WHISKY
Here at Ardlogie, we are within easy driving distance of the world’s largest malt whisky distilling area with over 50 distilleries!. The Spey Valley is the home of the annual spring ‘Spirit of Speyside’ whisky festival www.spiritofspeyside.com and the Malt Whisky Trail www.maltwhiskytrail.com Some of the finest whiskies in the world are proudly and lovingly produced close by us. Once tasted, this amber liquid becomes a pleasure to be repeated and the tasting of different single malts and blends, a must.
Many of the distilleries have excellent visitor centres where you can learn all about the distilling process, sample the produce and learn all about “The Water of Life”.
We can provide directions and recommendations, but obviously these will just be our personal views – you need to explore and taste for yourself ! If you don’t have a specific distillery in mind, then we’re happy to help provide recommendations – usually based on our own personal experience and love of whisky!
Speyside Distillery – A beautiful small distillery a short drive from Aviemore, Bespoke tours and group bookings. Located in the heart of Aviemore, Speyside Distillery’s THE SNUG offers visitors a place to sample our Award Winning Single Malt Whiskies and Hand Crafted Gins. Visitors can also book Tasting Experiences and Distillery Visits whilst browsing Joanna’s Art which can also be seen at Ardlogie!
https://speysidedistillery.co.uk/
Ballindaloch Distillery – As a small distillery, you will get as close as it is possible to get to the whisky making process before relaxing with drams from the Macpherson-Grant private casks of Cragganmore.
https://www.ballindallochdistillery.com/
A must for whisky lovers is a tour round The Speyside Cooperage – watching the craftsmen hand making the oak casks in the centuries old traditional way. An absolute skill!
https://www.speysidecooperage.co.uk/
GIN
Kinrara Distillery – Kinrara’s highland distillery is nestled in 12,000 acres of Cairngorm National Park, just outside Aviemore. One of Scotland’s newest micro distilleries, we make unique highland dry gins infused with local flora and berries.
Inchriach Distillery – The Inshriach Distillery came to fame in 2015 by winning Channel 4’s Shed of the Year and was instrumental in launching a prize-winning gin. Inshriach Estate is in an area of outstanding natural beauty, a few miles from Aviemore and deep in the Cairngorms National Park. Not only is this one of last strongholds of Scottish juniper, it is an area abundant in interesting and edible botany.
BEER
The Cairngorm Brewery in Aviemore is well worth a visit. They have a short tour, followed by some tasting and a visit to their shop so you can take some home with you. Failing that, the real ales are available in most pubs and restaurants in the area for you to try.
http://www.cairngormbrewery.com/index.php