Whisky Bus from Inverness
This 10 hour Whisky tour will give malt whisky fans an excellent introduction to the Highland and Speyside whisky regions. You will travel on a coach to have a behind the scenes tour at Tomatin Distillery, then to a warehouse tasting at Glenfarclas Distillery. You will also have tasting sessions at Aberlour and Glenlivet distilleries plus a visit to the Speyside Cooperage too.
- Excellent introduction to the Highland and Speyside whisky regions.
- A behind the scenes distillery tour.
- Tasting sessions at Aberlour and Glenlivet distilleries.
AVAILABILITY
Fridays, 6th Apr – 28th Sept
DURATION
10 hours
START LOCATION
Inverness Bus Station
END LOCATION
Inverness Bus Station
TOUR LANGUAGE
English
Related places and things to do
Detailed Description
The first stop of this 10 hour whisky experience is at Tomatin Distillery, where whisky production is believed to have been a way of life since as far back as the fifteenth century. At Tomatin you will be taken on a distillery tour, which will give you a great introduction for the day ahead. After the tour you will be encouraged to “experience the softer side of the Highlands” with tutored tastings of three specially selected drams.
You will then go to Speyside, where over half of Scotland’s 89 operational malt whisky distilleries are located. Your next stop will be Glenlivet Distillery, which recently announced that it had “become the world’s number one single malt Scotch whisky brand”. You will also experience a tutored tasting of three drams in one of their most exclusive tasting rooms. After this, you will have some time to explore the exhibition, where you can find out more about the irrepressible spirit of The Glenlivet. You may also wish to browse the shop or try some whisky cake in the café.
Your next stop is Glenfarclas Distillery, one of the few distilleries in Scotland which is still family owned and has an informal ambience and unique history. Here, you will enjoy an introduction to the distillery and a dram in the unique surroundings of their bonded warehouse. After that, you will go inside for a second tasting of their traditional Speyside malt, with heavy sherry influence, in the luxurious surroundings of The Ship’s Room.
Then you will visit the Speyside Cooperage, the largest working cooperage in the UK. You will be treated to a 4D audio-visual presentation, before heading to the viewing gallery to admire the coopers at work. You can even try your hand at making a mini-cask too.
To finish your day, you will go to Aberlour Distillery, located in the pretty town of the same name, bang in the middle of whisky country, you will end the whisky extravaganza on a high with a complimentary taste in the delightful setting of one of their dramming rooms. You will then have time to browse their compact yet delightful shop.
Your journey through Speyside is a picturesque one, so you will make a couple of scenic photo stops on your way back to Inverness that include Ballindalloch Castle and the 18th Century packhorse bridge in Carrbridge.
Tour Tickets (may vary by date)
| Ticket | Price (GBP) |
|---|---|
| General (P/P) | 89.00 (GBP) |
Tour Documents
| Tour Map | Download |
Tour Itinerary
8:45 AM
Tour Departure
6:45 PM
End of the Tour
Included
- A separate tour guide and driver on every tour.
- High spec coach with A/C, onboard bathroom and comfortable reclining seats.
- £33.00 GBP of whisky tastings and tours included.
Not Included
- Lunch.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel your tour at least 72 hours in advance of the scheduled departure, then we will refund you in full.
If you cancel within 72 hours of the scheduled departure you will not be entitled to a refund.
However, if we can re-sell your place then we will be able to issue a 50% refund, so please let us know if you need to cancel, no matter how last minute it is.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can we be picked up and/or dropped off somewhere else?
For our Whisky Bus and our Highland & Speyside Explorer Tour we can offer pick-up from Carrbridge Train Station, for those travelling by train from Edinburgh or Glasgow. The pick-up is at around 1050 (to meet the train arriving at 0957). You must inform us if you want to do take this option, as we will not stop in Carrbridge otherwise.
We can also drop you off in Carrbridge at the end of the day, to get the 1916 train back to Edinburgh/Glasgow. -
Can children come on the Whisky Bus?
Unfortunately, this tour is not suitable for children under the age of 18, as some of the distilleries are unable to accommodate children on their tours. If you have children with you we would recommend that they, along with an adult, take our Highland & Speyside Explorer Tour, which runs on the same coach as our Whisky Bus. This will give them more opportunity to enjoy the day, and there is a great children’s playground at Ballindalloch Castle!
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Will we have time to shop for whisky?
Every distillery we visit has a shop selling their own whisky, plus a range of souvenirs, so we would definitely encourage you to buy your whisky enroute (just make sure you check your country’s rules regarding duty free, as you may well be limited to taking one or two bottles home!). We don’t stop at any other shops along the way.
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Is it possible to pay on arrival?
Due to high demand for our tours, we are unable to secure your booking unless you pay the full amount in advance. That being said, you are welcome to come to the bus stop in the morning and, if there are places available, you can join the tour and pay on board (on some tours it may be possible to pay by credit card, but generally we are only able to accept cash on board).
