While heavily peated Scotch might not be the best choice to introduce a novice drinker into the world of whisky, I was immediately taken a dram of Laphroaig that was thrust under my nose several years ago.

I loved even the non-peated varieties, which so willingly showcased the differences in nuance from distillery to distillery. It's no stretch to say that Scotch got me started in the world of spirits.

In a sense, Scotland has a dear, dear place in my heart despite never having been there (again, broke college student). I'll admit I've spent a few absentminded moments simply searching online for distilleries across Scotland, imagining that I'm set to tour across the land, from Islay to to Speyside.

That day might yet come, but one question that's crossed my mind would be that I simply wouldn't know where to start. 

Which distillery has the best experience? Which one is most worth the cost? How accessible are some distilleries? There's no doubt that some among you that might be interested in visiting Scotland's distilleries might have a similar problem.

So let me help you out a little here, with a few of the most highly recommended distilleries to check out if you ever find yourself on the sunny shores of Scotland (If this list helped you out, feel free to send a bottle my way).

Let's get started with a list of the top 50 distilleries to check out!

The List

This list is carefully curated by Milroy's. Each distilleru is rated across several categories; whisky review score, number of reviews, tour experience as well as tasting experience.

These culminate into a final score upon 100, which determines how desirable a distillery might be to visit!

The Top 5 distilleries to be

1) Ardbeg Distillery (Islay)

Established in 1815, Ardberg ranks among the most popular Islay's single malts. Much like many Islay distilleries, Ardberg is buffeted by oceanic spray as it sits stalwart on rocky shores.

Despite it's fairly unassuming nature, it is actually the second the oldest Islay distillery (behind Bowmore). For those that want to know more, we've done a bit of a deep dive on this esteemed distillery!

With a whoppingly high Milroy score of 92.24 out of 100, it sits undefeated at the top of this list.

There are also eight different experiences in the visitors' center that includes anything from an outdoor tasting to a picnic. Price wise, it ranges from £20 to £90 per person.

2) Johnnie Walker Princes Street (Edinburgh)

The second on this list is more of a kind of "whisky wonderland" rather than a classic distillery.

Created by the globally acclaimed Johnnie Walker, Princes Street is located right smack in the center of Edinburgh, which makes it one of the most accessible locations in Scotland. 

Surrounded by more than 300 hotels and 700 amenities, Johnnie Walker's Princes Street is ranked 88.97 out of 100 by Milroy, having been reviewed favorably by more than 4000 visitors.

Tourists can look forward to taking a custom flavour profile quiz to find the best Johnnie Walker expression that suits their palate. It's rooftop 1820 Bar also provides a much-lauded view of Edinburgh Castle for guests to kick back and relax.

3) Glenkinchie Distillery (East Lothian)

15 miles away from Princes Street sits one of Johnnie Walker's constituent blends. 

While it might have a lesser-known name, Glenkinchie was founded in 1825, making it one of Scotland's oldest distilleries. It's also makes some tasty stuff!

It was humbly started by the farmers John and George Rate, Glenkinchie operated under the name Milton Distillery until it was licensed and renamed in 1837.

The new name came from the Kinchie Burn which runs through the glen. Aside from being surrounded by an impressive amount of gardens and orchards, it also has the largest wash still in the industry.

According to Milroy's score of 83.97 out of 100, the favorable visitor reviews and local accommodation options make it one of the most desirable distilleries to visit.

4. Springbank Distillery (Campbeltown)

Springbank distillery has quite the history, being one of the few remaining distilleries in Campbeltown. To put that in context, Campbeltown at one point had up to 30 distilleries.

A self-contained area for all its processes, the grounds allow visitors to obtain a glimpse of everything from malting to bottling, providing one of the most comprehensive distillery tour experiences.

In addition, its whisky is one of the best-reviewed among whisky drinkers with a Milroy average score of 88.4. Springbank also performed well in other review categories including the number of whisky reviews and average visitor review scores, raising it's score to an impressive 83.84 out of 100.

5) Bruichladdich Distillery (Islay)

In the last decade or so, Bruichladdich has quickly found prominence in the public eye. From its signature aquamarine bottle of The Classic Laddie to the world's most peated Octomore, you'd be hard pressed to find a whisky lover that hasn't at least heard of Bruichladdich.

It has quite an intriguing history too, being a distillery that was saved from the brink of obscurity and reborn as a distillery that can give older Islay producers a run for their money. Those that want to read more about its peculiar origins can head on here!

Milroy's Index also placed the quality of its whisky as the overall tenth in Scotland with an average score of 86.9. Impressively, this placed it well above the likes of long-established distilleries such as Caol Ila, Bunnahabhain, Tobermory, Talisker, and Glenlivet.

The distillery's well-received whisky is compounded by favorable visitor reviews, allowing it to clinch a Milroy score of 83.50 out of 100.

Visitors to the distillery can expect to shell out anything from £10 to £65, with the glorious opportunity to sample its whiskies straight from the cask.

Special Mentions!

Of course, certain distilleries also merit special notice! Not everyone can come out top of the pack across all categories, but these few have emerged from the crowd with some noticeable differences!

Kilchoman Distillery - Best value for distillery tours

For those that might be watching their wallets on holiday, Kilchoman Distillery promises the lowest average cost for a tour or tasting experience.

At an average of £25 per person for three tours and tasting experiences, it beats out most of the other distilleries in terms of price.

Don't let the low cost fool you! While it is a younger whisky established in 2005, the family-owned Kilchoman provides the entire package: Guests can look into the distillery's malting, distilling, maturation and even bottling processes which take place entirely on-site. It even  uses barley grown on their own farm. 

Bowmore - Best premium experience

For those willing to shell out a bit more for a deeper distillery tour experience, some distilleries provide the most exclusive access for a pretty penny.

At £800 per person, Bowmore provides a luxury tour package that includes lunch at the local Bridgend Hotel, an in-depth tour of the Bowmore distillery, and the chance to hand-fill your very own custom bottle of Bowmore straight from the cask.

In partnership with Aston Martin, Bowmore also allows visitors to explore Islay from a chauffeur-driven Aston Martin DBX. Talk about high-class!

But have no fear! This experience is the most premium one that Bowmore has to offer. For those watching their wallets, Bowmore also provides eight other tours that are a little more affordable, with prices starting from as low as £20.

Nc'nean Distillery - Most sustainable distillery

A relatively young distillery founded only in 2017, Nc'nean is a small independent distillery largely focused on crafting organic, sustainable whisky.

The distillery is located in the village of Drimnin on Scotland's West Coast. Of its many sustainable accolades the distillery is powered by 100% renewable energy, uses only organic Scottish barley and is bottled only in 100% recycled glass.

Nc’nean is also a registered B-Corp, which means it has been independently verified to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
 

Lok Bing Hong A budding journalist that loves experiencing new things and telling people's stories. I have 30 seconds of coherence a day. I do not decide when they come. They are not consecutive.