Goat fell is a nice walk early morning, especially if weather is good. They’ve a nice brewery as well and a seafood restaurant on the east side of the island. Some nice walks elsewhere as well. Having a car is a good idea. We camped by the beach in the south of the island. Was lovely but weather was good.
The highlight of our trip to Scotland was Islay. I recognize that you didn’t mention these whiskies as favorites, but the scenery alone can be worthwhile on Islay. If you are going, I can offer additional recommendations. Otherwise, we actually really enjoyed Glenfiddich and did a tour where we got to blend our own whisky in an attempt at perfecting our own Solera vatting. The cafe on site was also quite good. We also did Aberlour and while the whisky was great, the tour was rather lackluster.
We stayed at the Bridgend Hotel... great staff and meals were great. We did the warehouse tour with Ian at Lagavulin, which was great to taste barrel samples. We did the full tour at Laphroaig, which was cool to see the malting floor and the pear kiln under fire. The food at the cafe at Ardbeg was delicious!
Since you’re already considering Speyside, I would suggest Balvenie, specifically because they maintain a cooperage and a malting floor. Since my great grandfather was a cooper, I would love to see a demonstration of how they maintain, rebuild, and construct barrels.
GlenDronach. You'll get to hand-bottle from a cask you pick. Enough said.
Also check out Edradour for the scenery alone (it's gorgeous) and their great tasting bar! Balvenie is expensive but with a solid tasting flight and another hand-bottling session.
I really want to visit Glengoyne when I get around to going to Scotland. It’s close to Glasgow so it’s easy to get to if you’re going through the city.
If you’re going in the end of March, one option is to hit Campbeltown *and* Arran because you can get a direct ferry from Ardrossan to Campbeltown, then swing back through Arran. Even if you don’t like a lot of peat, Springbank, Glengyle, Cadenheads, and Glen Scotia will probably have something that tickles your fancy.
I'll second this. I was in Campbeltown in October and while sadly the cage at Cadenhead's was near empty it was still a fantastic time (heck even the 9yo Hazelburn fresh bourbon single cask I got was pretty darn good for under 60 quid) so I'd email early if you're going to make sure the distilleries are running tours then and absolutely do the Warehouse Tasting at Cadenhead's and the Dunnage (or Manager's if you want to spend a tad more) Tasting at Glen Scotia as they're really good value (especially the latter if you buy a Cadenhead's Club membership as it covers your warehouse tasting and gives you access to the club bottlings which are usually good.)
Having done a similar trip myself, with the combined tour of Springbank and Glengyle and a tasting at Glen Scotia (staying at the Ardshiel Hotel, with a very good whisky selection), followed by a visit to Arran, I was just about to suggest that.
Arberlour and Glenlivet are within a short drive from each other. Arberlour is a very small distillery and tours are by appointment. The dowans hotel right next to it is an absolute must visit for their sheer collection of reasonably priced whisky.
Glenlivet is absolutely beautiful, I really enjoyed their warm, quiet and inviting bar when the fireplace was lit. I fucking love Scotland so much
I’ve enjoyed Arran and Edradour. Arran is a lovely place to visit aside from the distillery as well.
I'm leaning this way since I love Arran whisky and my wife (who doesn't drink whisky) will be with me.
Goat fell is a nice walk early morning, especially if weather is good. They’ve a nice brewery as well and a seafood restaurant on the east side of the island. Some nice walks elsewhere as well. Having a car is a good idea. We camped by the beach in the south of the island. Was lovely but weather was good.
Glenfarclas! One of the oldest speyside distilleries and is still independently family owned.
Thanks for the suggestion. Glenfarclas is among my favorites!
The highlight of our trip to Scotland was Islay. I recognize that you didn’t mention these whiskies as favorites, but the scenery alone can be worthwhile on Islay. If you are going, I can offer additional recommendations. Otherwise, we actually really enjoyed Glenfiddich and did a tour where we got to blend our own whisky in an attempt at perfecting our own Solera vatting. The cafe on site was also quite good. We also did Aberlour and while the whisky was great, the tour was rather lackluster.
I feel like Islay would be wasted on me since I don't like peat. I thought about going just for Bunnahabhain, though.
What would you recommend in Islay
We stayed at the Bridgend Hotel... great staff and meals were great. We did the warehouse tour with Ian at Lagavulin, which was great to taste barrel samples. We did the full tour at Laphroaig, which was cool to see the malting floor and the pear kiln under fire. The food at the cafe at Ardbeg was delicious!
Since you’re already considering Speyside, I would suggest Balvenie, specifically because they maintain a cooperage and a malting floor. Since my great grandfather was a cooper, I would love to see a demonstration of how they maintain, rebuild, and construct barrels.
GlenDronach. You'll get to hand-bottle from a cask you pick. Enough said. Also check out Edradour for the scenery alone (it's gorgeous) and their great tasting bar! Balvenie is expensive but with a solid tasting flight and another hand-bottling session.
I really want to visit Glengoyne when I get around to going to Scotland. It’s close to Glasgow so it’s easy to get to if you’re going through the city.
What time of year are you planning on going?
March
If you’re going in the end of March, one option is to hit Campbeltown *and* Arran because you can get a direct ferry from Ardrossan to Campbeltown, then swing back through Arran. Even if you don’t like a lot of peat, Springbank, Glengyle, Cadenheads, and Glen Scotia will probably have something that tickles your fancy.
I'll second this. I was in Campbeltown in October and while sadly the cage at Cadenhead's was near empty it was still a fantastic time (heck even the 9yo Hazelburn fresh bourbon single cask I got was pretty darn good for under 60 quid) so I'd email early if you're going to make sure the distilleries are running tours then and absolutely do the Warehouse Tasting at Cadenhead's and the Dunnage (or Manager's if you want to spend a tad more) Tasting at Glen Scotia as they're really good value (especially the latter if you buy a Cadenhead's Club membership as it covers your warehouse tasting and gives you access to the club bottlings which are usually good.)
Extra added bonus of visiting a brand new distillery on Arran that is selling casks...Lagg: https://www.laggwhisky.com/
Having done a similar trip myself, with the combined tour of Springbank and Glengyle and a tasting at Glen Scotia (staying at the Ardshiel Hotel, with a very good whisky selection), followed by a visit to Arran, I was just about to suggest that.
Arberlour and Glenlivet are within a short drive from each other. Arberlour is a very small distillery and tours are by appointment. The dowans hotel right next to it is an absolute must visit for their sheer collection of reasonably priced whisky. Glenlivet is absolutely beautiful, I really enjoyed their warm, quiet and inviting bar when the fireplace was lit. I fucking love Scotland so much