Scotland
wine tasting tours and winery visits

Scotland: a land of breath-taking, dramatic landscapes and imposing, ancient castles; a rich, complex history and unbeatable, welcoming hospitality. It’s also world famous for Scotch whisky, which is referred to by the Scots as the ‘Water of Life’. The country boasts centuries-long traditions of whisky making and is the biggest producer of whisky in the world. There is no better place to enjoy a whisky tasting holiday!

WHISKY TASTING TOURS IN SCOTLAND
Scotland is home to over 120 active whisky distilleries spread throughout five whisky-producing regions, each with its own distinct flavour and characteristics: Speyside, Islay, Lowland, Highland and Campbeltown. If your preference is for smooth single malts with fruity notes head to Speyside; if you prefer smoky, peated whiskies visit Islay. The best way to find a whisky to suit your tastes is by taking a guided whisky tasting tour. Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the distilling techniques and the secret ingredients used and sample a dram or two (of course!) Each whisky is unique, so we recommend visiting more than one distillery to compare flavours.

MORE REASONS TO VISIT SCOTLAND
Scotland is blessed with stunning natural scenery. From wild beaches and vast mirror-like lochs to rolling hills and mighty mountains, there are plenty of opportunities to explore the great outdoors. Scotland’s turbulent history, its magnificent castles and Neolithic sites will enthral history buffs. Whilst foodies will relish in the country’s delicious local produce such as Scottish salmon, Aberdeen Angus beef and not forgetting haggis. And we haven’t even mentioned the growing number of craft breweries and artisan gin producers…  

WINERIST INSIDER TIP
Some Scotch whisky distilleries have a ‘silent season’ when they briefly pause production. Whisky geeks will find it a fascinating time to visit for a more in-depth, behind-the-scenes tour to understand just how a distillery functions.