Dalwhinnie Distillery

At a remote spot in the Cairngorms National Park, Dalwhinnie is the highest working distillery in Scotland and is one of the most famous names in the country’s lucrative whisky business. Thanks to the purity of local snow-fed water from the Allt an t`Sluic, a tributary of the great River Spey, and its proximity to a former drover’s road crossing the Highlands, Dalwhinnie has been producing fine whiskies since 1897, still in its original, white-washed distillery with a matching pair of distinctive pagodas peeking out above the rooftops. It is best known for its smooth, heathery and award-winning 15-year-old malt and traditional production methods are still largely adhered to: the barley is harvested in Scotland, the ‘Uisghe Beatha’ (water of life) is mixed in copper stills, condensed in traditional wooden worm tubs and then aged in oak casks. 
As well as guided tours, Dalwhinnie Distillery is open for nips of various malt whiskies paired with handmade gourmet chocolates, all of which can be bought in the on-site shop.

Practical Info

Dalwhinnie, Inverness-shire PH19 1AB. Open daily Jan–Mar 10am–4pm; Apr–Jun, Sept–Oct 9.45am–5.30pm; Jul–Aug 9.45pm–6pm. Tour prices start at £7.99. Guided tours should be booked in advance. Phone ahead to check if the distillery is open during winter. 88 km (55 miles) southwest of Inverness, accessed by car in an hour along the A9.