Best Scottish whisky distilleries to visit

❚ This page contains some affiliate links and we may receive a small commission for purchases made, but this comes at no extra cost to you and does not influence our editorial choices.

For more Scottish travel inspiration, check out our picks of the best hotels in Scotland or our food guides to the best restaurants in Edinburgh, Glasgow or Dundee.

10 best whisky distilleries to visit in Scotland

The Isle of Islay

Distillery: Port Ellen

Islay is home to ten working whisky distilleries, with even more still in the building phase, making this island a playground for whisky-lovers. The most recently opened distillery, or rather reopened, is Port Ellen. A cult favourite among collectors, the distillery is back after nearly 40 years after its gates were shut. One of the rarest whiskies around, with bottles changing hands for the price of a small family car, the rebooted distillery is a coastal showpiece, where pared-back Scandi-style meets Islay’s rugged beauty. Expect sweeping sea views, architectural wow-factor, and an elevated tasting experience that’s all about storytelling and sensory discovery.

Where to stay: Keep an eye open for the newly refurbished Ardbeg House which is set to open in September this year. It has been purchased by French luxury goods company LVMH. Already owners of the nearby Ardbeg distillery, they have overhauled the former Islay Hotel into what is sure to become the island’s lighthouse luxury retreat.

Until then, understated luxury and windswept beaches await at Another Place at The Machrie, a stylish hideaway that mixes Highland charm with modern cool. Interiors are soft and organic, with sea-facing rooms and a 30-seat cinema for rainy day wind-downs. Fancy an after-dinner dram? Sink into a leather armchair in the snug bar and let the island do its magic.

Doubles from £295, check rates and availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or The Machrie

Raasay

Distillery: Isle of Raasay Distillery

The bucolic tiny island of Raasay is just 15 minutes by ferry from Skye and is home to one of Scotland’s most exciting new distilleries. Opened in 2017, Raasay Distillery is all about innovation, community and a jaw-dropping view across the Sound. Tours feel intimate and personal, with sustainability front and centre. Its whisky is a flavoursome, lightly smoky style matured across several cask types and brought together for an easy drinking dram. In the on-site bar you can relax with a measure of their well-matured whisky, try it in a cocktail or enjoy wines and local beers, too.

Where to stay: Part of the distillery itself, Borodale House is a former Victorian villa transformed into a six-bedroom hotel. Interiors blend muted tones and natural textures with total tranquility. It is the kind of place where you pad around in thick socks, sip whisky by the fire, and wake to the sound of seabirds. Whole-house hire is available for group getaways and, as part of the Raasay buildings, it is currently the only place in Scotland where you can stay directly in a working distillery.

Check rates and availability at raasaydistillery.com

Skye

Distillery: Talisker

Skye boasts some of Scotland most elemental, rugged and utterly breathtaking landscapes. Truly a cinematic experience, it is also home to the famed Talisker distillery. Recently revamped, it is now as stunning as the surrounding scenery. A beautiful visitors centre takes you on an immersive trip around the island and the whisky made at Talisker. It recently unveiled a satellite location of the island’s top restaurant, The Three Chimneys. Sat in a waterfront space on the dockside, expect dishes with strong local provenance and sustainability.

Where to stay: One of my ‘happy places’ in Scotland, Kinloch Lodge is the seat of the Macdonald Clan and is still family run today. Old-school Highland hospitality done right, this is a place to come and relax in real style where the fire is warm, and the welcome even warmer. Characterful rooms have lochside views, there's a cosy bar and a menu that celebrates Skye’s natural larder, from hand-dived scallops to earthy chanterelles and local meat. Top tip: make sure you are there at a weekend for their hearty Sunday lunch. Check out our guide to Skye for more recommendations of where to eat and stay on the island.

Check rates and availability at booking.com or kinloch-lodge.co.uk

The Cairngorms

Distillery: Royal Lochnagar

Just a short hop from Balmoral, this dinky distillery was granted royal status by Queen Victoria. Today, it balances tradition with a playful modern twist and is short on crowds, but long on history and tradition. Tucked away between Ballater and Braemar, it’s nestled into the breathtaking Cairngorms colour-changing scenery on the banks of the River Dee. Don’t miss the new Bothy Bar, where you can sample whisky cocktails paired with local charcuterie and cheeses.

Where to stay: Art lovers and interiors obsessives, take note of The Fife Arms. Boasting more than 16,000 works of art (yes, really) you might find yourself sleeping in a room adorned with works by Picasso and other equally brilliant artists. There’s a whisky bar, Bertie’s, home to over 500 different bottles, a fondue hut in winter, and some of the Highlands’ best food to boot. Just down the road in Ballater is sister property The Fish Shop, which has become a hangout for famous local residents such as Margot Robbie who is rumoured to have a house nearby.

Check rates and availability at thefifearms.com

Perthshire

Distillery: Glenturret

As Scotland’s oldest working distillery, Glenturret has worn many hats over the years. Easy to access due to their central Scotland location – just one hour from Edinburgh airport – it used to be the home of The Famous Grouse Experience, a trad-laden affair which showed whisky in a more dusty light. Under new ownership, it has transformed into a Highland home of luxury, including a two Michelin-starred Glenturret Lalique restaurant, the only Michelin-starred eatery in any distillery around the world, where chef Mark Donald uses local ingredients, including the whisky, to weave genuine magic on a plate.

Where to stay: The name Gleneagles needs no introduction, as Scotland’s most recognisable destination. Still holding the title of the grande dame of country house hotels, it doesn’t stand still with developments across their world-class spa, award-winning cocktail bar and countryside activities such as falconry and Land Rover driving. This really is a hotel that keeps evolving for the better, year after year.

Doubles from £495 per night, check availability at booking.com or gleneagles.com

However, for something more intimate, try Glenturret’s own Aberturret House. The private residence is located just across the river from the distillery and the recently restored property sleeps 12 (either for fully private hire, or individual stays for those dining at the Glenturret Lalique Restaurant) it is filled with Scottish fabrics, pottery, and thoughtful design touches.

Check rates and availability at theglenturret.com

Edinburgh

Distillery: Johnnie Walker Princes Street

This is not a distillery per se, but an incredible new visitor experience from the world’s best selling Scotch whisky, Johnnie Walker. The experience, which cost over £150m to build, opened in 2021 and has just welcomed its one millionth visitor; a testament to the offering which welcomes anyone who enjoys not just whisky, but flavour too. The experience takes visitors on an immersive sensory journey of Scotch whisky, including enjoying personalised cocktails along the way. Two impressive rooftop bars showcase more cocktails and great food, all paired with the best view of the city anywhere has to offer.

Where to stay: Edinburgh is not short of incredible hotels. Gleneagles has a small outpost, Gleneagles Townhouse, which has just 33 keys and is often fully booked, and Hoxton Hotels opened in June 2025.

However, if you are looking for something slightly under the radar, try 100 Princes Street. The new boutique bolthole is petite, polished and perfectly located. With just 30 rooms, it feels like a private club (in fact, it is in a converted former members club) and is personal, plush and with the kind of service that turns a city break into something special. Check out our guide to the best restaurants in Edinburgh for memorable meals during your stay.

Check rates and availability at booking.com or 100princes-street.com

Tain

Distillery: Glenmorangie Distillery

Arriving at Glenmorangie Distillery, just outside Tain and overlooking the Dornoch Firth, you’ll be transported back to the Victorian-era. Built on a slope that runs down towards the water, the distillery is famed for having incredibly tall copper pot stills, the same height as a giraffe. These copper sculptures are what gives Glenmorangie its signature elegance, and have platformed it to be one of the best selling single malts globally. Tastings and tours are relaxed yet intimate, focusing on the hose style of a floral, and citrus-bright whisky.

Where to stay: Not just a beautiful distillery, Glenmorangie also has its own country pile, 15 mins scenic drive away. Glenmorangie House is less hotel, more sumptuous private residence. Think country manor meets contemporary art-house, with tartan chairs, Hebridean rugs, and incredible views. Each room is unique and colourful. Dinner is often an event, shared around a communal table. Coastal walks are mapped out, and a dram in front of the fire is a welcoming postprandial pour on your return. This is refined yet relaxed luxury.

Rooms from £1,347 for three nights, check availability at booking.com, expedia.co.uk or glenmorangie.com

Glenmorangie distillery. Tain. Scotland. United Kingdom. Europe. (Photo by:Anania Carri/REDA/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Speyside

Distillery: The Macallan

Probably the most famous name in single malt Scotch whisky, Macallan (founded in 1824) is a brand beloved by drinkers looking for the ultimate status symbol in spirits. A stunning new design-led subterranean distillery was opened in 2018, revolutionising the idea of the traditional Scottish distillery. Always looking to push forward innovative concepts, the distillery has a long-standing partnership with the highly awarded Spanish chefs, the Roca brothers and this year launched ‘TimeSpirit’, a dining experience curated by the legendary siblings. The menu takes you on a journey of pairings where expressions of The Macallan and carefully selected sherries are paired with small tasting dishes.

Where to stay: Tucked into the heart of the Highlands, the Craigellachie Hotel is a warm and characterful base for exploring Speyside, Scotland’s main whisky region. An historic building built in 1893, it is a charming 26-room retreat which blends Victorian heritage with modern comfort and Scottish highland elegance. Deep leather armchairs, tartan throws, crackling fires and an unmistakable sense of place give the hotel character. At the heart of the building is the legendary Quaich Bar, home to over 700 whiskies. The Spey Inn, the hotel's on-site restaurant, serves up hearty, locally sourced fare including Highland beef and salmon.

Check rates and availability at booking.com or craigellachiehotel.com

Highlands

Distillery: Dewar's Aberfeldy Distillery

Tucked just outside the town of Aberfeldy, at the gateway to the Highlands, is the Aberfeldy Distillery. Built in 1898 by the Dewar family, proprietors of this famous blended whisky to which they gave their name, it is more than just a working distillery producing a soft, honeyed Highland malt; it is an education in all things Scotch with a detailed and interesting visitor centre that covers the global rise in popularity of whisky around the world. Here, you can see a modern take on blended whisky, as well as a focus on the single malt made on-site, through a series of interactive activities and, of course, tasting rooms too.

Where to stay: The nearby town of Dunkeld has undergone something of an evolution over the past five years, becoming a foodie Highland hub – make sure you stop off at ARAN Bakery for pastries. Dunkeld is also home to Redwood Wines, a hidden gem wine merchant specialising in organic and low-intervention bottles, flipping into a restaurant after-hours. The place to stay is The Taybank, a welcoming Victorian‑era hotel. Its cosy bar hosts live trad music nights and their Scandi-chic bedrooms are warm and welcoming. They also host seasonal events such as outdoor cinema on the banks of the River Tay.

Check rates and availability at booking.com or thetaybank.co.uk

Glasgow

Distillery: Auchentoshan

Tucked just outside Glasgow, Auchentoshan is a rare thing: a historic Lowland single malt distillery. Unlike most single malts, which are double distilled, the whisky made at Auchentoshan is triple-distilled, giving a lighter and more refined style of spirit. A hop, skip and a jump from Glasgow's city centre, the distillery is perfectly located for anyone wanting a city-break weekend with a chance to dip their toe into the world of whisky.

Where to stay: Located right in the heart of Glasgow, the Kimpton Blythswood Square hotel is a luxurious city centre retreat. Once the headquarters of the Royal Scottish Automobile Club, the grand building retains its stunning Georgian architecture on the outside, while offering modern design inside. Its 113 rooms and suites are spacious and comfortable, and the award-winning spa is an usually large space for a centrally located hotel. The location makes it ideal for exploring Glasgow (check out our picks of the best restaurants in Glasgow) and gives easy access to the rest of Scotland, too.

Check rates and availability at booking.com or kimptonblythswoodsquare.com

Mashman Stuart McIntosh works inside one of the barrels at the Auchentoshan Distillery(Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Travel Tips:

Book tastings and distillery tours in advance – many now offer limited group sizes and tailored experiences.
Don’t feel you need to be a whisky expert. Most tours are beginner-friendly, and staff are brilliant at guiding you through styles and flavours.
Want to pair your dram with food? Look for distilleries offering food pairings or dining options, or the local hotels that also offer this. This is a great way to elevate and enhance any tasting experience.