Speyside Whisky Tours
If you are looking for a Speyside Whisky Tour which is tailored made for you, we can help. The highest concentration of whisky distilleries to be found in Scotland is here in the Speyside region making it an ideal place to embark on a Speyside Distillery Whisky Tour!
We are based in the Speyside region, near Elgin. Our whisky tours depart from Moray, Speyside and Inverness. Local departures include Aberlour, Craigellachie and Dufftown. Our whisky tours also leave from Nairn and parts of Aberdeenshire.
Our Speyside Whisky Tours are designed to be flexible and tend to be a mix of distillery tours and whisky tastings. Most of our Speyside Whisky Tours strike a balance between the two and we always try to include visits to local beauty spots. Our tours are private and exclusive to your group.
Travel in comfort from distillery to distillery hearing about the history of whisky, it's illicit beginnings, the smugglers and the excise men and local history. Speyside is where whisky is woven into the spirit of the people and the place. This area is full of history and you can incorporate visits from a selection of castles, religious buildings and woollen mills.
We are based in the Speyside region, near Elgin. Our whisky tours depart from Moray, Speyside and Inverness. Local departures include Aberlour, Craigellachie and Dufftown. Our whisky tours also leave from Nairn and parts of Aberdeenshire.
Our Speyside Whisky Tours are designed to be flexible and tend to be a mix of distillery tours and whisky tastings. Most of our Speyside Whisky Tours strike a balance between the two and we always try to include visits to local beauty spots. Our tours are private and exclusive to your group.
Travel in comfort from distillery to distillery hearing about the history of whisky, it's illicit beginnings, the smugglers and the excise men and local history. Speyside is where whisky is woven into the spirit of the people and the place. This area is full of history and you can incorporate visits from a selection of castles, religious buildings and woollen mills.
Speyside Whisky Tour Itinerary Themes
We offer a range of tour types as well as a tailor made and bespoke service. We take you through the options when you enquire about a Speyside Whisky Tour but here are some options to give a sense of the wonderful choices available. There is lots of flexibility and often a day tour combines north and south! Whether you are new to whisky, a keen enthusiast or connoisseur, you are most welcome on our tours.
The South Speyside Tour takes in 3 or 4 distilleries with a mix of distillery tours and tastings. This can include distilleries such as Glenlivet which sits off the beaten track in deep Speyside. Glenfiddich is a well known world brand which still retains its independence. Glenfarclas and GlenAllachie are also proudly independent. Other options include the Speyside Cooperage , Ballindalloch, Cardhu and its sister distillery, Cragganmore. The South Speyside Tour is very popular as a one day option or can form the basis of a 2 day whisky tour.
The North Speyside Distillery Tour includes visits to 3 or 4 whisky distilleries which can include the tradition of Benromach, the beauty of Strathisla, the innovation of Glen Moray, the diversity of Benriach or Glen Grant and it's beautiful gardens. Speyburn opened to visitors in 2023. There's quite a contrast between some of the distilleries in North Speyside reflected in a variety of whisky styles including peated, non peated and even triple distilled.
The Signature Tour includes a more in depth tour e.g. The Balvenie or The Macallan and a further 2 tastings or distillery tour. Please note these distilleries are in high demand and often have low availability. e.g. Balvenie is in very high demand yet has kept an exclusive feel with only two tours a day. It's closed Saturday and Sunday. This tour usually only runs a few times a year and usually as part of a 2 or more day Speyside Whisky Distillery Tour.
These themed tours can be booked individually, or combined into a 2 or 3 day whisky tour. We can work together to find the best combination of distillery visits for your Speyside Distillery Tour. All tours are planned by me and I would be your driver guide for your tour.
The Bespoke Speyside Whisky Tour: We also offer a tailor made, bespoke Speyside Whisky Distillery Tour. The bespoke service is ideal for Speyside Whisky Tours with a duration of 2 or 3 or multi day whisky tour. However, it can also be used for 1 day tours where you would like a higher level of involvement in the development of the itinerary, where there's celebration involved, or where there are particular issues with distillery availability.
Historic Options: All tours include some sightseeing along the way however, this area has an ancient history and you can incorporate visits and tour to places like Elgin Cathedral (est. 13th century), the Biblical Gardens, Ballindalloch Castle (est. 16th century), Brodie Castle, Johnstons Woolen Mill (est. 1797) and Culloden Battlefield.
The South Speyside Tour takes in 3 or 4 distilleries with a mix of distillery tours and tastings. This can include distilleries such as Glenlivet which sits off the beaten track in deep Speyside. Glenfiddich is a well known world brand which still retains its independence. Glenfarclas and GlenAllachie are also proudly independent. Other options include the Speyside Cooperage , Ballindalloch, Cardhu and its sister distillery, Cragganmore. The South Speyside Tour is very popular as a one day option or can form the basis of a 2 day whisky tour.
The North Speyside Distillery Tour includes visits to 3 or 4 whisky distilleries which can include the tradition of Benromach, the beauty of Strathisla, the innovation of Glen Moray, the diversity of Benriach or Glen Grant and it's beautiful gardens. Speyburn opened to visitors in 2023. There's quite a contrast between some of the distilleries in North Speyside reflected in a variety of whisky styles including peated, non peated and even triple distilled.
The Signature Tour includes a more in depth tour e.g. The Balvenie or The Macallan and a further 2 tastings or distillery tour. Please note these distilleries are in high demand and often have low availability. e.g. Balvenie is in very high demand yet has kept an exclusive feel with only two tours a day. It's closed Saturday and Sunday. This tour usually only runs a few times a year and usually as part of a 2 or more day Speyside Whisky Distillery Tour.
These themed tours can be booked individually, or combined into a 2 or 3 day whisky tour. We can work together to find the best combination of distillery visits for your Speyside Distillery Tour. All tours are planned by me and I would be your driver guide for your tour.
The Bespoke Speyside Whisky Tour: We also offer a tailor made, bespoke Speyside Whisky Distillery Tour. The bespoke service is ideal for Speyside Whisky Tours with a duration of 2 or 3 or multi day whisky tour. However, it can also be used for 1 day tours where you would like a higher level of involvement in the development of the itinerary, where there's celebration involved, or where there are particular issues with distillery availability.
Historic Options: All tours include some sightseeing along the way however, this area has an ancient history and you can incorporate visits and tour to places like Elgin Cathedral (est. 13th century), the Biblical Gardens, Ballindalloch Castle (est. 16th century), Brodie Castle, Johnstons Woolen Mill (est. 1797) and Culloden Battlefield.
Key Points about our Speyside Whisky Tours
- The price for a one day private Speyside Whisky Tour depends on factors such as route, duration and departure point. The price does not include admission to distillery tours/tastings & lunch. We also run longer tours, typically two to three day Speyside Distillery Tours.
- This is a private tour, exclusively for your party. We carry a maximum of 3 passengers. Snacks and water are provided for free.
- Highland Spirit Tours will develop an itinerary based on some of the distilleries open to visitors and if you have any special requests please let us know.
- Our Speyside Whisky Tours Departure leave from: Forres, Elgin, Dufftown, Aberlour, Craigellachie. Moray, Speyside, Inverness and Nairn. We leave from your accommodation.
- Depending on the route and your tour choice, we can usually fit in 3 to 5 distillery/attraction visits (tours and tastings).
- Some visitor centres may not be open at weekends e.g. Speyside Cooperage and many distilleries have shorter opening hours or close over the winter period. We make all the distillery bookings on your behalf.
- Travel in comfort in a Honda CRV with leather seats, panoramic glass roof and air conditioning.
- Book a Speyside Whisky Tour
The Macallan - visit the new visitor centre.
Example One Day Speyside Whisky Tour | Departing Moray Speyside
Our tours are tailor made to you requirements but here's an example of a one day tour of some Speyside Distilleries. This includes three distillery visits - a combination of tours and whisky tastings, a castle visit and some time at the River Spey. This Speyside Whisky Tour is really designed for Moray Speyside Departures e.g. from Elgin, Forres, Aberlour, Craigellachie and Dufftown areas but can be adapted for Inverness.
Departure from your accommodation in Moray Speyside. We then head deeper into Speyside to Glenlivet Distillery (est 1824) for a tour. Then visit family owned Ballindalloch Castle. Next stop is Aberlour Distillery (1879) for an in depth whisky tasting. The last distillery stop of the day is a tour of Glenfiddich Distillery (1887) on the outskirts of Dufftown.
This is just a sample Speyside Whisky Tour. With distilleries like the Macallan, Cardhu, Benromach and Glen Moray to name but a few, there are many variations to a whisky tour in this area.
If you are looking for a two or three day Speyside Whisky Tour, this tends to allow for more in depth distillery tours. An example might be touring Balvenie in the morning which takes about takes around three hours. After lunch spend a leisurely afternoon - take a shorter tour and a whisky tasting. Balvenie is in high demand as it generally only runs two tours a day.
There's no best whisky. It's very much personal taste. It's the same with the distillery tours and the experiences available which can be almost unique. There are a number of tours including Distillery Manager Tours, Ambassador Tours, food and whisky pairings, warehouse tastings and even making your own whisky!
Departure from your accommodation in Moray Speyside. We then head deeper into Speyside to Glenlivet Distillery (est 1824) for a tour. Then visit family owned Ballindalloch Castle. Next stop is Aberlour Distillery (1879) for an in depth whisky tasting. The last distillery stop of the day is a tour of Glenfiddich Distillery (1887) on the outskirts of Dufftown.
This is just a sample Speyside Whisky Tour. With distilleries like the Macallan, Cardhu, Benromach and Glen Moray to name but a few, there are many variations to a whisky tour in this area.
If you are looking for a two or three day Speyside Whisky Tour, this tends to allow for more in depth distillery tours. An example might be touring Balvenie in the morning which takes about takes around three hours. After lunch spend a leisurely afternoon - take a shorter tour and a whisky tasting. Balvenie is in high demand as it generally only runs two tours a day.
There's no best whisky. It's very much personal taste. It's the same with the distillery tours and the experiences available which can be almost unique. There are a number of tours including Distillery Manager Tours, Ambassador Tours, food and whisky pairings, warehouse tastings and even making your own whisky!
To enquire about a private Speyside Whisky Tour contact us for further details
Aberlour Distillery - Whisky Tastings available.
Glenfarclas Distillery at the foot of Ben Rinnes, Speyside
