The nicest whiskey distilleries in the Scottish Highlands
When you talk about rugged landscapes, rolling hills, snow-capped mountain peaks, windswept islands surrounded by azure water, beautiful villages, palm trees (yes, really, in Plockton!) and the most beautiful natural wonders, then you can only talk about one country. Scotland. While you may have flown to Edinburgh or even visited raw but hip Glasgow, the Scottish Highlands should be at the top of your next trip. For the very best that nature has to offer, but certainly also for the whiskey heritage. What could be better than stepping into the pub after a long walk? a proper dram o' whisky?
You can make whiskey with just three ingredients (water, barley and yeast). But making good whiskey is something we like to leave in the hands of the experts. Therefore: five distilleries in the Scottish Highlands that you should visit or at least buy a bottle of. From Aberfeldy to the west coast and the Cairngorms.
We kick it off with a distillery in the Central Highlands: Aberfeldy. Surrounded by hills and in a beautiful valley you will find this whiskey distillery. You used to find many distilleries in this region, but many of them have unfortunately disappeared. It's extra special that Aberfeldy has been able to hold its own (you don't expect anything less once you've drunk their whisky).
You can also take a short walk from Aberfeldy: through Weem Wood to St David's Well, which has beautiful views over Aberfeldy and Strathtay. You then descend along rocks and through native forests to reach Aberfeldy of course to get that Golden Dram
Transforming water, barley and yeast into liquid gold: it will be your job! Or actually, whiskey is more than that, it is a way of life where peace and quality are the key elements are. Walk through the Scottish (or Dutch) nature, then light a fire, a glass of whisky, a good book or good company, music in the background and something tasty. That screams the good life?
But how does Aberfeldy get that unique taste? Because the water from the spring at Aberfeldy is so pure, the whiskey is made in copper stills and because the grain is not dried over smoke, the Aberfeldy single malt Scotch whisky, a very drinkable whiskey (traditional highland style) that is packed with flavour. Tones of dried fruit and honey provide a spicy and soft whiskey with a ditto aftertaste.
Dalwhinnie can be found in the cairngorms, a beautiful nature reserve in the east of Scotland, with clear and Crisp spring water (Dalwhinnie is the only one allowed to use water from the Lochan na Doire-uaine) and a lot of peat used to dry the grain. Some varieties of Dalwhinnie therefore also have a smoky character, as if it never is in your face (more honey, vanilla, apple with a fine peat-like note).
Also all around Dalwhinnie you will have hours of walking pleasure (do that for the distillery tour...). You can do the Coachan Wood View Point (it is steep and the paths are not very accessible in bad weather) or the easier Loch Ericht Walk (almost flat and easy to walk). Of course, you can also skip all of this and go straight to whiskey.
De Oban Distillery found in, yes, Oban. On the rugged and beautiful west coast of the Scottish Highlands, and a super nice town to eat fish and drink whisky. You will also find the ferry here that can take you to Mull and the Outer Hebrides (it's a bit of a trip, but highly recommended). Okay, back to the whiskey! First right on the water, but due to the urban expansion, the Oban Distillery is now in the center. Whiskey has been made here since 1794 (which also makes Oban one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland), so they have had plenty of time to learn how to make something really beautiful. You can take a tour of the Oban Distillery, where they will introduce you to the production process and of course that includes some tasting.
The tours are popular, so book and arrive on time!
De Glenfarclas distillery is located near the picturesque village of Ballindalloch in Speyside. They have been making Scotch whiskey here since 1865 under the keen eye of the Grants of Glenfarclas. All whiskey is matured in European oak barrels and it is one of the few Scottish distilleries that still practices the tradition of distilling in stills. You can do various tours at Glenfarclas (with the Five Decades Tour you taste five rare whiskeys that you will not easily encounter anywhere else - which also makes it the most expensive tour).
When you're done here, you can still use the Speyside Way walk or visit the neighborhoods Ballindalloch Castle & Gardens. There's a cute tea room (nothing beats a freshly baked scone with clotted cream and jam) and a fairly new distillery on the Ballindalloch Estate. You can also immediately have a tasting there.
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain (1.345m) in Great Britain, so if you like mountains, challenging hikes and whiskey, you will soon end up at this part of Scotland: Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis. You can also leave your own whiskey here agen: takes a while and costs a bit, but then you will have your unique and own whiskey in the pantry.
Be sure to continue to the Black Isle Bar: a good selection of Ben Nevis (and other) whiskeys plus they brew their own beer and they make pizza. Good ending after a day of whiskey tasting!
You can just reach Aberfeldy at the Gall&Gall get it, it doesn't get any easier. It might be extra fun to check your local liquor store. You can also score a bottle of Aberfeldy at Cain & Grane on the Amsterdam Bilderdijk, at Boorsma in de Pijp or go to Van Wees in Amersfoort (the latter is a whiskey paradise anyway).
Donated for good d visit Patrick's Whiskey Bar in Hotel Fidder (Zwolle), JD Williams (Amsterdam), Café de Ouwehoer (Rotterdam) or Founders Bar (Maastricht).
