Whisky in the Inverness Area
Inverness is right in the heart of Scotland's whisky-producing region, and is within easy reach of a huge number of excellent distilleries, many of which welcome visitors. Make sure you visit one of them during your Inverness city break to take a journey of discovery into the creation of Scotland's national drink. Also check our our general information about whisky.
Distilleries near Inverness
Glenmorangie
Located 45 mins North on Inverness in the town of Tain, The Glenmorangie distillery is home to Scotland's favourite malt which has been lovingly created by the 16 men of Tain since it was first licenced in 1843. Reaching 5.14m towards the distillery ceiling, the large copper Glenmorangie stills - with their arching swan necks - are the tallest in Scotland and you can view them at any time of year by taking a guided tour.
Dalmore
A half hour North of Inverness, The Dalmore distillery in Alness gave birth to the most expensive whisky ever sold at auction. Selling for over £25k The Dalmore 62 Year Old Single Highland Malt was only one of twelve bottles ever produced while another was bought and consumed in a London bar for £30k. Of course you can try some of this exclusive malt collection by dropping into their visitor centre and taking the distillery tour.
Glen Ord
Fed by waters high above the distillery, the 3 Glen Ord spirit stills produce nearly 3.5m litres of whisky per year. Located on the edge of the Black Isle in Muir of Ord, their distillers work to produce a whisky which is sweet, malty and dry on the palate. As with the large majority of distilleries, you can tour Glen Ord and sample their magical malt.
Tomatin
Meaning Hill of the Juniper, Tomatin distillery sits 16 miles South of Inverness just off the A9. Formal distilling began on the site in 1897 after a long tradition of drovers filling their flasks from an 'illicit still' alongside the Old Laird's House. To share in the passion and secrets of Tomatin, take the time to amble their visitor centre which takes you to the very heart of whisky making and best of all, sample their 12yr old single malt.
For information on more distilleries, visit www.scotlandwhisky.com
Shopping
The area is home to three branches of The Whisky Shop, with one in Inverness, one in Drumnadrochit (on the banks of Loch Ness) and one in Fort William.
The Ingredients
Scotch whisky is made from the finest barley and the waters of Scotland as they filter slowly through granite and over peat moors.
Single malt whisky is made from malted barley. The spirit matures for many years in oak casks, which have often been used to make bourbon or sherry.
Grain whisky is made using wheat or maize. Once the grain whisky has been distilled it will be mixed with other specially selected whiskies including a malt, to create a blended whisky.
Scotch - and no mistake
All Scotch whiskies must be matured for a minimum of three years, but most are cask conditioned for much longer, sometimes up to twenty-five years, prior to bottling.
During this time, a proportion of the whisky in each cask evaporates annually and is lost to the heavens. This is known as the "angels' share".
Scotch Whisky Association
http://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk
The Whisky Trail is one of the most fascinating ways to see Scotland - journeying from distillery to distillery, taking in the countryside, the myths and the local traditions. This site will help you plan your journey, or simply a single visit to a favourite distillery.
Scotch Malt Whisky Society
http://www.smws.com
Based in Edinburgh, this site has everything you need to enjoy the purity of Malt Whisky.
Jackson's Malt Whisky Companion
www.whiskyweb.com
Michael Jackson. Not just the talented younger brother in a musical family, his namesake is also one of the world's leading authorities on Malt Whisky.
Scotland Whisky
http://www.scotlandwhisky.com
A website dedicated to promoting Scotland and its national drink.
Whisky Live
http://www.whiskylive.com
Reading about whisky is a bit like a radio programme about rainbows. This site steers you to events where you can sample for yourself.
Malt Whisky Trail
www.maltwhiskytrail.com
Lists all the different trails, with maps and distances to help plan your journey.
Easy Drinking Whisky Company
http://www.jonmarkandrobbo.com
Whisky is not all musty barrels and ancient pot stills. The Easy Drinking Whisky Company has turned the industry on its head, with an up-front and approachable way to enjoy whisky.
