand of single malt in the sample room… an experience that’s rarely available anywhere else. And for people who are true whiskey lovers there is the 5-hour master class tour that teaches guests all about whiskey making besides an exhaustive tour of the distillery, warehouse and grounds. There is also the 20 bottle scent inhalation test to judge the capacity of the guests to become future master blenders.
For the record, a Glengoyne distillery visit is a top attraction for anyone staying or near Glasgow…after all there is just 15 miles separating the distillery and the city. Know about Glengoyne distillery.
Some third-party tour operators like Rabbie’s offers Glengoyne tours in interesting day trip combinations like the Stirling Castle Loch Lomond and Whiskey tour by Rabbie’s. The offering can be read up in the Glasgow Day Trips section, keep in mind that this is basically a sightseeing tour that also offers a distillery visit.
Tours are offered all days of the week except some important national holidays. From March to October, the Glengoyne tours run from 10.00 a.m. to 600 p.m. and are offered every hour. From November to February tours are offered from 10 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Booking
You can check the rate and book the Glengoyne or a combination tour from this Viator site.
Contact Details
Glengoyne Distillery
Dumgoyne, near Killearn, Glasgow, G63 9LB
Phone: +44 (0)1360 550 254, Email: [email protected], Website
Clydeside Distillery Tours
If you do not want to invest too much time in travelling out of Glasgow for a distillery experience then the Clydeside distillery may be your only option. Set in the erstwhile pump house, this is a historic location that’s a part of many sightseeing tours. The Clydeside Pump House dates back to 1877 and back then Customs and Excise used to oversee shipments from this location.
The distillery founder Tim Morrison identified the potential of the building as a distillery. Glen Garioch and Bowmore created Clydeside along with Tim Morrison (the former two were the erstwhile owners of Auchentoshan) and the distillery uses the soft pure water of Loch Katrine. The Clydeside distillery opened its doors to the public in 2017 ad since then has been producing some glorious spirits.
The tastings conducted here as of 2019 are of other distilleries. The pump house building has got a modern makeover with large onion lights and there is a museum section inside that details how the distillery evolved and the history of this area through exhibits. There is an in house Pump House Café that serves excellent locally sourced food and drinks so this can be a nice stop for lunch and a tour.
The standard Clydeside tour includes the demonstration of the Dockside story, touring the distillery and a tasting session that takes in 10-year-old single malts from lowlands, highlands and Islay. The chocolate and whiskey tour offers the standard Clydeside tour offerings and then follows it up with 5 drams of single malt (each paired with different chocolate) whiskey tastings.
And if you really want an in-depth tour then the Distillery Manager Tour that’s conducted by Alistair McDonald… is as intensive as it gets. The manager selects some premium single malts for tasting sessions and some Clydeside spirit samples and merchandise if gifted. This is a small group tour of max 6 people. It’s worth appreciating that kids are not banned on these tours… they are made to feel welcome and offered Scotland’s other national drink ‘Irn Bru’. If you are driving back then you can take the Driver Drams to carry back and enjoy at home.
The Clydeside distillery is just 40 minutes away by foot from Glasgow city centre. You will find the distillery sandwiched between the SEC and Riverside museum. The nearest subway station is Patrick Subway station but from there too the distillery is a 20-minute walk away. But from the Exhibition train station, the distillery is a 10-minute walk away. The Clydeside is one of the visit-worthy attractions of Glasgow.
Open daily 10.00–17.00. First tour at 10.00, last tour at 16.00 (16.30 July & August). The Clydeside tour lasts for an hour while the chocolate and whiskey tour lasts for 1 hour 30 minutes. The distillery manager tour is the longest and lasts for 120 minutes.
Booking
You can check the rate and book a Clydeside tour from this Viator site.
Contact Details
The Clydeside Distillery
The Old Pumphouse
Queen’s Dock, 100 Stobcross Road, Glasgow G3 8QQ
Phone: 01412121401; Email:[email protected]; Website
Deanston Distillery Tours
It’s hard to imagine that the extremely popular Deanston distillery was once upon a time just a cotton mill but once you take one of their handpicked tours there are many more surprising facts in store. Like a self-contained village for 300 workers was created for Deanston or that French and Spanish coins were stamped with Deanston stamps and issued to workers for exclusive grocery purchases. The Deanston visitor centre opened in 2012 and since then the tours allow visitors to learn about the fascinating Deanston story.
For the record, Deanston produces fine full-bodied Highland Single Malts and you will find that these whiskies are a lot different than the lowland fruity whiskies that are found in distilleries inside Glasgow. All Deanston tours include a distillery visit and a chance to see the open-topped mash turns, shining copper stills and vaulted maturation warehouse besides a tasting of the standard Deanston 12-year-old and the Deanston Virgin Oak. In fact, these bare essentials are what constitutes the 50-minute standard tour. The 60-minute tasting room tour adds to the experience of the Deanston tasting room and tastings of 3 single malts.
The heritage tour talks extensively about the centuries-old history of the place and visits the old works village and other relics of the 18th century. The whiskey and chocolate tour –triple taster and quadruple taster pair’s chocolates crafted by master Chocolatier (Iain Burnett) with different Deanston drams. All tours include an extra 70cl single malt whiskey in the distillery shop and a 5-pound discount voucher on any bottle purchase of the Deanston brand.
Incidentally, the distillery was part of a well-known movie ‘Angel’s Share’. The staff will explain that Angel’s share is the amount of alcohol that evaporates from the casks during distillation. The staff is quite friendly and engaging and the Deanston is made all the more attractive by the fact that it’s a contained distillery away from the bustle of large cities. The picturesque distillery is best visited as a self-guided day trip from Glasgow or Edinburgh. From Glasgow, the Deanston is less than 35 miles away and the nearest train station is Dunblane.
Deanston is open 7 days a week all year, from 10.00am to 5.00pm. Tours are on every hour 10.00am – 4.00pm. The tasting room tour lasts for 60 minutes while the heritage tour (120 minutes) is the longest at 2 hours. The triple and quadruple chocolate whiskey tours are 90 minutes each.
Booking
You can check the rate and book Deanston and Tullibardine Distillery combination tour from this Viator site.
If you visit the distillery directly, the standard tour costs 9 pounds per person. The Warehouse 4 experience costs 35 pounds per person while the Whiskey and Chocolate tour costs 23 pounds per person. The Quadruple whiskey and chocolate tour costs 25 pounds per person. The tasting room tour costs 20 pounds per person while the heritage tour costs 35 pounds per person.
Contact Details
Deanston Distillery near Doune, Perthshire, FK16 6AG, Scotland
Visitor Centre Phone: 01786 843 010; Website: https://www.deanstonmalt.com
Tullibardine Distillery Tour
Tullibardine is a family-owned standalone distillery that produces traditional Highland single malts and is especially well known for its signature Tullibardine sovereign. Casks are brought in from the best bourbon distilleries and Barriques, ex-sherry butts and hogsheads are brought in from the wine chateaus of Europe. The distillation, maturation, bottling are all done on-site so there is complete control over the process.
Incidentally, the Tullibardine was a brewery back in the 15th century and king James IV had once stopped here to pick up fine beer and he was impressed that he granted Tullibardine a royal charter. The water used in Tullibardine is drawn from the Ochil hills and the streams are tempered with the flavours of red sandstone and basalt giving it a different taste.
Tullibardine offers a range of tours that include the basic Classic tour which includes a tour of the whiskey production process and a tasting of 2 single malts at the bar. Then there is the chocolate and whiskey tour which pairs 4 single malts with different kinds of chocolate truffles. One of these malts is a Tullibardine 25-year-old, so you should definitely want to sample it.
The Bonded tour is for people who really want to gain an in-depth knowledge of the whiskey production process and there is a visit to the bonded warehouse where an option is given to sniff at different casks like a master blender. At the drumming bar, a choice of 3 single malts is offered and one of these is a Tullibardine 20-year-old.
The Connoisseur tour (as the name indicates) is the highest level of tour offered at this distillery. An exhaustive lengthened version of the bonded tour is provided and there is a visit at the drumming bar with 4 tastings of Single Malt (including a Tullibardine 25-year-old). Each malt is paired with a chocolate truffle.
The Bonded tour and the connoisseur tour includes a Tullibardine gift bag and that’s a pleasant surprise indeed!!! Unlike other larger distilleries, Tullibardine is small enough to have a community vibe about it and it’s a good place to learn about end to end whiskey production process. The tours here are less touristy and have more in-depth knowledge as generally they are conducted by the distillery staff themselves.
The lack of a proper café/ restaurant on site is definitely a disadvantage for those who are targeting a trip to Tullibardine distillery as a day trip from Glasgow. If you are taking a train then get off at Gleneagles and take a bus. Otherwise driving to Tullibardine will take an hour (it’s 41 miles away from Glasgow Central) and it’s an easy ride as the distillery is right off the A9 highway.
The distillery tours can be booked 7 days a week from 10am till 5pm and the last tour starts at 4pm. The whiskey and chocolate & bonded tour lasts for 90 minutes each while the connoisseur is the longest (2 hours). For people with time constraints, the 45-minute classic tour is the best option. Tours are undertaken in groups of 14 people max.
Booking
You can check the rate and book Deanston and Tullibardine Distillery combination tour from this Viator site.
If you visit the distillery directly, the classic tour is priced at 9 pounds per person or 7 pounds (for groups more than 10). The whiskey and chocolate tour is priced at 25 pounds per person. The bonded tour is priced at 30 pounds per person while the connoisseur tour is priced at 45 pounds per person.
Contact Details
Tullibardine Ltd
Blackford, Perthshire, United Kingdom, Ph4 1qg
Email: [email protected]; Website
Phone: 01764661809; +44(0)1764 661809
Auchentoshan Distillery Tour
Auchentoshan is an unapologetic city-inspired scotch brand that has been around since 1823. The scotch they produce is triple distilled Lowland malt whiskey with a complex character and they enthusiastically claim that it’s malted, milled and mashed beer. Malted optic barley is slow kilned and brewn in Oregon pine washbacks that give the Auchentoshan blend its distinctive taste. The brand produces spirits that have about 81 % ABV (Alcohol by volume) so this is potent stuff though the Auchentoshan has been called delicate tasting and super smooth.
The Auchentoshan is aged in casks that have been pre-soaked with sherry/ bourbon/ fine wine. Like most well-known distilleries, this one too offers tours that range from basic introduction to whiskey to comprehensive tours that take in whiskey making masterclasses and multiple tasting sessions. The history, heritage and culture of whiskey are thoroughly discussed in these tours. The distillery is very well maintained and its tasting room almost looks like a modern pub. Plus there is a really cute gift shop within Auchentoshan distillery plus a proper whiskey shop where you get to see all the labels and buy them.
The Distilled Different tour is the basic offering and it includes a complete distillery tour plus the tasting of one Auchentoshan plus one ale strain. The Experience Tour includes the chance of trying 4 of the triple distilled single malt expressions apart from the offerings of the Distilled Different tour. In case you decide to buy a bottle, the same can be customized with a name and occasion.
The Ultimate Tour is incredibly detailed and includes a holistic tour of the entire distillery plus a master class in high strength and archive whiskies. There is also the chance of sampling directly from the distillery casks… something that only the distillery managers and master blenders do. If you book the Ultimate Tour or the Experience tour in a group of 6 or more it automatically becomes a private tour!!!
The Sky Master class (a whiskey class not a tour) teaches guests the art of creating the triple distilled pure Auchentoshan blend that’s known as the world’s best Lowland single malt. 4 samplings are included in this class and there is the chance to sample directly from the Distillery cask. There is even a rather steeply-priced Exclusive Experience tour that allows guests to have the whole distillery to themselves.
For 90 pounds more you can bottle a special bottle from the distillery casks and get it customized for a special someone. This can be an add on experience for any of the tours. The tasting sessions have cocktails apart from drams and that sets them apart.
The Auchentoshan distillery is over the county line in West Dunbartonshire that’s just 10 miles away from Glasgow City Centre. You can easily take a train to the Kilpatrick station and then take a local bus to the distillery.
The distillery is usually open 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm. And tours will run every day except the dates 25th and 26th Dec and 1st and 2nd January.
The production process closes down between Christmas periods from 19th Dec – 8th Jan and though tours are still offered they should be avoided as the whiskey-making process can’t be demonstrated.
The Distilled Different tour is an hour-long (offered at 10 am, 12 p.m., 3 pm and 7 pm every day) while the whiskey Masterclass (not a tour) is an hour-long and starts from 2 pm every day. The Experience lasts for 90 minutes while The Ultimate lasts for 120 minutes. The exclusive experience (private tour) is offered at 5 pm every day.
The Distilled different tour is just 10 pounds and the whiskey master class is for 30 pounds. The Experience costs 35 pounds per person while the Ultimate tour costs 55 pounds per person. The exclusive Experience or the private tour is 200 pounds per person while the whiskey master class is 30 pounds per person. You can book tours directly through the company website.
Contact Details
Address: Great Western Rd, Clydebank G81 4SJ, United Kingdom
Phone: 01389 878561; Website
A travel addict. Still celebrating the day when he quit his high-profile corporate job to pursue his passion for travel writing.