Spirit of Speyside Whisky Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Speyside's renowned distilleries
- Enjoy guided whisky tastings
- Learn about Scotland's whisky heritage
- Visit picturesque Scottish Highlands
- Experience Scotland's rich culture
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided tour of Speyside distilleries
- Whisky tastings at select distilleries
- Admission fees to distilleries
- Meals and personal expenses
Itinerary
Pioneers and legacy builders, that’s who brought Cairn Distillery to life. And their mission is to build a legacy of exceptional whisky. Named after those man-made stacks of stones we all know and love, the distillery is devoted to inspiring people through their product and challenging both themselves and others to take on new paths. This morning, we tour this wonderful facility and sample some of their best whisky.
We make for one of Speyside’s local villages for a bite to eat.
We head back into the striking east Highlands landscape towards one of the highest villages in Scotland – Tomintoul. Tucked up near the banks of the River Avon, it’s a lovely wee spot for a visit. You may even recognise it from the 2004 film One Last Chance starring Kevin McKidd and Dougary Scott.
We’re here for the whisky so we head straight for The Whisky Castle. This shop has been selling over 600 of the finest malt whiskies of Scotland for over 120 years. Whisky is what they do, it’s what they love, so pay close attention to the tutored tasting you’ll be lucky enough to experience.
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates in English; non-English speakers may need a translator.
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Tour may not be wheelchair accessible; contact provider for details.
Know before you go
- Dress in layers to accommodate changing weather conditions.
- Bring a valid ID for age verification at distilleries.
- Ensure you have a camera to capture the scenic views.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Admission to Cairn Distillery will be included.
- Please arrive 15 minutes before departure to check in
- We apologise, but we cannot accommodate children under 5 years old on our tours. Please note that if this policy is not followed, we will have to refuse travel without issuing a refund. Thank you for understanding.
- You're restricted to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) and a small bag for onboard personal items.
- In order to retain the integrity of the tour and try to ensure that all our customers have the best possible experience, we do cap bookings from any one party to 8 passengers.
Traveler reviews
Scotland Trip
Our tour guide Elidah was excellent. She gave great commentary throughout the entire tour. She was funny, informative and very engaging. We visited two distilleries and one whisky store. The first was Cairn, which is very new so the whiskies we tasted were from their sister company. It would have been better to have a more established distillery instead. The tour was informational and our guide Dave did a very nice job. Our next stop was Glenlivet and this was excellent. Some of our group were not whisky drinkers and the bartender mixed scotch drinks that were a big hit. This was a great example of some good scotch tastings. Well worth the visit. Our last stop was at the Whisky Castle which was a well stocked liquor stor where you can taste 3 different scotches of your choosing. It is not your typical distillery but did give a nice tasting. The tour was well done.
Wonderful whisky and so much more
Such a wonderful tour!! Our tour guide Helen was so friendly and so knowledgeable. She worked hard to make sure we had the best tour possible - it was slightly different from what is described, partly because it was a small tour and we had extra time. Driving through the beautiful Highlands was a treat in itself, seeing the huge, hairy cows, seeing the Spey River, going through the tiny towns, eating a fabulous chicken and haggis pie - you can see how awesome the trip was before I even mention the whisky! And the whisky was varied and so delicious. You have to be careful not to sample so much that you don't remember the end of the tour! I highly recommend this tour.