Experience Scotland’s world-famous whisky while enjoying a full-day distillery tour package. Great Scottish Tours offers full-day tour experiences, with experienced guides on hand to ensure you show you Scotland’s many whisky splendours and smokehouses. From the Famous Grouse Experience to the Glenturret Dam, our whisky tours are second to none. Get in touch today to discuss your needs.
World-Famous Whisky
Few things are guaranteed to get a whisky fan more giddy than a trip to a distillery. In Scotland we are spoiled for options when it comes to these wonderful locations there are more than 50 in the Speyside region alone and most are readily accessible from our major cities. We can collect you from your tour at an agree collection point, (e.g., your hotel) in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, or Perth.
The Water of Life
Whisky comes from the Gaelic word “uisce” or “uisge”, which means “water”. The Scots usually drink it straight or with a dash of water and call it “The Water of Life”. Many of Scotland’s literary legends were influenced by the taste of whisky. Robert Burns penned entire poems in the drink’s honour.
Whisky has been used as a digestive aid, it prevents you from overeating and (in moderation) will not harm your blood sugar levels, has no fat, very little in the way of calories and carbohydrates in the form of alcohol. These are in the form of simple sugars which are broken down and used as energy. It practically watches your figure for you.
Although it has simple ingredients – barley, wheat or rye, yeast, and water – whisky is a complex drink with an abundance of different cask strengths and nuanced flavours. On one of our tours, you can learn about how it’s made and the difference between different whiskies.
Treacherous Tales
Whisky also has an intricate history in Scotland. In times past, distillers avoided tax by malting at night, Glaswegians rioted when Britain imposed a malt tax, and dragoons and highwayman patrolled the roads searching for whisky smugglers.
Whisky makers say distilleries are in remote locations because of fresh water sources. But this isn’t always true. In the 18th century, distillers relocated to avoid tax collector routes, this was bad for distillers, but it’s great if you want to enjoy a dram near a delightful view.
Today, there are more than 120 active distilleries in Scotland and extremely rare bottlings can be found in collectors’ cellars around the world. Whisky regions in Scotland include:
- Campbelltown
- Highlands
- Islay
- Lowlands
- Speyside