Whisky Distilleries to visit

Tourist attractions in Scotland are all currently closed due to lockdown (January 2021).
When tourism resumes, here are some of the distilleries you can visit easily by car from Inverness.

• Tomatin distillery - just 15 miles south of Inverness on the A9. Tours available for people in the same household/social bubble (must be pre-booked).
• Glen Ord Distillery - in the village of Muir of Ord (15 miles north of Inverness). 5 star visitor attraction with guided tours and tastings.
• Glen Moray Distillery in Elgin (40 miles from Inverness) is open for tastings (but not tours).
• Glenlivet Distillery near Ballindalloch (50 miles from Inverness) - open for tastings (but not tours). Pre-booking essential.
• Strathisla near Keith (58 miles from Inverness) - open for tastings (but not tours). Pre-booking essential.
• Glenfiddich Distillery near Dufftown (55 miles from Inverness). New exhibition, highlights tour and tasting with your own personal guide. Delicious food served in the Whisky Lounge or patio terrace including breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea.
• Aberlour distillery shop (50 miles from Inverness). Pre-booking essential.
• Dalwhinnie Distillery (55 miles south of Inverness on the A9). Set in the Cairngorm National Park, this is the highest distillery in Scotland at 1164 feet above sea level. Enjoy tours and tastings with handmade Scottish highland chocolates.
• Speyside Cooperage at Craigellachie near Aberlour (52 miles from Inverness). Tours available, coffee shop, gift shop. Pre-booking is essential to visit the site.
• Glen Grant Distillery in the village of Rothes about 10 miles south of Elgin on the Grantown-on-Spey road (47 miles from Inverness).
• Glenmorangie distillery just outside Tain (37 miles north of Inverness). Please book in advance for tasting experiences.
• The Macallan at Craigellachie near Aberlour (52 miles from Inverness). Guided tours, brasserie, bar and boutique. Booking recommended.

If you are touring some of these distilleries and enjoying a wee dram, please have a designated driver in your vehicle so that everyone can stay safe.

Whisky in Inverness

The Malt Room is tucked in the alleyway leading to the Victorian Market in Church Street. It was the first dedicated whisky bar in Inverness. It also has a tasting room for private bookings.

The Angel's Share is a Whisky and Gin bar overlooking the river. It is located on Ness Walk right opposite Inverness castle (above Prime restaurant). Cocktails and sharing platters (Highland cheeses, Seafood, Meat, Vegetarian) also available.

If you want to take something home with you, pay a visit to The Whisky Shop in Bridge Street in the city centre.

Guided coach tours

Inverness-based, family-owned 5 Star tour company WOW Scotland will be offering guided tours in their well-appointed 30-seater mini-coaches. Sit back and enjoy their Whisky Tour - this carefully crafted itinerary will enable you to experience the best of Speyside and Highland whiskies in one day with visits to Tomatin Distillery, Glenfarclas Distillery, Glen Moray Distillery and the Speyside Cooperage. They are hoping to operate this on certain dates from April to September 2021.

Events

Although the Highland Whisky Festival was cancelled in 2020, we are hoping it will resume in May 2021. This features 8 distilleries around the North Coast 500. The Spirit of Speyside whisky festival is due to take place in distilleries around Moray & Speyside from 28 April - 3 May 2021. The Inverness Gin Festival should be hapening on 1 May 2021 depending on the Covid situation.

Strathisla distillery

Whisky festival © VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins