Speyside Whisky Tour
£1,050.00
Speyside Whisky Tour
Sorry, this tour is now fully booked! But you can still add your name to the waitlist to be the first to know if any spaces become available.
Think of single malt whisky then think of Speyside! Centred around the River Spey half of all Scottish distilleries are based in this beautiful region of Scotland. Famous names like Glenfiddich, Glenlivet and Macallan sit alongside smaller, artisanal producers and all have their own individual style. We will be staying in a beautiful private mansion near Forres, where we will have a very special, professionally catered dinner with matching whiskies the first evening – think of it as a private houseparty. We will explore several distilleries, learn about the fascinating process of making single malts and taste more than a few drams! We will even visit a cooper who make the all-important barrels used for ageing the spirit. If you’re a malt whisky lover you won’t want to miss this tour!
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Speyside whisky tour
Day 1: Saturday 6th November
Meet at Inverness airport at 10.40 (to coincide with the British Airways flight from London Heathrow). Group transfer by coach to Inverness where there will be free time for an early lunch. This afternoon head south to Tomatin distillery for a tour and tasting. Continue to Forres and late afternoon check into Dalvey House private mansion, our base for the next 3 nights.
On our first evening together, we will enjoy a very special whisky and food matching multi-course dinner. A whisky expert will present a tutored tasting of 5 Speyside whiskies from distilleries which are not open for tours. This will be accompanied by a 5-course dinner prepared by a professional chef.
Day 2: Sunday 7th November
This morning after breakfast we head to south Speyside to visit Benriach distillery for a tasting. Continue to the famous Glenfiddich distillery for lunch followed by a tour and tasting of a selection of malts from their range. If time allows we’ll pay a brief visit to Macallan to view their remarkable contemporary distillery
Late afternoon return to Dalvey House. Free evening to visit one of the restaurants in Forres or perhaps order a take-away and relax ‘at home’.
Day 3: Monday 8th November
This morning we head back to Speyside and visit the Speyside cooperage to experience first-hand the art of barrel-making. Continue to nearby Glenfarclas for a tour and tasting at this traditional distillery. Lunch today is at a hotel in Tomintoul, and this afternoon we’ll have a guided tasting in a specialist whisky shop in the town.
Late afternoon return to Dalvey House. Free evening to visit one of the restaurants in Forres or perhaps order a take-away and relax ‘at home’.
Day 4: Tuesday 9th November
This morning after breakfast we say farewell to Dalvey House and drive to Elgin for some free time to see the town. Continue to Glen Moray distillery where we will have a tour followed by lunch in their café. Early afternoon we head back to Inverness airport in time for the British Airways flight to London Heathrow which departs at 16.50.
END OF TOUR Speyside whisky tour
Please note: some distilleries still don’t have fully functioning visitor facilities, and it is possible that we may need to change some of the visits
PRICING INFORMATION
Price Includes:
- £1,050 per person sharing a double or twin room
- 3 nights’ accommodation at Dalvey House with daily breakfast provided by a caterer
- Collection from and return to Inverness Airport, and private transport by Midi-Coach throughout the tour
- A welcome gala dinner at Dalvey House with a 5-course food and whisky matching presented by a local expert and catered by a professional cook
- 3 lunches at distilleries or local restaurants
- Tours and tastings at 5 distilleries
- Tour at the Speyside Cooperage
- Services of Criterion Wine tour guide
Supplements:
- £150 single supplement with en-suite or private bathroom (if available)
- £100 single supplement with shared bathroom
A non-refundable deposit of £262.50 per person is payable when booking. The remaining balance is due eight weeks before the start of the tour. Your money will be held in a secure Client Deposit Account and is fully protected.
ACCOMMODATION
Dalvey House is a magnificent Adam-style Georgian Mansion dating back to the 1770s. Set in well maintained grounds, with a front lawn surrounded by woodland, the house takes centre stage and is a stunning retreat. We will be in the main core of the original building, with its fine twin-stair entrance, leading to the grand entrance hall. Beyond this are the wonderful drawing room, dining room, TV room, family sitting room and functional kitchen, with the 9 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms on the floor above. The layout of bedrooms is: 4 double/twin with en-suite; 1 double/twin with private bathroom; 2 double rooms and 2 twin rooms sharing 2 bathrooms with toilet + an additional toilet
Please note that due to the number of bedrooms and bathrooms and layout of the accommodation 2 people sharing a double or twin room will have priority for the en-suite rooms. Therefore if you are a single traveller we cannot guarantee en-suite facilities. If you select this option in the booking form we will let you know whether or not this option is available.
TRAVEL
Please note that flights are not included in the cost of the tour so you will need to book your own travel to/from Inverness airport. The recommended group flights are with British Airways:
- Saturday 6th November: BA1468 departs London Heathrow 08.55 arrives Inverness 10.40
- Tuesday 9th November: BA1469 departs Inverness 16.50 arrives London Heathrow 18.25
Transfers by coach to/from Inverness airport are included and will tie in with the above flights. If you make alternative travel arrangements you will need to be at Inverness airport in time to meet the British Airways flight on 6th November. The tour will end at Inverness airport around 15.00 on 9th November.
Travel throughout the tour will be in a comfortable, air-conditioned midi-coach.
