Highland Tour of Northern Whisky Distilleries

Great day out with George. The scenery was breathtaking. It was great to see the Gorse in bloom. Can only imagine what it must be like with the Heather is full colour. Balblair Distillery was definitely worth the visit. The gardens at Dunrobin were beautiful and the Falconry demonstration was really interesting. Found out we have been pronouncing Glenmorangie wrong for too many years to name. On our way back to the hotel we got to see Jamie and Katie. George dropped us off outside the hotel with the great recommendation of a fish supper from Fat Buddha's.

We ended up on a private tour with George and had a fantastic time! We recommend the northern Highlands tour if you want a mix of sightseeing (castle, lookout viewpoints, Highland coos) and some whiskey tastings. We thoroughly enjoyed the Balblair Distillery tour and learned a lot from it. It was nice to have the Dunrobin Castle tour break up the tastings. They serve hot lunch options at the castle. George was great with providing information about the area during the tour. If you want a more dedicated whiskey tasting tour, then perhaps the Speyside tour would be the better option. Please note that George helps book the Balblair whiskey tour, but the tour and/or tasting fees are not included (you pay when you get to the distillery).

George was so much fun!  He kept in touch over email and helped us plan our trip to Scotland. He picked us up at our B&B in Inverness. He helped us make the most of our short time in the Scottish Highlands and had us back at the station with a comfortable margin to catch our train.  George is VERY knowledgable about the Highlands area around Inverness and made sure we didn’t miss a thing. His van was super comfortable. And as a extra touch of authenticity, he came in full traditional Scottish attire. If I come back, I’ll be getting ahold of George!

My husband and I ended up on a private tour with George (well, one of the George’s, there are two). He drove us around Inverness and stopped at some amazing picturesque panoramic views prior to our whiskey tastings. Balblair was hands down our favorite tour and It was a completely unexpected treat. The guide at the facility was very personable and informative. We learned so much about the whiskey process and the stills used to create these masterpieces. Although we didn’t tour Glenmorangie, we enjoyed the tasing and gift shop. Also, Isaac at Singleton was incredibly knowledgeable and allowed us to sample whiskeys that we would have never been able to try at home in the US due to availability (or lack thereof). Side note, tip your guide. We asked Google if it was appropriate and Mr. Google lied to us. We neglected to tip George and he was amazing.

It’s the hidden treasures we are seeking - the road less traveled. Got an early start from the town of Inverness, meeting our tour director George. With a quirky sense of humor and deep local knowledge, it was easily one of the best tours we’ve had. There’s so much to see and experience in the northern towns and villages. Some well known distilleries, yet off the beaten path: perfect for our tastes. So many amazing encounters with folks having a lifetime of experience making some of the best whisky’s. My advice, if you get the chance to spend day touring with George, take it.

George was wonderful! Great guide on the way to each distillery. The distillery experience was also good, but the castle was honestly my favorite part. Would highly recommend!

The tour was good for learning and seeing lots of the country side at your convenience. The guide knows the area very well and can make adjustments as needed to suit your wants (vs the constraints of a tour bus with 40+ people). It is however a lot of driving and a long day, and due to the nature of the area it is difficult to see everything in a day. Discuss with the guide in detail ahead of booking if possible to see if this tour is right for you. I think if you truly only want to do just whisky tours/tastings to make that a bit more clear so you can potentially book other tours at other distilleries prior to so you have more time for tastings. Also note: George will book the full tour of the distillery but you still have to pay for the tour once you get there. Overall great tour and George is so nice and knowledgeable! He even added a quick stop to see Jamie Frasier the Highland Cow.

We had a great time visiting 3 distilleries and visiting the castle along with the falconry show. George was knowledgeable, engaging and willing to tailor the day to the groups preferences. I highly recommend this tour, next time we come to Inverness we will take it again.

This was a great tour! Based on the availability of the vendors, the timing, and the wishes of the group, we visited Balblair and Clyneleith distilleries; the ruins of Beauly Priory; Dunrobin Castle; and the Dornoch whisky bar. All that plus we fit in a visit to see Highland Cows on our way out of town. Sara is an outstanding tour guide; she’s from that area and was able to tell us so much of the history. I would highly recommend this tour for more than just whisky.

Sara asked us for input on preferences to fill in some time. One stop was the castle bar in a little village. Had a great whisky selection and the staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Willing to help and answer any questions. I got to try a unique limited availablity 58yro whisky. Great experience.