Whisky Distillery Tours From Aberdeen
Discover great Scottish whisky, beautiful scenery and much more along the way
Scotland is famous around the world for whisky, and from Aberdeen you are ideally placed to explore some of the country's most fascinating distilleries.
At JGB Tours of Scotland, I offer private whisky distillery days for up to four passengers, travelling from Aberdeen and surrounding areas into Aberdeenshire, Royal Deeside and Speyside.
But these aren't simply trips from Aberdeen to a distillery and back.
A private distillery day gives you the opportunity to experience much more of North East Scotland along the way — beautiful countryside, historic towns, castles, coastal scenery and some of the places that make this part of Scotland so special.
And because JGB Tours of Scotland is a one-man operation, I personally drive every tour.
My tours consistently receive 5-star reviews, and I take great pride in giving visitors a friendly, personal experience rather than simply providing transport.
🥃 11 distilleries to choose from
I've put together a selection of 11 distilleries within practical travelling distance of Aberdeen, giving whisky lovers a wide choice of destinations.
Just outside Aberdeen in the historic town of Oldmeldrum, Glen Garioch is one of the closest distillery options and an excellent choice if you want to combine a whisky experience with exploring the Aberdeenshire countryside.
The distillery dates back to 1797 and offers a range of visitor experiences and tastings. Advance booking is recommended.
It's also a great example of what makes these trips different: you don't need to travel deep into the country to find fascinating whisky heritage.
Situated south of Aberdeen, Fettercairn offers a choice of whisky experiences and tastings, including the opportunity to learn more about the distillery's history and production.
A Fettercairn day also opens up the possibility of combining whisky with some of Aberdeenshire's spectacular scenery and historic attractions, including Stonehaven and Dunnottar Castle.
Fettercairn currently recommends booking tours in advance, as walk-in availability can be limited.
Set in the Valley of Forgue, The Glendronach is particularly well known for its sherry-cask-matured single malt.
The distillery offers several visitor experiences, ranging from shorter tours and tastings through to more in-depth experiences exploring its history, production and sherry-cask maturation.
A visit can also be combined with the surrounding Aberdeenshire countryside and Fyvie area, making the journey itself part of the day.
Ardmore provides another opportunity to discover whisky in the Aberdeenshire countryside.
A trip to Ardmore can be combined with places such as Craigievar Castle, giving you the opportunity to experience Scottish whisky alongside some of the area's historic architecture and scenery.
It is exactly this combination that makes a private day so much more interesting than simply travelling to a distillery, spending an hour there and heading straight home.
For a whisky day in Royal Deeside, Royal Lochnagar offers a particularly attractive destination.
The distillery is at Crathie, close to Balmoral, with the spectacular scenery of Royal Deeside surrounding it.
Depending on your itinerary and available time, the journey can also take in places such as Crathes, Ballater and Braemar, making this a wonderful opportunity to experience the scenery and character of Deeside as well as enjoying your distillery visit.
🥃 Then there's Speyside
For many whisky enthusiasts, Speyside is the ultimate destination.
And from Aberdeen, several of the world's best-known whisky names can be reached as part of a private day.
That includes:
One of the historic names of Speyside, Strathisla gives visitors the opportunity to explore the whisky heritage of the Keith area.
The journey can also take you through some of the beautiful countryside between Aberdeenshire and Speyside.
One of the most recognisable names in Scotch whisky, Glenfiddich makes a fantastic destination for whisky enthusiasts visiting Scotland.
A journey to Glenfiddich also gives you the opportunity to explore Dufftown and the surrounding Speyside whisky country.
For those interested in what happens behind the bottle, the nearby Speyside Cooperage can also provide another fascinating insight into the traditional skills that support Scotland's whisky industry.
The Macallan is another major Speyside destination and one where planning ahead is particularly important.
The Macallan Estate and Distillery are in Speyside, and visits are by advance appointment, with reservations opening months ahead.
The spectacular estate and modern distillery make this a very different experience from some of Scotland's smaller, more traditional distilleries.
If The Macallan is on your wish list, don't leave the booking until the last minute.
At the heart of Speyside, Aberlour sits where the Lour Burn meets the River Spey.
The distillery currently offers several different visitor experiences, ranging from introductory visits through to more exclusive tastings.
It's another excellent destination for combining a whisky experience with the scenery and character of Speyside.
Located near Archiestown and Aberlour, Cardhu has been producing whisky since 1824 and offers guided tours, tastings and other whisky experiences.
Cardhu also recommends advance booking, with tour dates generally released around 90 days ahead.
So, once again, early planning can make all the difference.
And finally, The Glenlivet.
Located near Ballindalloch in the Speyside region, The Glenlivet offers a range of tours and tastings and sits close to the edge of the Cairngorms National Park.
The journey itself is a wonderful way to experience the changing landscape as you travel from Aberdeen towards Speyside.
🚐 Why choose a private whisky day?
There is something very different about travelling with just your own small group.
There is no coach full of strangers.
No fixed itinerary designed for dozens of people.
And no need to spend the day worrying about driving unfamiliar roads or finding somewhere to park.
With JGB Tours of Scotland, your group of up to four passengers can relax and enjoy the journey while I take care of the driving.
The distillery is the main destination, but the journey is part of the experience.
Depending on your chosen destination, we can travel through some of the beautiful countryside of Aberdeenshire, Royal Deeside and Speyside, with opportunities to see historic castles, towns, villages and other points of interest along the way.
🏰 More than just whisky
One of the things I particularly enjoy about these trips is helping visitors see that Scotland's whisky story doesn't exist in isolation.
A trip to Fettercairn might provide the opportunity to see Dunnottar Castle and Stonehaven.
A Royal Lochnagar journey can take you through Royal Deeside towards Balmoral, Ballater and Braemar.
A visit to Ardmore can be combined with Craigievar Castle.
A trip towards The Glendronach can include the countryside around Fyvie and Aberdeenshire.
And heading towards Speyside opens up an entirely different landscape, with destinations such as Dufftown, Aberlour and the surrounding whisky country.
The exact itinerary depends on your chosen distillery, the time available and what you would most like to see.
That's the beauty of travelling privately.
🌍 Ideal for visitors coming to Scotland
These private whisky days are particularly suited to visitors coming to Scotland from overseas.
If you're staying in Aberdeen or the surrounding area, you can spend the day exploring without having to navigate unfamiliar roads yourself.
You can simply sit back, enjoy the scenery and let me do the driving.
And if whisky isn't the only thing on your Scottish wish list, we can look at how your chosen destination can fit into a wider day of sightseeing.
📅 Book early — especially for popular distilleries
This is probably the most important thing to know when planning a whisky distillery day.
Don't book the transport first and assume you'll find a distillery tour afterwards.
Check the distillery experience you want and secure your preferred time as early as possible.
Some distilleries specifically recommend advance booking, while others operate with experiences that can sell out or have limited availability. The Macallan, for example, operates by advance appointment, while Cardhu recommends booking ahead and generally releases dates around 90 days in advance.
Once you've secured your distillery experience, contact JGB Tours of Scotland about your transport.
And remember that I'm a one-man operator with one vehicle and space for a maximum of four passengers.
That means availability is naturally limited.
Tours are therefore offered on a first come, first served basis.
If you've already got a date in mind — particularly during the busy spring, summer and autumn months — early booking is strongly recommended.
🥃 Your whisky day. Your choice. Your Scotland.
Whether you're a lifelong whisky enthusiast or simply want to experience one of Scotland's most famous traditions during your visit, there's a huge amount to discover from Aberdeen.
With 11 distilleries to choose from, there's something for a wide range of interests — from the historic Glen Garioch in Oldmeldrum to the distilleries of Aberdeenshire, Royal Deeside and the world-famous whisky region of Speyside.
Choose your distillery.
Book your experience.
Then let JGB Tours of Scotland take care of the driving while you enjoy the journey.
Private tours. Up to four passengers. One driver. One vehicle. And a whole lot of Scotland to discover.
Private whisky distillery tours from Aberdeen
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