The stuff on drams

IAN BUXTON OFFERS A SHORT GUIDE TO SCOTLAND'S DISTILLERIES

So you'd like to visit a distillery. No problem. Around 40 of Scotland's finest open their doors to the public and invite you to take a look around. Chances are your favourite has a guided tour, a visitor centre, and a shop where you can stock up. You'll receive a warm welcome and a pleasant dram.

Here are some of the best:

Edinburgh: The Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre on Edinburgh's Royal Mile – right by the Castle. It's not actually a distillery, but the next best thing: a centre dedicated to the art of distilling. There's a ride through history (in a whisky cask); a great tasting bar and well-stocked shop. It's supported by the industry as a whole, so it has virtually every major brand and a few specials for good measure.

If you want the real thing, take the short drive to Glenkinchie in Pencaitland, just outside the capital. One of the last Lowland single malt distilleries still in action, Glenkinchie has an attractive centre with a stunning scale model, dating from the 1936 Empire Exhibition.

From Glasgow you can head north to Glengoyne. Right on the Highland line, Glengoyne is one of the prettiest distilleries you could hope to find and home to an under-rated single malt that's deceptively easy to drink! It's handy for Loch Lomond too.

With children – go to the Famous Grouse Experience at Glenturret distillery in Crieff. They'll love the light hearted graphics, the jokey television commercials and Glenturret's multimillion pound ‘flight of the grouse' interac...

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• By : Ian Buxton
• In : Drinks
• Issue : 10
• Page : 65
• Words : 622