PRIVATE WHISKY SCHOOL and TOUR 2020
Discerning malt whisky nosing & tasting experience This tour is for a group of any size, not a basic whisky tour but for serious whisky lovers who don’t mind paying for a superb experience. Ideal for whisky clubs, friends and family groups. It is a fully guided tour with driver/guide and complimentary whisky daily in the car.
Day 1 We meet your group in Glasgow and drive into Perthshire where we visit and taste at Edradour Distillery. Depending on your flight arrival we will add drop in to Dalwhinnie Distillery just to sample their drams. You decide on the day how many you wish to sample and pay for. The day ends in Elgin as we check into the hotel. With so many whiskies behind the bar, you will be hard pressed on choice (can also be tailored to suit Edinburgh, Aberdeen or Inverness).
Day 2 A full Scottish breakfast, then a private tour at Glen Moray Distillery. A guided tour followed by a tasting of four Glen Moray whiskies paired with chocolates, many extra drams can be purchased. Time for lunch in a local pub and a look around Gordon McPhail whisky shop. This afternoon an in depth whisky experience with ex Diageo master Vic Cameron. Vic (a good friend of ours), left Diageo in 2014 after 23 years to work in the church. His first post was as Production Manager at Blair Athol and Aberfeldy Distilleries, before moving into the malting division as Operations Manager at Burghead and Roseisle Maltings. A couple of years as Operations Manager at Dailuaine and Benrinnes Distilleries, he moved into the Process Support team as the Maltings Specialist. A Laboratory Manager Vic completed his career with Diageo as the Laboratory Services and Cereals Manager. In his time with Diageo Vic also completed his Diploma in Distilling with the IBD and sat on a number of industry committees including the Technical Committee of the MAGB, the UK NIR Grain Network and the Barley Committee, Senior Teacher with Edinburgh Whisky Academy, Whisky Lecturer with the University of the Highlands and Islands. As well as running his church, he also writes a monthly whisky article for the Northern Scot and contributes to various blogs. And – works alongside MCLEANSCOTLAND.
Not only all the above but personal tales of certain distilleries you won’t hear elsewhere. How to select a barley, what does the wood do – with a full on blether all about whisky. Approx 2 – 5.30 at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel. This afternoon session will also involve drams!
Day 3 A full Scottish breakfast, then a drive to The Macallan, see the new distillery, one of a kind. Time for lunch at the Highlander Inn, another great chance to choose a dram from the hundred’s on offer – or a beer. From here a drive past Macallan again up to Cardhu Distillery where you enjoy a taste of the whole range, taking place in the Johnnie Walker Brand Home, not usually open to the public. A superb experience. Return to Elgin for a final night.
Day 4 This morning we head for a tour at The Speyside Cooperage to see the casks being built and repaired. This is a really interesting tour, we guarantee you will enjoy. Then calling in at the House of Bruar (the Harrods of the north, great food and quick service) for lunch (not included) before heading south to Aberfeldy and a special visit to the distillery. This tour includes the heritage centre, distillery and warehouse, a dram from the cask, free blender’s tot glass and a tasting tray of 5 drams. The day ends in Perth – after checking in to the hotel, we wander around to Paul’s local pub; King James – named after the murdered King James – for a couple of drams, meet the locals, the remainder of the evening is yours.
Day 5 A final day, with a range tasting at Tullibardine Distillery, followed by a light lunch and sandwiches (not included) at Deanston Distillery and a warehouse experience, more of an informal conversation and focus on the whisky and the wood more than the rest of the process. It’s about the whiskies but the staff end up talking about their own lives and experiences and other whiskies from other distilleries. The tour ends in Glasgow, a final hotel, a beauty – The George, where you will have a free bar, also complimentary drinks in your room.
Day 6 After yet another fully cooked breakfast, your tour with us ends today, hope to see you again. Safe travels!
Price on application – for groups of any size.