{"id":15193,"date":"2018-08-15T09:00:13","date_gmt":"2018-08-15T08:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tourradar.com\/days-to-come\/?p=15193"},"modified":"2019-04-11T13:03:02","modified_gmt":"2019-04-11T12:03:02","slug":"beginners-guide-scottish-whisky-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tourradar.com\/days-to-come\/beginners-guide-scottish-whisky-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"The Beginner’s Guide to a Scottish Whisky Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whisky. Whiskey. Scotch. Bourbon. Whatever you call it, however you spell it, whisky isn\u2019t your average alcoholic beverage. Much like oenophiles would their wine, discerning enthusiasts and spirit snobs have long treated whisky like a piece of art\u2014the act of distilling it a craft, the act of drinking it an art form. It\u2019s long been a subject of gentlemanly debate, from how it\u2019s spelt to how it\u2019s served and enjoyed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thank goodness, then, that Scotland, the biggest whisky producer in the world, isn\u2019t lacking in tours. Such tours take lucky visitors to distilleries to learn not only about the distillation, ageing, and packing processes but also how to drink the \u201cwater of life\u201d like a true connoisseur.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Travel to: <\/em>Scotland <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n

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From the world-famous Malt Whisky Trail in the Speyside area, where more than half of the country\u2019s distilleries are located, to Campbeltown, the smallest region in the country, there are more than enough whisky tours for beginners and experts alike. Just be sure you know how to handle your liquor.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shelves of world-class Scottish whisky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Make a list of Scotland\u2019s whisky regions<\/b><\/h2>\n

Though a small country, Scotland has more than 120 whisky distilleries spread across five distinct whisky-producing regions, each one slightly different from the other. Which whisky region you should tour depends on what flavour profile you like most, how much time you have, and whether or not you prefer to go off the beaten path.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo credit: Strength<\/a> on VisualHunt<\/a> \/ CC BY-SA<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Speyside<\/b><\/h3>\n

Only recently recognised by Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) as an official whisky region due to the number of distilleries the area is home to, this area in the eastern Scottish Highlands hosts about 50 distilleries. That\u2019s the official count, although some claim it to be more than that. Speyside is, therefore, a prime destination for a <\/span>whisky tour<\/span><\/a>, especially if you\u2019re interested in the spirit\u2019s history and heritage. <\/span><\/p>\n

Whisky from Speyside are typically light and sweet, yet complex. Home to one of Scotland\u2019s oldest distilleries, not to mention the famous <\/span>Malt Whisky Trail<\/span><\/a> that takes you to nine must-visit distilleries, it\u2019s great for whisky enthusiasts who enjoy rich, fruity, spicy, and vanilla flavours in their glass. <\/span><\/p>\n