Whisky-Tasting Day Trip from Edinburgh
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Rating: 
Trip Type: Food Tours
Duration: 8.5 hours
Get whisked out of Edinburgh by comfortable van to the wilds of Scotland on this whisky-tasting day trip through the Scottish Lowlands. Sample several types of fine Scotch whisky at two distilleries, Glengoyne Distillery and Deanston Distillery, and learn about the history and production of Scotland’s most famous drink from your guide. In between tastings, pause for a typical pub lunch and soak up the dramatic beauty of Loch Lomond.
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Get whisked out of Edinburgh by comfortable van to the wilds of Scotland on this whisky-tasting day trip through the Scottish Lowlands. Sample several types of fine Scotch whisky at two distilleries, Glengoyne Distillery and Deanston Distillery, and learn about the history and production of Scotland’s most famous drink from your guide. In between tastings, pause for a typical pub lunch and soak up the dramatic beauty of Loch Lomond.
Meet your guide in the morning, hop in a 16-passenger van and leave Edinburgh for the beautiful Scottish Lowlands. During the 1.5-hour drive, hear some intriguing tales and legends from Scottish history, and learn about the origins of Scotland’s most beloved drink: whisky. In medieval times, whisky was used as a tonic for health, and was even called the ‘water of life.’ Today it is a way of life, and the country continues to produce some of the finest whiskies in the world.
Your first stop is the Glengoyne Distillery in Dumgoyne, just north of Glasgow. Originated in 1833, Glengoyne uses one of the slowest distillation processes of any other distillery in the world. Tour the grounds for an inside look at the complex production process, and sample some 12-year-old and 18-year-old Scotch whiskies, noting the subtle but complex flavors. Learn from your guide what makes these whiskies particularly good and distinctive.
Next, wind your way through the countryside to Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. Take in the dramatic lake and mountain scenery, and enjoy some free time to explore the area and stop by a local pub for a typical Scottish lunch (own expense).
Afterwards, travel to the village of Deanston, on the banks of the River Teith, to visit its eponymous distillery. Housed in a former cotton mill that closed in the 1960s, the Deanston Distillery is touted as the most environmentally friendly of all the distilleries in Scotland, as it gets all its power from the hydroelectric generators left from the old cotton mill days.
Tour the distillery and sample two types of single malt Scotch, seeing if you can detect and compare the notes of lemon zest, nutmeg, barley, toffee, cocoa and vanilla. Stop by the gift shop for souvenirs or perhaps buy a bottle of the whisky you enjoyed the most.
After a day of experiencing a perfect blend of Scotland's wild scenery and whisky, begin the 1-hour journey back to Edinburgh.
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