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This blog was written for us by Susanne Arbuckle of Adventures Around Scotland about her visit to Aberdeenshire in May 2022 when she was staying at Brandon Lodge B&B (one of Scotland's Best B&Bs).
Here's her suggestions for a whisky-themed break which you can enjoy at Brandon Lodge B&B - situated between Portsoy (3 miles) and Banff (5 miles).
Portsoy is a stone’s throw from the Speyside region, home to over 50 distilleries and the beating heart of Scotland’s whisky industry. Whether you have a passing curiosity about Scotland’s national drink or want to increase your expertise of the subject, this is the perfect part of the country to discover everything you need to know about ‘the water of life’. Here are some of my suggested whisky-themed activities in the area.
For novices wanting to learn more about Scotland’s national drink, the best place to start is a basic distillery tour where you will follow the distilling process from start to finish, with the opportunity to sample a few drams at the end or take some tasters away if you’re driving. If you are a whisky connoisseur, you may want to upgrade to one of the more exclusive distillery experiences.
Although many distilleries are closed to the public, there are still plenty that open their doors to visitors, and with so many to choose from it is sometimes hard to know where to begin. To help you out, here are a few of my top recommendations in the area.
Strathisla – Established in 1786, it is the oldest working distillery in the Scottish Highlands. Open all year, book on a tour or take a seat in the bar and try one of their whisky flights. For a more intimate experience, you can book to create your own blend.
Glenfiddich – Arguably the most popular distillery in Speyside and one of the last family-owned distilleries, visitors can book on a tour which includes a visit to the warehouse. For those looking for a more in-depth experience, specialised tours run a couple of times a week.
The GlenAllachie – The award-winning visitor centre is open daily during the summer months and tours of the production process take place twice a day. Upgrade to a tour that includes tastings of their premium and limited-edition drams.
Dallas Dhu Distillery
Dallas Dhu isn’t your average distillery as production ceased here in the 1980s which makes it a completely unique attraction in Scotland. You might not be immersed in the usual sounds and smells of a working distillery, but you do get the bonus of interacting with machinery that is normally out of bounds to the public.
The building dates to around 1900 and has been preserved as a time-capsule from a bygone era of whisky production. Originally making malt for the Roderick Dhu blend, it closed and reopened several times over its lifespan before falling demand and an unreliable water source led to the production being terminated permanently in 1983.
Today it is cared for by Historic Environment Scotland and open to visitors for self-guided tours. As with all good distillery visits, you can enjoy a complimentary dram at the end while you watch an audiovisual presentation.
Leave the car behind and book a ticket for a train ride along the 11-mile ‘Whisky Line’ between Dufftown and Keith – combine it with distillery tours to Glenfiddich and Strathisla at either end. The heritage railway line runs from April to September, with special themed events taking place throughout the year.
I suggest starting at Dufftown where an old railway carriage next to the platform has been turned into a quirky café and a small but interesting exhibition has been developed next to the ticket office. At Keith there is a quaint waiting room and shop selling railway memorabilia.
Sit back and enjoy the ever-changing scenery on the journey, with unique views of some of the local distilleries. My top tip is to book a seat in first class where you get a panoramic view through the driver’s window and optional afternoon tea. Choose to get off and explore at one of two stops along the route or simply sit back and relax on a return journey.
Look out for their special whisky events which include a dram with your ticket and some fun activities that coincide with local whisky festivals.
Although joining a distillery tour is a great way to learn about the steps involved in making whisky, there is one vital piece of the industry that most people don’t think about and is often overlooked – the influence of the barrel. A tour of Speyside Cooperage will leave you in no doubt about the impact each wooden cask has on the taste of the final product.
An immersive 4-D cinematic presentation follows the journey of a barrel from its creation to its years spent maturing whisky in a dark warehouse before being restored, recycled and refilled. If you think it all sounds very simple, you couldn’t be more wrong, there is a surprising amount of skilled craftmanship involved.
After the video, a viewing gallery provides an outlook over the workshop where accomplished and apprentice coopers use traditional methods to refurbish casks, extending their life for many more years. By the end of the tour, I can guarantee you will have a whole new appreciation of the humble barrel. Finish off with lunch in the café or browse the whisky-themed goods in the gift shop.
All photos copyright Susanne Arbuckle 2022.
Brandon Lodge B&B is one of Scotland's Best B&Bs. This 4 Star GOLD Bed and Breakfast has 1 kingsize double room and 1 family suite with 2 double bedrooms. Families with children welcome. Nestled in idyllic countryside, it is ideally situated for exploring the Moray coast, Speyside and Aberdeenshire.
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