Just a Wee Skoosh! 3 of the Best Scotch Whisky Tours Scotland Has to Offer
The best export to come out of Scotland is Scottish whisky. Others may argue it's the unique dialect that only the Scots understand.
“Lang may yer lum reek. Braw!” Loosely transcribed, it means “wishing you a long and happy life.” Or it could be something completely different, depending on who you ask.
The local dialect is varied and interspersed with idioms that we’re convinced are taken from a Robert Burns poem. The irony is that although many foreigners fail to understand them, the Scots are masters of thick drawls, especially when the Scottish whisky kicks in.
This brings us to why you’re here: Scotch whisky or as some call it, scotch. But first, let’s get the basics out of the way.
Is Scotch a Whisky?
Oh yes, the long-held debate over scotch and whisky rears its head. As a simple guide to scotch, the answer is “yes.”
Scotch is a Scottish whisky made mainly from water and malted barley, sometimes with other grains. Its unique flavor results from the aging process.
However, there’s a marked difference between scotch and other whiskies. For scotch to be authentic and legal, it must be made in Scotland.
The Liquor Bros mentions another interesting fact: Scottish whisky is spelled without an “e,” setting it apart from American and Irish whiskey.
Without further ado, put on that kilt you’ve been saving for a rainy Scottish day, and let's go in search of Scotland’s best scotch tours.
#1. Holyrood Distillery, Edinburgh
Whisky tourism is big business in Scotland. The Scotch Whisky Association reckons about 148 distilleries are operating in the country.
Traditional tours are a thing of the past as whisky makers up their game with immersive experiences and tasting workshops. One such place is Holyrood Distillery.
Perfectly positioned in Edinburgh’s old town, Holyrood is a fairly new distillery. Its first single malt was launched in October last year after the official opening in 2019.
What makes Holyrood unique? Well, it’s the first distillery in Edinburgh’s city center for over a hundred years. Also, it was recently named Distiller of the Year in the Icons of Whisky Scotland 2025.
At the beginning of this year, the company launched the Re-Rack Series, a limited edition of single malt whiskies. The first release was a single malt, initially aged in a bourbon cask and finished in a rum cask.
During the Edinburgh Festival, Holyrood offers Charmed Circle walking tours, named after the area's once-abundant water supply.
#2. Arbikie, Angus
And here we thought Angus beef was the only thing to come out of the Angus region.
The family-owned Arbikie lays claim to the first Scottish rye whisky in over 200 years. Crafted from estate-grown grain, the field-to-bottle Highland dram reflects its terroir with water from an underground lagoon and a distillery set in a former barn.
This fertile stretch of land has been farmed by the Sterlings for four generations, producing the U.K.’s first climate-positive gin.
With a focus on sustainability, the distillery crafts every spirit on-site, grows its crops, uses its own water and recycles primary waste products as cattle feed.
The Arbikie Whisky Experience Tour is second to none. The tour begins with the farm’s history, continues through the old cowshed-turned-stillhouse and ends with a guided tasting overlooking Lunan Bay.
#3. The Glenlivet, Moray
To mark its 200th anniversary, The Glenlivet released its oldest scotch yet: the Glenlivet Eternal Collection, First Edition, 55-Year-Old.
The scotch, priced at $55,000, was aged for over five decades in a seasoned sherry cask. Glenlivet says the single malt boasts a complex flavor and an exceptionally long finish.
However, the award-winning whiskies aren’t the only attraction. Recently refurbished, The Glenlivet sits on a remote glen, contrasting what it hides inside.
Reminiscent of a 5-star hotel, the visitor space is luxuriously decked with plush furnishings and a decadent chandelier made from dried wildflowers.
Visiting the oldest distillery in the Scottish Highlands is in itself a treat.
Explore Glenlivet whisky through an immersive tour covering its production and history. Then, enjoy rare scotch in a private room, and try cocktail capsules and whisky-chocolate pairings.
Slàinte to Scotch
Scotland’s scotch whisky regions are more than its prized spirits and oak casks. It incorporates innovations into traditions passed on from generation to generation to create a balanced and mature drink.
From single malt scotch whisky to blended scotch whisky, many whisky connoisseurs know they are getting perfection in every glass. Slàinte Mhath! Don’t forget to leave the Angel's Share.
