Whisky distilleries are the lifeblood of the Scotch whisky industry, and distillery tours are a great way for the distilleries to make extra income to put into the business, while at the same time educating the general public on the many intricacies of the whisky industry. If you’re a whisky lover, or even if you just happen to be in Scotland or anywhere else where there’s a whisky distillery in place, I can highly recommend that you take a distillery tour. 

In today’s post, I’m going to be sharing a few tips with you on how to plan and enjoy a whisky distillery tour to get the most from it. 

Make a Proper Break of It

Obviously, we all have our own personal lives, jobs, kids, homes to run, and other responsibilities, but if you get the chance to enjoy a Scottish getaway, a long weekend, or even an overnighter where you can take a tour of a distillery, please do. 

Whisky distillery tours aren’t just in and out jobs. At least, they shouldn’t be. Different distilleries are different sizes and provide a range of different tour options, but even so, you won’t be in and out in the space of an hour. Because of this, it’s best to make a proper break of it if you can, as that way you can go at your own pace, enjoy a wee dram or two, and go exploring. 

Even if you happen to be driving, most distilleries will give you a ‘driver’s dram’ which you can take away and enjoy at home, or back at your hotel or accommodation when you get back. 

Do Your Research

Another thing I’ve found particularly useful before booking onto any whisky distillery tour, is planning ahead and doing plenty of research. 

Once you’ve found a distillery or whisky region you definitely want to visit, you can then go ahead and find out more about it. I don’t mean the history of the place, as you’ll learn about that on the tour. No, what I mean is find out what kind of tours the distillery offers, as well as things like prices, food and drink options, language options, and that kind of thing. 

If you’re enjoying a break away, you could also do some research into where you’re staying and find nice things to do and other places to visit when you’re not learning about whisky. 

Dress Appropriately

I’m speaking from firsthand experience here, so take it from me, you do not want to wear the wrong things when visiting a whisky distillery, especially in Scotland in places like The Highlands or Islay. 

Scotland is a gorgeous country and most of the distilleries are located in breathtaking locations, but my word, can they get chilly. Naturally it’s colder up north, and if you’re by the coast you’ll also have those coastal breezes and temperatures to deal with. 

As we’re in the UK, you should also prepare for rain, regardless of the season. I’ve taken a tour of Strathisla before, in the height of summer, and made the mistake of wearing shorts and a T-shirt. Needless to say, the heavens opened, the wind picked up, and I got soaked and spent the rest of the day cold and wet. Even the White Peak Distillery in England’s gorgeous Peak District, sees below average temperatures and gets cooler and breezier than more urbanised settings like Sheffield and Chesterfield. 

Basically, what I’m trying to say is that you should dress comfortably, and prepare for bad weather. Even though the stillrooms can be warm and humid, the rest of the distillery will be much cooler, especially in the winter. Oh, and if you’re up in Scotland, don’t forget your midge repellent, as the midgies can get pretty bad and you don’t want to get bitten. 

Try to Book the Full Tour

While full guided tours are generally more expensive than basic tours, they are, by far, the most interesting and are a must for keen whisky aficionados such as yourselves. 

With a full guided tour, you’ll basically learn everything there is to learn about the distillery, its history, the whisky-making process, and the products that they produce. You’ll learn how the distillery came about, interesting stories about its past, its influence on the area, the equipment, the distillation process, how the whisky is made, how it’s matured, and plenty more besides. 

When we were just starting out, I learned so much about the whisky-making process and the spirits industry in general through distillery tours, and I’m still learning to this day. Trust me, if you have the option, I strongly recommend that you book onto a full guided tour. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

Another tip when it comes to really enjoying a whisky distillery tour is to get involved and ask plenty of questions. 

If there’s something you’d like to know, be it about the distillery’s history, the casks used, the maturation stage, the whisky in general, or anything else, just go ahead and ask. The tour guides, which will almost certainly be warm and friendly, will gladly answer any questions you might have. 

Don’t Book Purely for Freebies

Don’t get me wrong, most distilleries are generous when it comes to samples and tastings, but don’t assume you’re going to lavished with free whisky from the second your tour starts until the second it ends. How many samples and tastings you receive will depend on the distillery and what kind of tour or experience you’ve booked. Most distilleries will be transparent and will let you know how many free drams you’ll be enjoying in advance. If the guide is feeling particularly generous, you may even get one or two extras. 

Basically, don’t book in the hopes of getting sloshed. You should enjoy enough samples to give you a wee glow, but you won’t be crawling out the door and heading to the nearest kebab shop when you’re finished.

When you do receive your samples/tastings, don’t just glug it down. Smell the aromas and savour the flavours. Try to understand the whisky and see what kinds of notes you can pick up from each one. 

Oh, and also, don’t forget your spending money. You’ll kick yourself if you loved one of your samples, only to find that you don’t have your wallet on you to grab a bottle or two to enjoy when you get back. 

So there we have it, those are my tips for enjoying a whisky distillery tour. Seriously, if you get the chance to enjoy a guided tour of a whisky distillery, I strongly recommend that you book it. You’ll learn so much and you’ll be so glad that you did. 

If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or grab yourself a wee dram or two at the same time, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at what we have to offer. 

With a large 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.