Planning a trip to Scotland in 2026? Let’s take a look at five distilleries that are well worth your time this year.
We’ve selected a mix of places that offer something beyond the standard tour format. Yes, you’ll still see the stills and warehouses, but these experiences go further. They offer a deeper dive into whisky as part of Scottish culture. The kind of visit that stays with you and makes you consider turning the car around and doing it all again.
Glen Scotia Distillery, Campbeltown
No trip to Scotland feels complete without a visit to Campbeltown, once the capital of Scotch whisky production before Prohibition took its toll.
Now home to just three working distilleries, Glen Scotia offers my favourite tour of the lot. The Warehouse Tour, priced at £65, is a brilliant way to explore the distillery’s multi-faceted style. I wouldn’t call Glen Scotia a chameleon, as you can usually pick it out in a lineup, but it handles a wide range of cask types exceptionally well. Its peated expressions are just as compelling.
The distillery remains a cornerstone of Campbeltown, and there are always interesting bottles available in the shop after your visit.
Benromach Distillery, Speyside
Having taken part in the Champions Programme in 2025, I’d strongly recommend making the trip to Benromach. It’s a small, welcoming distillery, easy to spot thanks to its distinctive red chimney.
If you’re making the journey, it’s worth going all in. The Mastery Tour, at £90, gives you full access to the distillery and a real sense of how everything works. It’s immersive, from the sights and sounds to the heat of production, and finishes with a tasting of six whiskies that highlight Benromach’s softly peated, versatile style.
There’s also the Manager’s Tour, priced at £350. It’s a premium experience, but it includes a full tour led by Distillery Manager Murdo, access to all areas, a deep dive into the history, an extensive tasting, and a distillery-exclusive bottle to take home.
Dornoch Distillery, Eastern Highlands
Dornoch is a bit of a journey, but it’s one that rewards the whisky enthusiast.
The distillery itself is compact; you could almost take it in with a single turn on the spot. But that’s not really the point. This is a place driven by experimentation and passion rather than scale. Think wild yeast fermentations, unusual single cask releases, and the ever-intriguing Mystery Malt bottlings.
The experience extends beyond the distillery itself. There’s an excellent hotel and bar on site, and the team is just as happy discussing rum and mezcal as they are whisky. It’s informal, engaging, and genuinely different.
If you’re planning a visit, it’s best to get in touch directly to arrange a tour.
Laphroaig Distillery, Islay
If you’re going to explore peated whisky, you might as well do it properly. I’ll admit my bias here, Laphroaig is my favourite distillery on Islay.
Located near Port Ellen, it stands proudly among Islay’s iconic whitewashed distilleries. While standard tours are available, the Whisky Trail Experience is the one to aim for.
At £160, it’s not cheap, but it’s a five-hour experience that goes well beyond the usual format. You’ll explore the distillery grounds, hike to the water source, and take part in an archive whisky tasting. Along the way, you’ll receive a branded glass, a lanyard, and 350ml of a distillery-exclusive whisky to take home.
It’s a full immersion into what makes Laphroaig special, from raw materials to mature spirit.
Ardnamurchan Distillery, Western Highlands
Out on the west coast, Ardnamurchan has quickly built a strong reputation for producing excellent single malt whisky.
Its core identity revolves around a balance of peated and unpeated spirit, brought together in its final bottlings. The distillery sits on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, right on the coast, where its casks mature in a striking setting.
There’s a wide range of cask types in play, including ex-bourbon, sherry, sauternes, rum, and Grand Cru wine casks.
If you’re visiting, the Behind the Scenes tour is the one to book. It offers a more detailed look at production, along with a few well-placed drams. Ideal if you’re keen to dig into the technical side, from fermentation to yeast selection.
Making the Most of Your Trip
There are, of course, many distilleries across Scotland that are worth visiting. It all depends on where you find yourself and what kind of experience you’re after.
Whether you’re drawn to experimentation, tradition, or a bit of both, you’ll find a warm welcome and something new to discover at each stop.
Just remember to book in advance and aim to arrive a little early for your tour.
Read the full article at 5 Scotch Whisky Distilleries Worth Visiting In 2026
