Tastings · DISTILLERY TOURS IN THE UK
There is never quite enough time on the ground. These 15 distillery tours in the UK earn the slot, priced and timed so you can decide quickly and get on with it.
Spend an hour with an English-speaking guide such as Courtney, Dave, Neil, or Thais inside Edinburgh’s Holyrood Distillery. See the gin lab, washbacks, copper stills, and cask room while learning about experimental yeasts, flavour design, gin, and single malt whisky. A welcome cocktail and tastings are included.
“The tour was excellent and Courtney was a brilliant guide.”
Tour Glasgow’s Clydeside Distillery in the Old Pumphouse, beginning with the Dockside Story before seeing malting, mashing, fermentation, and distillation. Guides such as Nina, Andy, and Madeleine bring the visit to life, then you taste three Clydeside drams and keep the small tasting glass. Allow one hour, plus time for the whisky bar and shop.
“Nice tour with knowledgeable guide! The tasting was a lot of fun and a great opportunity to learn about different types of scotch whiskey.”
At Laverstoke Mill, explore Bombay Sapphire’s historic distillery with a host, make a G&T at the Turbine Bar, see the glasshouses, test your flavor preferences in the Botanical Room, and learn about vapor infusion. Guides such as Naomi, Helen, Nick, and Luke have led engaging tours, though parts can feel rushed when busy.
“Value for money, and interesting experience. Option of non alcoholic drink was nice. Could've shown Around more stuff.”
Spend 90 minutes at the Port of Leith Distillery with an English-speaking guide such as Olivia or Ellie. See the world’s tallest distillery, fill a miniature bottle of New Make spirit, and taste New Make, port, sherry, and Table Whisky while learning how Scotch develops from production to maturation.
“Beautiful new distillery, and the second vertical one in Europe. Our tour guide Olivia was knowledgeable and fun. We got to bottle and keep a small bottle of their "hearts" distilled spirit. The tasting was good. ***WARNING: Given it's a new distillery they have yet to release their own whisky. Thus that is not part of the tasting.***”
Spend about an hour touring Holyrood Distillery near Edinburgh’s Holyrood area. Guides such as Diego, Brice, Neil, and Courtney explain the distillery’s experimental approach to whisky and gin, followed by several tastings. You’ll see a modern working distillery, learn how the spirits are made, and finish near the bar and shop.
“Great tour especially if you don't have a lot of time to explore outside of Edinburgh. I learned a lot about gin and the flavor was great.”
At Edinburgh’s 56 North Distillery, you’ll begin with South Loch Gin and Fever-Tree tonic in Scotland’s oldest dedicated gin bar. Learn how botanicals and copper stills shape the spirit, taste three small-batch gins, then finish with a South Loch cocktail. Guides including James, Abi, Gary, and George bring plenty of humor and practical insight.
“James was fantastic, full of little nuggets of information and really passionate about his gin. It was definitely an experience we would do again.”
Visit Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery for a 90-minute guided tour, a self-guided heritage centre, whisky production areas, and a tasting of three expressions. Groups are capped at eight. You can upgrade to five whiskies, browse the shop, and request a takeaway cocktail pack if you are driving.
“We didn’t know much about Whisky before this tour, but now we understand a bit more about the history behind, how they make it and what differences there are. Our guide was an excellent story teller & we felt that he knew a lot about the production. It was very interesting and we strongly recommend this tour, even if you don’t drink a lot of whisky.”
Spend 90 minutes at Glengoyne Distillery with an English-speaking guide such as Aden, John, Vivienne, or Robert. See the mash tun, washbacks, copper stills, and No. 1 Warehouse, then taste three single malts with matched Scottish chocolates. The working distillery, beautiful setting, and relaxed teaching suit whisky fans and first-timers alike.
“The tour was fantastic. It was my first distillery tour and had the experience with my older brother who turns 50 this December. He was already a whiskey fan and I became one once the tour had finished!… and who thought chocolate could be matched with it too! The tour guide was very welcoming and pleasant, very knowledgeable of the process (obviously) but very open to questions and interaction. I would recommend the tour to anyone visiting the area and wanting to get out of the city for a day. If anyone reads this and is happy to gift me my preferred bottle of choice (21+ years), then I can…”
Tour McConnell’s Distillery in the former A-Wing of Crumlin Road Gaol with an English-speaking host. Learn about the Belfast whisky brand founded in 1776, see the distilling process, and taste new make, McConnell’s 5 Year, and Sherry Cask whisky before browsing the bar and shop.
“Great experience with great whisky, without an “e” 😄. I would highly recommend this stop. It’s sooo cool seeing how the preserved the old prison yet make great whisky!”
Travel from Edinburgh by modern bus with an English-speaking driver-guide to Rosslyn Chapel, Melrose, and Glenkinchie Distillery. Look for carved Green Men and musical boxes, hear the story of Robert the Bruce’s heart, enjoy free time for lunch, and add a whisky tour and tasting at the Lowland home of Johnnie Walker.
“Exelent driver, Eric was incredibile driver, guide, very informative, funny and dJ :)”
Meet your English-speaking guide at Holyrood Distillery for a one-hour tour through the Spirits Lab, production floor, and cask room. Taste four drams at different stages, from new make spirit to mature single malt, and learn how barley, yeast, wood, and time shape whisky. Guides may include Dave, Brice, Thais, or Matthew.
“Marco was a fantastic guide, really enjoyed the tour.”
Spend 90 minutes exploring Port of Leith’s UK-first vertical distillery with an English-speaking guide. Taste New Make spirit, port, sherry, and Table Whisky, then fill a miniature bottle to take home. Guides such as Isobel, Leo, Rocky, and Fraser bring the science and story to life, with a striking top-floor bar waiting afterward.
“Leo gave us a fantastic private tour of the facility! He's an amazing guide and clearly passionate about his work! His insights made the entire tour so engaging and fun! And, the views of the water from the top are simply amazing! Highly recommend!!”
Spend an hour at Pickering’s Gin in Summerhall with a guide such as Max, Jamie, Alyssa, or Emma. Start with a gin and tonic, hear how Edinburgh’s first gin-only distillery in 150 years began, watch the stills when operating, taste four gins, and take home a 5cl miniature.
“A lovely tour around the distillery and great information about how it came to be. We had a enthusiastic guide Jamie who made the experience entertaining and memorable. He was so 'gin-erous' with the jokes ;)”
At Edinburgh Gin’s Old Town distillery, an English-speaking guide leads you through gin’s story, the botanical-filled Flavour Arch, and the Stillhouse. You’ll taste several gins and liqueurs with mixers and garnishes, then order a cocktail in the Distillery Bar. The 75-minute tour suits adults curious about both flavor and craft.
“Our guide Freddy was great! Knowledgeable, funny, great personality! Maybe talked a bit too fast but hey, he obviously is excited about their gin...and who wouldn't be? The bibbest problem was knowing I had a limit to how many I bought to bring home to Australia!”
At Uilebheist Brewery & Distillery in Inverness, a guide such as Richard leads you through beer and whisky production, local folklore, and the facility’s working spaces. The 75-minute visit ends with three tastings: new-make spirit, Colpach whisky, and beer. Expect an English-language tour for up to 15 people.
“An interesting overview of the distilling and brewing processes with a lot of fun local history and lore. Excellent tasting at the end!”
The lists most people start from.
