Dalwhinnie sits pretty much in the middle of Scotland, so travelers visit from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Inverness, Fort William, Aberdeen, Oban, and beyond. Guided tours let you follow the whisky journey from field and stream to bottle, and conclude with a dram or a tutored tasting; classes pair chocolate with special limited-edition releases.
Many travelers visit independently, but joining a Scotch whisky or Scottish Highlands tour can save the hassle of selecting a designated driver. Some whisky tours cover a wide range of distilleries over several days; others focus on the diverse palate of Highland whisky styles. General highlands tours often take in attractions like Glencoe, Loch Ness, and the Glenfinnan Viaduct (of Harry Potter fame).
The Dalwhinnie Distillery is a great choice for whisky fans or anyone looking for a more accessible introduction to Scotch.
Children who are 8 years old and up are welcome on distillery tours. Needless to say, tastings are only available for visitors who are 18 or over.
Tours last from 45 minutes to 2 hours, but many travelers also take time to visit the shop and have a drink in the bar.
Dalwhinnie has wheelchair-friendly parking and bathrooms. The warehouse, bar, tasting room, and lower part of the distillery are wheelchair accessible; guests with access needs enjoy adapted tours that avoid inaccessible areas.
The Dalwhinnie Distillery sits in the little village of Dalwhinnie in the Scottish Highlands, which has direct trains from Edinburgh and Inverness and rail connections across Scotland. Many travelers prefer to drive there, and ample parking is available on-site.
The distillery is open seven days a week, morning to early evening March through October, with shorter hours November through February. It’s closed on December 25 and 26, and January 1 and 2, but opens for New Year’s Eve whisky purchases for limited hours on December 31. Please note that in the winter it sometimes closes due to extreme weather.
There are almost 150 whisky distilleries in Scotland, so anyone thirsting to discover the art of malt is spoiled for choice. Beyond Dalwhinnie, other good highland options include Glenturret, Scotland’s oldest working distillery, with a history dating back to 1763, and Glenmorangie, home of one of the world’s favorite highland malts. On the Isle of Skye, Torabhaig, which opened in 2017 in a historic building, is the island’s second ever legal distillery. You can also catch the ferry to the Isle of Raasay Distillery, which employs more than 10 percent of that isle’s 160-strong population.
