When talking about a fine whisky, oftentimes, not always, but a lot of the time, age plays an important part in determining the overall quality of the whisky. The older the whisky is, the nicer it tends to be. 

So then, it seems only appropriate that many of the finest whiskies on the market today, come from some of the oldest distilleries in the world. In Scotland, there are currently 29 distilleries over 200 years old, many of which are still producing exceptional whisky and are able to be visited and explored as you see fit. 

If you’ve a keen interest in British history, Scotland in general, or whisky, you’ll almost certainly be fascinated by Scotland’s oldest distilleries, and the history surrounding them. To help show you just how important these distilleries are, and what remarkable stories they can tell, in no particular order, here’s a quick look at 4 of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. 

Bowmore

First up, we’re heading to the rugged, weatherbeaten coastline of Islay, to visit the Bowmore Distillery. 

The Bowmore is more than two centuries old, having been established in 1779. This is the oldest distillery on the island of Islay and is the second-oldest in all of Scotland. 

Situated on the picturesque Loch Indaal, the distillery is one of the most popular distilleries in all of Scotland. For whisky-lovers, it’s a haven and is almost synonymous with the Scotch whisky industry. Its white-washed walls really stand out against the backdrop of the coastline and it’s almost considered a criminal offence to visit, and not snap a selfie against the ‘Bowmore’ logo on the side of the distillery. 

Bowmore is also home to its No. 1 Vault warehouse, which is believed to be the oldest whisky maturation warehouse in all of Scotland. 

Needless to say, the whisky produced here is renowned for its smoky, peaty notes that are synonymous with Islay whisky.