5-Day Whisky & Castles Tour
24th April 2025
I recently embarked on a magical whisky and castle adventure with Best Scottish Tours. Over five unforgettable days, I explored world-famous distilleries, wandered through fairy-tale castles, and took in some of the most breathtaking landscapes I’ve ever seen. From the rolling green hills surrounding Glengoyne to the wild, peaty magic of Islay, every stop offered something unique. I tasted whiskies I had never heard of, and others I had always wanted to try. I learned about centuries-old traditions and even found a few new favourites to take home. This was more than just a whisky tour - it was a deep dive into Scotland’s heart and soul.
Our tour guide collected all of us in Edinburgh, and I quickly got chatting with all of the other guests. We were all ready for a fun filled 5 days tasting our way through Scotland!
Guests on one of Terry's Tours enoying a tasting!
Day 1 - Glengoyne & Inveraray Castle
“Every Minute Savoured, Every Hour Appreciated”
A refined whisky distilled at a careful pace, created for moments of relaxation and reflection. Our first stop on our 5-Day Whisky and Castles tour was the Glengoyne Distillery. I could hardly believe how close we were to Scotland’s largest and busiest city, Glasgow. Glengoyne is all rolling hills, farmland, and a quiet, peaceful atmosphere - the perfect setting to enjoy their complex, full-flavoured whisky.
We were greeted by a friendly tour guide - a Glengoyne Ambassador - who welcomed us into the cosy distillery. In keeping with their brand, the Ambassador led us through the Distillery at a slow pace, allowing us to take in all the different aspects of the distilling process.
“For every minute other whiskies spend in their stills, ours spends three.” - you can really taste that extra time spent making Glengoyne whisky. Our Ambassador was full of knowledge and we learned all about how they have managed to create such a complex and unique flavour.
They have an exciting range of whiskies - from their classic malts aged 10 years to a rare 38-year-old single malt whisky (at £4,000 a bottle, this wasn't included in the tasting!). They also have a younger, sweeter White Oak whisky and are currently offering the 3rd edition of their Legacy Series - this one celebrates Sir Arthur John Tedder, a local figure and one of the founding fathers of whisky in the Glengoyne region.
Cool fact: Glengoyne Distillery is uniquely situated on the Highland Line, straddling the border between the Highlands and Lowlands - with its stills in the Highlands and warehouses in the Lowlands.
After a relaxed morning touring Glengoyne, we enjoyed a scenic drive through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, stopping off at the village of Luss on the ‘bonnie banks’ of Loch Lomond. For our last stop of the day, we spent a few hours exploring the fairytale-like Inveraray Castle, ancestral home of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll.
Guests on another of Terry's Tours
Day 2 - Laphroaig and Ardbeg (Islay)
We started our second morning with a breezy ferry trip over the island of Islay - the epicentre of Scottish Whisky! We will be spending two days on the island ticking off four of Scotland’s most famous distilleries.
Laphroaig Whisky
First up, it’s the grandfather of Scottish whiskies, the world famous Laphroaig. Islay whiskies are known for their peaty, smoky flavour, no less so than Laphroaig. The distillers have perfected the art of turning Islay’s distinctive mineral-rich water, barley, native plants, and even old sea vegetation from when Islay was under water, into one of the finest whiskies I have ever tasted.
The visitor centre at Laphroaig is very well designed, and we really enjoyed the tour during which we got to see the distilling process in action and learned about all the different variations of Laphroaig whisky.
We learned that during Prohibition, Laphroaig was sold in drugstores because the owner managed to convince U.S officials it was a medicine, due to its high iodine content which gave it a distinctive, medicinal smell.
Ardbeg Whisky
“The fastest way to take yourself to Islay is to uncork a bottle of Ardbeg.” - love this phrase! And I’ll certainly be taking a bottle home with me to remind me of my unbelievable visit to Islay. The Ardbeg Whisky trophy cabinet is bursting at the seams, and after a tour and tasting, I can see why they’ve won so many awards.
Ardbeg has a more modern feel to it than some of the other distilleries, still rugged (everything is on Islay!) but a little edgier compared to its maritime-loving neighbours. No two distilleries are the same and it kept this tour interesting throughout.
After Ardbeg, we enjoyed some sightseeing and shopping in the island’s main town, Bowmore.
Ducan's guests fooling around at Ardbeg!
Day 3 - Kilchoman & Bunnahabhain (Islay)
Since we didn’t have to travel on the third morning of the tour, we took a refreshing walk along Gruinart Bay, where we looked out for birdlife at the Nature Reserve, we even spotted some otters!
Kilchoman Distillery
Third on the list of our Islay distilleries was Kilchoman - this one is a heavy hitter! There’s no missing the peat and smoke in this single malt. Kilchoman is Islay’s Farm Distillery, a revival of a traditional farming method with the barley produced right there on site. Another fascinating tour culminated in a tasting of their crisp, citrus-sweet, spiced whiskies - quite a treat for our taste buds!
Bunnahabhain Distillery
Our final whisky stop on Islay was Bunnahabhain Distillery, I’d say this was the most luxurious of the Islay whiskies. But wait… where’s the peat?! Bunnahabhain is actually the only distillery on Islay that offers an unpeated single malt, this was a refreshing change after the last couple of days.
Bunnahabhain has been perfecting their craft since 1881 and it’s one of the most remote locations we visited on our tour. Until the 1960s, you could only access this part of Islay by boat! After another educational and lively tour, we took the ferry back across to the mainland.
Ducan's guests enjoying views of the Paps of Jura with a wee dram
Day 4 - Kilmartin Stones & Oban
We started Day 4 in the "Birthplace of Scotland - Kilmartin Glen, a historic landscape filled with ancient standing stones, prehistoric burial cairns, and a remarkable fortified hill fort, offering us a glimpse into Scotland’s ancient past. I really felt like I’d gone back in time while wandering through this enchanting glen.
After we’d had our fill of historic sites, we made our way to the Oban Distillery, built in 1794 it is one of the oldest and one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland. I loved this cosy distillery; you could tell it had been built and cared for with love through many generations. We got to taste their popular 14-year-old West Highland Malt - it really is a flavour journey this one! A whisky you have to sip slowly and savour to ensure you experience each new flavour. The first scents to come through were citrus and pear, with a hint of salt to balance them out. Next, we got a mouthful of spices with a smokey, peaty edge, finally transforming into a sweet oaky flavour that remained on the palate; so sumptuous!
Despite having just two pot stills, they had a fantastic range of whiskies to choose from. Oban is a gorgeous, sheltered harbour town, and still has a large fishing industry. Like the distilleries on Islay, the craftsmen at the Oban Distillery take great inspiration from the sea when creating their rich single malt.
In the afternoon, we visited the magnificent Castle Stalker, perched on a tidal islet on Loch Laich, before resting up for a relaxing evening.
Day 5 - Glencoe, Deanston & Stirling Castle
We headed out early on our final day to experience the unbelievable drive through Glencoe. I think everyone should drive through this magical glen at least once in their lifetime.
Our driver Terry was so full of knowledge, it really made the trip. You can tell he absolutely loves his job, and he is so proud to live in such a wonderful country. Terry is a real character and a great storyteller - while he was telling us all about Highland life and The Massacre of Glencoe, I could picture what rural life must have been like in Scotland hundreds of years ago. Relaxed beautiful summers, contrasted with violent, stormy winters - they must have been hardy folk!
For our final “wee dram,” we headed south to Deanston Distillery. This definitely felt like more of a modern distillery - they are going for a cool, edgy vibe and it works. Deanston Distillery opened in 1966 when Brodie Hepburn took over the site of the Adelphi Cotton Mill, so the building has been an important feature of the village of Deanston for hundreds of years.
We got to sample the Deanston 12-year-old, their Virgin Oak, and Deanston 18-year-old. The 12-year-old was smooth and easy to drink - a good one to have on hand for relaxing evenings, but the 18-year-old was my favourite - a sweet, hearty whisky and a real show stopper.
After all the whisky tasting was done, we spent our final afternoon visiting Stirling Castle and the famous Forth Rail Bridge before making our way back to Edinburgh to end the tour.
Easy Whisky Shipping with The Whisky Barrel
So, did I buy any of the whiskies? One or two, perhaps…. More than I could take home in my suitcase anyway! Fortunately, Best Scottish Tours have partnered with The Whisky Barrel who offer a brilliant whisky shipping service to the USA, Canada, the rest of the UK and several European, South American and Asian countries.
This service is available exclusively on whisky tours ending Monday to Friday (outside of these days, an additional distribution fee may apply). The Whisky Barrel took care of all the logistics, which allowed us to simply drop off or ship their bottles to the warehouse. Their service includes FDA clearance, U.S. Customs liquor duties paid on behalf of the customer, and delivery directly to the door in specialised glass packaging. It’s a hassle-free way to bring home 'a taste of Scotland.' Speak to the Best Scottish Tours staff, who will keep you right on arranging transport for any purchases you make. They are so helpful and offer guidance in the run-up to your tour and all throughout.
5-Day Malt Whisky & Castles Tour
As we made our way back to Edinburgh, looking out over the Scottish countryside one last time, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for this incredible journey. I had sipped my way through some of the best whiskies in the world, stood in the grand halls of historic castles, and listened to stories of Scotland’s past that brought everything to life. Every dram, every castle, every misty glen felt like stepping into a different era. And of course, I couldn’t leave without a few bottles - thankfully, The Whisky Barrel made shipping them home easy!
I also made some friends for life - everyone on my tour was lovely, and our driver-guide Terry was a legend! Every hotel we stayed in was welcoming and comfortable, and we enjoyed a delicious, authentic Scottish meal every night.
If you love whisky, history, and you’ve always dreamed of exploring Scotland’s stunning landscapes, I can’t recommend the 5-Day Whisky & Castle Tour enough. Slàinte!
Ducan's guests at the picturesque Laphroaig Visitor Centre
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