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The Ultimate Whisky Journey
An epic journey uncovering some of the most revered and legendary whisky distilleries of Scotland with a focus on gastronomy, heritage and epic landscapes of the Scottish Highlands for connoisseurs. This is a Scotland with a spectacular "Scotch" twist.
HIGHLIGHTS
Witness astounding landscapes and highlands of Scotland
Savour exquisite whiskys and gastronomy
Stay in refined boutique hotels
Enjoy an insightful experience with the local characters
ITINERARY
DAY 1: GLASGOW / ISLAY
This morning, transfer to Glasgow Airport for a short flight to Islay. Arriving at Islay Airport, be met by your guide as we begin our visit to the Southern distilleries. First stop is the Laphroaig Distillery, renowned for its rich and unmistakable taste that is the favorite of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and even bears his Royal Warrant. Established in 1825 by brothers Donald and Alexander Johnston, Laphroaig still employs the traditional methods and time-honoured skills that have been used for centuries to produce the most distinctive single malt in the world. A short distance away is the Lagavulin Distillery, one of the oldest in Scotland and revered for its smooth yet robust quality and distinctive peat-smoke aroma, Lagavulin single malt whisky has won numerous accolades and consistently high ratings various whisky appreciation bodies. The 3rd and final southern distillery we will visit for the day is the Ardbeg Distillery, established by the MacDougall family in 1815 and today after many accolades, including Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible, is one of the fastest growing distilleries in Scotland. After all the tasting for the day, we make a visit to the Kildalton Cross, one of the finest early Christian crosses in Scotland, the High Cross of Kildalton, is closely related to three major crosses in Iona, St John's, St Martin's and St Oran's and dates from the second half of the 8th century. Finally, we will arrive at the Islay House Hotel where we spend the next 2 nights.
Overnight: Islay House Hotel, Islay
Meals: NIL
DAY 2: ISLAY
Your second day brings a private tour of Bruichladdich Distillery, established in 1881 by the brothers Robert William and John Gourlay Harvey with a strong focus on traditions yet with innovative approach where it still uses much of the original Victorian equipment which was in place when it first opened. Later in the day, a chance to gaze over the Sound of Jura from the Bunnahabhain Distillery, established in 1881 by the Greenless Brothers, revered for its light and subtle taste.
Overnight: Islay House Hotel, Islay
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 3: ISLAY / GLASGOW / STIRLING / PERTHSHIRE
Transfer to Islay Airport this morning for a short and comfortable flight Glasgow where on arrival, a pleasant drive takes us to Stirling, once the capital of Scotland and where the Wars of Independence were fought. We make a visit to the mighty Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument. This commanding position at the foot of the highland boundary has been fought over thousands of years as a strategic point to control the entire country. The compact heritage mile that links Stirling's Old Town with its bustling modern city centre boasts the finest concentration of historic buildings in Scotland. Beautifully preserved medieval and Renaissance churches and mansions cluster around the Old Town, flanked by cobbled streets, period street furniture and Victorian styled iron work. Overlooking the scene of one of Scotland’s most famous battle sites, Stirling Bridge, is the 220 feet high National Wallace Monument. Climb the 246 steps for glorious views from the Forth bridges to Loch Lomond. Thereafter, we continue to the beautiful historic city of Perth, once the capital of Scotland, set beside the beautiful River Tay. Enjoy an orientation of the compact town centre where we admire some of its landmark buildings including the St John’s Kirk - one of the significant sites visited by John Knox in the 16th Century as part of the movement toward the Reformation. Next, we will visit the impressive Scone Palace - an important coronation place for royalty throughout history where Macbeth, Robert the Bruce and Charles II were once crowned. Finally, we then continue to the Kinloch House Hotel where we will spend the next 2 nights.
Overnight: Kinloch House Hotel, Perthshire
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
DAY 4: PERTHSHIRE
More whiskys today as we discover 3 sensational distilleries in succession. First stop is the Glenturret Distillery, Scotland's oldest working distillery and the spiritual home of the "Famous Grouse" where we not only enjoy a tour of the facilities learning about its process, but also an in-depth experience of blending your own whisky with a Master Blender. Thereafter, we head north to the pretty town of Aberfeldy, situated
Scotland's longest river, the River Tay, and is home to "The Birks of Aberfeldy", made famous by Scotland's national bard Robert Burns as well as the world-renowned Dewar's Aberfeldy Distillery, producing award-winning blends since 1898. Tour the distillery to witness the creation of its distinctive honeyed richness of its spirits. Access the atmospheric warehouse and learn how its whisky are doubled-aged for extra smoothness. Next, visit the 16th Century Castle Menzies - seat of the Chiefs of Clan Menzies for over 400 years. Situated in a strategic location, it was involved in much of the turbulent history of the Highlands. During the second Jacobite rising the Castle hosted both Bonnie Prince Charlie, who rested on his way to Culloden in 1746 and, just four days later, the Duke of Cumberland, son of the British Monarch and commander of the Government forces. Not far away and worth a visit is the pretty village of Kenmore, nestled on the eastern end of Loch Tay. On clear days and the fall season, Kenmore provides one of the most spectacular photography experience.
Overnight: Kinloch House Hotel, Perthshire
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
DAY 5: PERTHSHIRE / PITLOCHRY / DALWHINNIE / SPEYSIDE
We leave the Kinloch House Hotel today heading north towards the western edge of the Cairngorms National Park. Our first visit of the day is the beautiful hillside town of Pitlochry - renowned for its natural beauty of stunning scenery of Highland Perthshire and attracts travelers from all over the world during the fall season. In Autumn, one of the most unmissable visit will be the Faskally Forest, nestled against the clear waters of Loch Tummel, providing one of the most spectacular fall foliage scenes in the UK. A short drive away arrives us at the stunning white Blair Castle - the ancient seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl and home to Europe's last remaining private army, the Atholl Highlanders. Blair Castle is nestled in the landscape of Highland Perthshire and has been home to 19 generations of Stewarts and Murrays of Atholl. Unique amongst Scottish castles, the story told here will take you from a visit by Mary Queen of Scots to the Civil War and from the Jacobite cause to the disaster of Culloden following Bonnie Prince Charlie's own stay in the castle. Not far away is the House of Bruar - home of Scottish Country Clothing, providing a pleasant shopping experience. We then continue further north visiting the Dalwhinnie Whisky Distillery, the highest distillery in Scotland on the western edge of the Cairngorms National Park. Enjoy a tour of the distillery where we get an insight into its production process and then sit down for a sampling of its whiskys with chocolate. Finally, we will arrive at the charming Culdearn House Hotel - in the heart of Speyside and Whisky kingdom!
Overnight: Culdearn House Hotel, Speyside
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 6: SPEYSIDE
For whisky connoisseurs, no whisky-centred journey is complete without visiting the 3 classics - the Glenlivet Distillery, Glenfiddich Distillery and Macallan Distillery. A full day to mesmerize in the world of high end whisky blended and aged to perfection where you learn all about its production process, sampling and more.
Overnight: Culdearn House Hotel, Speyside
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 7: SPEYSIDE / DEPART INVERNESS
We transfer today to Inverness Airport for your departure or continue your discovery of Scotland to the spectacular North Coast 500 or the West Coast and the Hebridean isles.
Meals: Breakfast
HOTELS
The Islay House is one of Scotland’s grandest and most historic country house hotels, located at the centre of the Queen of the Hebrides, Islay: the Whisky Isle. Set in 28 acres of policy gardens and protected woodland overlooking Loch Indaal, Islay House possesses one of the most naturally beautiful locations in the United Kingdom.
Run and owned by the Allen Family, the Kinloch House Hotel is located in 25 acres of tranquil Perthshire countryside, set on a hillside overlooking a beautiful valley. Built in 1840, Kinloch House is a fine example of a traditional Scottish country house. With an oak paneled hall, staircase and portrait gallery, the house stands proudly in twenty five acres of woodland and parkland. The elegant character of the house and the friendly welcoming atmosphere combines informality with quality.
Culdearn House is a small, privately owned country house hotel in Grantown-on-Spey, on the Speyside Malt Whisky Trail, and close to Aviemore. This beautiful Victorian house, built in 1860, was once the home of Lord Seafield’s family and has retained many of its original period features. It is now owned and personally run by the Marshall family who have made it their home and small hotel offer a choice of six luxury en-suite bedrooms, and a small, intimate restaurant mentioned in the Michelin Guide.
