Moray Speyside is home to some of Scotland’s most beautiful scenery and lush landscapes. However, the region is perhaps better known for being the home of Malt Whisky, over half of all of Scotland’s whisky distilleries can be found in Moray Speyside.
Situated in between Inverness and Aberdeen, the region spreads from the rugged Moray coastline down towards the famous Cairngorms National Park. The River Spey, Scotland’s fastest flowing river, carves its way through the region, starting in the Cairngorm mountains before finally joining the sea at Spey Bay on the Moray Coast. The majority of our distilleries are dotted throughout the glens surrounding this iconic water source.
The area’s rich supply of pure water and beautiful inland setting help to produce smooth and complex whiskies that provide an elegant contrast to the heavily peated whiskies that are produced by distilleries in other regions. Moray Speyside whiskies can often be identified by their sweet and fruity notes. However, hints of nuts and malt are also common, with some whiskies possessing a refined smokiness.
Distillery Visitor Centre COVID-19 Opening Information
| Distillery | Tours & Tastings | Retail / Cafe | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberlour | 19th May | 28th April | Website |
| Benriach | 21st May | 21st May | Website |
| Benromach | Virtual Tours Only | Tour / Website | |
| Cardhu | From 17th June | 17th June | Website |
| Dallas Dhu | No current date indicated | Website | |
| Cragganmore | No current date indicated | Website | |
| GlenAllachie | Virtual Tours from 4th May | 27th April | Website |
| Glenfarclas | No current date indicated | Website | |
| Glenfiddich | 12th May | 30th April | Website |
| Glenlivet | 28th April – 4th June* | 28th April | Website |
| Glen Grant | No current date indicated | 26th April | Website |
| Glen Moray | No current date indicated | 26th April | Website |
| The Macallan | Phased reopening | 29th May | Website |
| Speyside Cooperage | 28th June | 28th June | Website |
| Strathisla | Indoor tastings from 17th May | 26th April | Website |
| Tomintoul | No current date indicated | Website |
* Planned closure for refurbishment
A Whisky Immersion
Discover the hidden story of Moray Speyside’s Distilleries with our Whisky Immersion Itinerary
Keith – Dufftown – Aberlour
Situated in the historic burgh of Keith, the distillery is surrounded by beautiful gardens. Strathisla Distillery was founded by two enterprising local gentlemen in 1786 within a stone’s throw from the ruins of Milton Castle. Enjoy their master blender experience and learn all there is to know about this iconic brand.
Traveling South on the B9014 head towards the village of Dufftown where you will find the world renowned Glenfiddich Distillery. In the heart of Speyside, surrounded by forrest, the ruins of a medieval castle and a natural spring, is a landscape little changed since 1886, when Glenfiddich’s founder, William Grant, gathered his family of nine children to build the distillery with their bare hands. Around one year later, on Christmas day, 1887, the first Glenfiddich spirit trickled from the stills.
To end your first day, travel along the A95 to the Aberlour Distillery. Situated at the junction of the rivers Lour and Spey, the distillery is surrounded by glorious scenery, dominated by the rugged peaks of Ben Rinnes a short distance away. Pure spring water for making the whisky is drawn from the Lour, and the maturing spirit in the warehouse beneficially inhales the moist Speyside air.
Aberlour is an ancient place as well as a beautiful one. For more than 1,400 years there has been a community there and signs of its long heritage are all around, from the age-old oak trees above Linn Falls to the mysterious standing stones on Fairy Hill.
At the distillery, nature, tradition and local craftsmanship combine to create a great malt whisky – the spirit of Aberlour.
Ballindalloch – Glenlivet
Travel south on the A95 to Ballindalloch Distillery. Nestled deep in the beautiful Spey valley, Ballindalloch Castle has been the home of the Macpherson-Grant family since 1546. Indeed, Guy Macpherson-Grant is the 23rd generation of his family to live at the Castle.
Returning the family to the distilling traditions of previous generations, Ballindalloch Distillery embraces an approach to whisky making rarely seen today.
Continue your day by visiting the wild and lonely setting of The Glenlivet Distillery, situated on the B9008, 5 miles south east of Ballindalloch. Established in 1824 by George Smith, discover the home of this world-famous Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Enjoy a guided tour of the distillery and vast bonded warehouse where the famous spirit matures to a whisky of infinite subtlety and grace, and of course sample a complimentary dram of The Glenlivet.
Aberlour – Knockando – Elgin
Head north on the A95 and visit the new Macallan Distillery and Visitor Experience in the heart of The Macallan Estate and get an insight into the process, production, people and passion that make their internationally renowned single malt whisky so special.
After enjoying Moray Speyside’s newest distillery, head west on the B9102 to visit Cardhu Distillery, the only malt distillery pioneered by a woman. It is alleged that Helen Cumming distilled the first gallon of Cardhu, the only malt whisky to be pioneered by a woman. For many years Helen Cumming produced only the smallest quantity of malt whisky in Cardhu’s little still, as quality was her chief concern.
Discover the history of Cardhu on a guided tour, browse the gift shop after or relax with a dram of the famous single malt. It is produced in limited quantities by a deliberately slow distillation process and matured for 12 years in specially selected oak casks. It may take longer than many malts to reach fruition, but it is time well spent, which is shown by Cardhu’s exceptionally smooth and mellow character.
To finish your day, head back to the A95 and head north to Elgin where you will find the Glen Moray Distillery. Glen Moray Distillery nestles on the banks of the River Lossie in the city of Elgin, the capital of Speyside. Glen Moray Single Malt Whisky has been distilled here since 1897. In over a century of distilling at Glen Moray, much has changed, however the ingredients, processes and skills of those responsible for producing Glen Moray remain constant.
At the Glen Moray distillery, you can discover the reality of malt whisky distilling. Each guide knows the process of whisky making like the back of their hand so at Glen Moray you will gain an unforgettable insight into how water and barley are transformed into ‘the water of life’.
Discover the workings of Glen Moray with a tour and a dram or relax and enjoy some homemade lunch in their coffee shop.
Forres
Travel west along the A96 to Forres, home to the Benromach Distillery. At Benromach, they handcraft their whisky and make it slowly, the time-honored way. Using the finest natural ingredients their 3 distillers orchestrate every second of the distillation process; there are no short cuts to perfection. they make it this way to give their whisky that gorgeous pre-1960s Speyside character: beautifully balanced with a light touch of smoke.
Leaving Forres, travel along the A940 for six miles. There you will find the Dallas Dhu Distillery. Dallas Dhu is the last distillery to be built in the nineteenth century. Step back in time to see and hear how whisky was made in the 1900s – and then sample a dram for yourself. Picturesque Dallas Dhu originally made malt whisky for the popular Roderick Dhu blend. Visitors can wander at will through this completely preserved time capsule of the distiller’s craft. Explore this fine old Victorian distillery and then enjoy a dram in the audio-visual theatre as the story of Scotch Whisky unfolds before you.
And these are just a few of the Malt Whisky Distilleries you can visit here in Moray Speyside.
Wherever you choose to visit, you will be sure to receive a warm welcome and a dram, Cheers!