Going to Scotland. Help me choose!

Hi there!

I am going to Scotland 21-25'th of march. I don't have much time there, so I have to choose between doing a distillery tour (Glengoyne) or visiting the Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Lagavulin distilleries. The distillery tour is the most comprehensive one but at the same time, Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Lagavulin are among my favourite whiskies (haven't actually tried Glengoyne).

What would you recommend? Any other suggestions?

Thank you in advance.

Christer

There is a huge difference between the two choices. Glengoyne is on the outskirts of Glasgow and can be done easily because it is near the center of Scotland.

The other three are located on Islay , a long drive because of location of the ferry to the island. Ardbeg, Laphroaig, and Lagavulin all are located within a mile or so on Islay , not far from the mainland ferry. Because of the tour times, it is difficult to get to more than two Islay distilleries in one day, i.e. a morning and afternoon tour. When I visited Lagavulin, it was an unusual experience to be downing the peated monster at 10:15 a.m., but like they say, it is a tough job and someone has to do it. I think the brief stay in Scotland rules out a long drive to and from the ferry to Islay and the time on the ferry.

Glengoyne is a nice suburban setting that will take only two or three hours out of a four-day stay in Scotland . It is a nice setting on what formerly was a farm; the tour is well done and costs about 4 pounds. To my knowledge there is no other distillery close to Glasgow.

The best source of info is a book entitled Visiting Distilleries by Duncan and Wendy Graham.

Also, an easy distillery tour if you will be near Edinburgh is Glenkinchie distillery located only a few miles south of Edinburgh. I had a great distillery tour with a seemingly endless dram at the visitor’s center, followed by a tour and even worship service at Rosslyn Chapel (about five miles away), made famous by the book and movie Da Vinci Code.

If you do not LOVE Islay scotches, I would recommend the Glengoyne. The Glengoyne distillery has THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TASTING ROOM in the world. It is the multi-colored wood from the wardroom of a ship. Must of been an expensive one as it is all beautiful inlaid wood.

[buckeyede06]

Go with the whiskey you like! If you go to a distillery with a great tour and experience only to find you don't like the actual whisky... that would be just terrible!