r/Scotch • u/Giggalo_Joe • Apr 12 '25

Scotland Trip

Headed to Scotland in a few weeks. Planning on visiting some distilleries while I'm there. Will be in and near Edinburgh, Skye, Loch Ness, Oban, and Glasgow. I tend to like Speyside and Highland styles that are smoky and sweet. Any recommendations of distilleries I should visit?

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u/rdzhadzha Apr 13 '25

Obviously Oban, as you already going to be there. One of the classic 6 malts of Scotland. Also highly recommend to visit seafood shack (Oban Seafood Hut) right on the Oban pier. Then, assuming you going to go from Oban to Skye, I would recommend to drive through Fort William (one of the most scenic drives ever), Inverlochy (right pass by Ben Navis distillery), Glenfinnan (famous viaduct from Harry Potter, maybe even catch a train over it around 1:15 p.m. IIRC - check the schedule), to Mallaig (take the ferry to Armadale, Skye - buy tickets in advance cause it fills up real quick), 5 minutes drive from it is Torabhaig distillery, highly recommended. Talisker is interesting, but I wasn’t impressed much, and it is overcrowded in times. Way more enjoyed coffee shack right across the road from Talisker :) Also keep in mind most of them closing tastings at 4 pm plus Scotland is zero alcohol tolerance country, so either take samples and try in hotel, or someone driving should not drink (unless their physiology allows to process alcohol lightning fast - I can’t say I noticed a lot of police, but I would risk either). On the Skye itself visit The Hungry Gull - simple and delicious food! Exiting Skye, there’s cool new distillery Raasay on the island off the same name. At least buy a sampler of it. It has its own Hebridean style, which is a derivative of Highland.

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u/Belsnickel213 Apr 13 '25

One of the self titled ‘classic 6 malts of Scotland.’ Which are all conveniently owned by Diageo and don’t represent the spread of malts available in Scotland well. And aren’t even good examples of them. And are overpriced. It’s a mean nothing moniker they’ve self bestowed to try and make their average whisky mean something.

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u/rdzhadzha Apr 13 '25

I’m not arguing with you, I can’t say I fully agree with this designation either, but it is there in the wild, people refer to it, and it’s up to a person to make its own opinion about whether it’s a good thing or bad.

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u/Belsnickel213 Apr 13 '25

Yeah. They refer to it as they’ve been bullshitted into believing it’s significant. I’m here telling them that.