Many Scottish whisky distilleries are withing easy reach of Kippenross holiday cottage so it is a perfect location for a touring holiday of Scottish whisky distilleries.
Whisky has been distilled in Scottish distilleries for hundreds of years and has become inextricably woven into the fabric of Scotland's history, culture and customs. The origin is uncertain but probably it evolved simply as a means of using up barley which would otherwise have been ruined after a wet harvest - what could be a better use then turning it into whisky.
The name itself is derived from the Gaelic, uisge beatha, meaning 'water of life'. The Latin equivalent, aqua vitae, was a term which was commonly used throughout Europe to describe the local spirit. Aqua vitae made its first appearance in official Scottish records in 1494, with the record of malt being sold to one Friar John Cor of Dunfermline.
Aqcuavitae, 'the water of life', indicated simply 'spirits'. In Irish- and Scottish-Gaelic, the term is 'uisge beatha'. These Gaelic names, sounding to an English-speaker like 'uishgi', were corrupted to 'whisky'.
The first Scottish distillates were flavoured with spices and herbs. By the mid-1700s, a distinction was made in Scotland between these favoured spirits and plain malt.
Around the time of the Act of Union with England in 1707, whisky production was effectively driven underground to evade excessive levels of taxation. For well over a hundred years, the distillers fought a series of bloody skirmishes with the excise men. In 1823, the Excise Act was passed, sanctioning distilling in exchange for a fee.
There are lots of whisky distilleries in Scotland - the oldest distillery in Scotland is Glenturret at Crieff.
Aberfeldy Distillery
Aberfeldy
Perthshire
PH15 2EB
Telephone Number 01887 820330
Company United Distillers
Opening Periods All Year
Balblair Whisky Distillery
Edderton
Tain
Ross-shire
IV19 1LB
Telephone Number 01862 821273
Company Allied Distillers Ltd
Opening Periods__ Sep to Jun
The Blair Atholl Distillery
Pitlochry
Perthshire
PH16 5LY
Telephone Number 01796 472234 Scottish whisky tours
Opening Periods__ All Year
Edradour Whisky Distillery
Pitlochry
Perthshire
PH16 5JP
Telephone Number 01796 472095
Company Campbell Distillers Ltd
Opening Periods__ All Year
Glencadam Distillery
Brechin
Angus
DD9 7PA
Telephone Number 01356 622217
Company Allied Distillers Ltd
Opening Periods__ Sep to Jun
Glenkinchie Whisky Distillery
Pencaitland
East Lothian
EH34 5ET
Telephone Number 01875 340451
Company United Distillers
Opening Periods - All Year
Glenturret Distillery
The Hosh
Crieff
Perthshire
PH7 4HA
Telephone Number 01764 656565
Company The Highland Distilleries Co Ltd
Opening Periods__ All Year
Tullibardine Distillery
Blackford
Perthshire
PH4 1QG
Glengoyne Distillery
Dumgoyne
Nr Killearn
Stirlingshire
G63 9LB
Telephone Number 01360 550254
Company Lang Brothers Ltd
Opening Periods__ All Year
Telephone Number 01764 682252
Company The Invergordon Distillers Ltd
Opening Periods__ Middle of Mar to Oct
Ben Nevis Whisky Distillery
Lochy Bridge
Fort William
PH33 6TI
Telephone Number 01397 700200
Company Fort William Ltd
Opening Periods__ All Year
Clynelish Distillery
Brora
Sutherland
KW9 6LR
Telephone Number 01408 621444
Company United Distillers
Opening Periods__ All Year
Dalmore Distillery
Alness
Ross-shire
IV17 0UT
Telephone Number 01349 882362
Company Whyte & Mackay Group Plc
Opening Periods__ Middle of Aug to middle of Dec, middle Jan to begin Jun
Telephone Number 01862 892477
Whisky Company Macdonald Martin Distillers Plc
Opening Periods__ All Year
Glen Ord Distillery
Muir Of Ord
Ross-shire
IV6 7UJ
Dalwhinnie Distillery
Dalwhinnie
Inverness-shire
PH19 1AB
Telephone Number 01528 522208 Fax 01528 522240
Company United Distillers
Opening Periods__ All Year
Fettercairn Whisky Distillery
Fettercairn
Laurencekirk
Kincardineshire
AB30 1YB
Telephone Number 01561 340205
Company Whyte & Mackay Group Plc
Opening Periods__ May to Sep
The Glendronach Distillery
Forgue
Huntly
Aberdeenshire
AB54 6DB
Telephone Number 01466 730202
Company Allied Distillers Ltd
Opening Periods__ All year except Christmas and New Year
Glenmorangie Whisky Distillery
Tain
Ross-shire
IV19 1PZ
Telephone Number 01463 871334
Company United Distillers
Opening Periods__ All Year
Highland Park Distillery
Holm Rd
Kirkwall
Orkney
KW15 1SU
Telephone Number 01856 874619
Company The Highland Distilleries Co Ltd
Opening Periods__ All Year
Oban Whisky Distillery
Stafford Street
Oban
Argyll
PA34 5NH
Telephone Number 01631 564262
Company United Distillers
Opening Periods__ All Year (Appointments between Dec and Feb)
Talisker Distillery
Carbost
Isle Of Skye
IV47 8SR
Telephone Number 01478 640314
Company United Distillers
Distillery Opening Periods__ All Year
Tobermory Distillery
Tobermory
Isle Of Mull
PA75 6NR
Telephone Number 01688 302645
Company Burn Stewart Distillers Plc
Opening Periods__ Easter to Oct
Tomatin Whisky Distillery
Tomatin
Inverness-shire
IV13 7YT
Telephone Number 01808 511444
Whisky Company Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd
Distillery Opening Times__ All Year
All these whisky distilleries offer distillery tours and are within reach of our holiday cottage. This is a perfect base for a whisky distillery holiday to view the finest whisky distilleries in the world.
