If you are staying in Stirling and enjoy a wee dram, what could be better than creating your own whisky trail? The following attractions are all within 30 miles of Stirling, so the designated driver will have things easy. If you find any other distilleries just a stone’s throw from Stirling (Perthshire is another whole whisky holiday in itself …) then do let us know!
Deanston whisky distillery in Doune, just 8 miles from Stirling
Deanston Distillery: Located in Doune, just eight miles from Stirling and nestling at the entrance to the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, Deanston Distillery is a hidden gem. This former cotton mill sits beside the River Teith and has been distilling whisky using traditional methods since the 1960s. Take a 50 minute tour from just £8, enjoy a dram and redeem £5 against a bottle of Deanston malt, renowned for a sweet flavour that delivers a malty, honeyed spiciness on the palate. Or make an event of it with a hand-crafted tour that includes an ample three drams. Touring done, there is excellent food to be had in the distillery’s café, the Coffee Bothy. For bookings, directions and more details, see: http://www.deanstonmalt.com/
Tullibardine whisky distillery and visitor centre in Blackford
Tullibardine Distillery: A sweet, elegant and complex malt whisky, Tullibardine has been distilled at its Blackford home since 1949. The distillery uses clear waters from the Danny Burn in the Ochil Hills, the very same spring bottled by the famous brand name ‘Highland Spring’. The distillery’s location at this gateway to the Highlands is historic; the earliest sale of beer was recorded here in 1488, when the young King James 4th of Scotland stopped by on his way to his coronation to buy beer from the local brewery. The distillery is just 14 miles from Stirling and runs daily tours. To book a tour do phone ahead on 01764 661809. For directions, and more details, see http://www.tullibardine.com/
Oak casks in the warehouse of Glengoyne whisky distillery near Killearn
Glengoyne Distillery: Claiming the slowest distillation process in Scotland, Glengoyne Distillery lies just 26 miles from Stirling city centre in Dumgoyne, near Killearn. A whitewashed building at the foot of Dumgoyne Hill, the distillery has been producing since 1833 using only traditional methods, the finest oak casks, and time. The result: a single malt whose 10 year old bottle yields flavours of fresh green apples, toffee and a hint of nuttiness. Visitors can choose from a variety of tours, ranging from a standard tour at £7.50 a head to an in-depth masterclass for connoisseurs at £125 per person. Every tour is guaranteed to be entertaining – they’ve been described ‘best whisky tour’ by The Sunday Times. For more information and directions, see: http://www.glengoyne.com/
Stirling Whisky shop: If you’ve still time on your hands, head to the Stirling Whisky Shop within the Stirling Highland Hotel. There you will find Stirling’s largest selection of Scotch Whiskies, gins, vodka, liqueurs and beers, accompanied by a selection of wine, champagne, cognac, plus much more. There are daily whisky tastings, a monthly whisky club, and you can benefit from the experience of a small team of dedicated staff who really do know their whisky. For information, events and directions see: http://www.stirlingwhiskyshop.com/
- Deanston Distillery: Author: Eileen Henderson [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
- Tullibardine image: Author Brian D Osborne [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
- Glengoyne image: Provided by kind permission of Glengoyne Distillery, via Taste Communications, Edinburgh