5 of The Most Scenic and Picturesque Distilleries in Scotland
Now, it may come as a surprise to learn that one of my favourite destinations in the entire world, is Scotland. Yes, I know, the owner of a whisky company specialising in Scotch whisky is a fan of Scotland, who would’ve guessed?
In all seriousness, though, even if I wasn’t fortunate enough to be in the line of work I’m in, I’d still feel exactly the same way. I love the moody barren moorlands, the rugged mountain scape of the Highlands, the weather-beaten coastline of places like Islay, and the Gothic, Victorian, and Medieval architecture in the country’s many towns and cities.
When it comes to natural beauty and scenic vistas however, many of Scotland’s distilleries offer spectacular settings, which is what I want to talk to you about today. If you appreciate the great outdoors and can’t get enough of the Scottish countryside, a visit to any of the whisky distilleries below will go down a treat.
Here are several of Scotland’s most scenic and picturesque whisky distilleries.
Up first I’ve got one of my personal favs, in the form of Aberfeldy.
Dewar’s Aberfeldy is one of the most visually stunning distilleries in the country, let alone the Highlands. For those of you who want a truly Scottish experience and want to see the Highlands in all their natural glory, this is simply a must.
Located in the central Highlands, on the outskirts of the equally stunning village of the same name, this award-winning distillery and visitor attraction was first planned by the sons of John Dewar, back in 1896, it is the only distillery built by this legendary family of the whisky world.
The Dewars chose this location deliberately, as the Pitilie Burn (small river) runs directly past the distillery and flows into the nearby River Tay, providing a mineral-enriched water source. There were also impressive transport links.
Perhaps the most romanticised and sentimental reason, however, is the fact that, just three miles away, lies a small croft where John Dewar was born.
Surrounded by mountains, trees, dense foliage, flowing rivers, and more wildlife than you can shake a stick at, it’s one of the most peaceful and scenic distillery locations you could ever wish for. The whisky is also exceptional.
If you love a coastal distillery, Islay is the whisky region for you. Home to a number of whitewashed distilleries, Lagavulin is surely one of the island’s most beautiful.
The distillery, now owned by Diageo, which was constructed back in 1816, is located on a bay overlooked by the ruins of Dunyvaig Castle. Surrounding it are hills and lush green fields as far as the eye can see. It’s one of Islay’s most recognisable distilleries and a selfie in front of the iconic ‘Lagavulin’ logo on the side of the weathered, white-washed walls, is virtually a legal requirement.
Featuring old dunnage warehouses, as well as a tunroom and stillhouse, there is also a visitor centre situated on the old malting floors.
Strathisla may very well be my favourite distillery in Scotland. It’s certainly the one which I consider to be the most beautiful that’s for sure.
Strathisla was founded back in 1786 and is the oldest licenced distillery in all of Scotland. It sits in the quaint and historic town of Keith and is referred to as the spiritual home of Chivas.
The grounds here are immaculately kept and if you can visit in summer when everything is in full bloom, I implore you to do so. The distillery itself looks like something out of a fantasy epic, and is situated in lush green countryside, directly next to the River Isla.
The distillery, which is on the Scottish whisky trail, provides a number of different tours and experiences and should be on the bucket list of any Scotch whisky aficionado.
Tormore
Up next I’ve got a bit of a controversial one for you here, as Tormore is not like the other distilleries on my list today. In fact, with its large chimney it looks more like an old factory or quarry rather than a distillery. In terms of the aesthetics, you’ll either love it or hate it. Myself? I love it.
Tormore is a relatively new distillery, as it was designed by architect Sir Albert Richardson in 1958. In 1986 it was granted the status of a ‘Heritage Listed Building’, despite being less than three decades old.
Tormore is surrounded by dense pine forest, overlooking the River Spey. There is even a pond out front, which, legend goes, was built to provide the distillery workers with somewhere to enjoy a bout of curling in the winter, when it froze over. There was, however, one problem. The heat from the distillery prevented the pond from freezing over. The workers did, however, have a series of cottages constructed for them.
Finally, last but by no means least, we have Edradour.
Edradour is another Highlands distillery, which was founded back in 1825. It is commonly referred to as ‘Scotland’s smallest distillery’ and is situated in the heart of Perthshire.
Here vibrant reds and whites contrast beautifully with the vibrant greens offered up by the Highlands countryside. At first glance, you’d be forgiven for assuming you’d accidentally wandered onto the land of a private cottage, rather than a working distillery.
The final stronghold of a farm distillery, Edradour may be small in stature, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in its whisky, boasting more than 25 expressions. Besides which, many believe that it is the distillery’s small stature that gives it its charm.
If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a wee dram o two for 2025r, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at what we have to offer.
With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.
Greg
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