Whisky Dates for your Diary

Exciting News: the Scottish National Whisky Festival Inverness will be back on 11th July 2026 at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness, just a short walk from the Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa. This fab festival returns to Inverness filled with delicious drams and an opportunity to meet world class mixologists.

Overview: Whisky Regions Around Inverness

No wonder that 5 of the best whisky distilleries are near Inverness, as it’s situated within convenient reach of two distinct whisky regions: Speyside and the Highlands. Both of them produce their own distinct drams. Highland whiskies are known for diverse, full-bodied whiskies with notes like smoke, fruit cake and dried fruit. Meanwhile, Speyside whiskies are known to be sweeter and very light on peat, with notes like vanilla, apple and nutmeg.

With a good number of Highland and Speyside distilleries within easy reach of Inverness, it really is the perfect base for your whisky adventure. So whether you’re a lifelong whisky enthusiast or just curious to try your first dram, your time in the Highlands is a chance to discover some of the best whiskies Scotland has to offer.

Glen Ord Distillery, Black Isle

The home of the Singleton of Glen Ord has been given a multi-million pound transformation by drinks giant Diageo. The new centre at Glen Ord opens as thousands of visitors are expected on the North Coast 500 tourist route. As well as showcasing The Singleton single malts, the brand home will promote local Scottish food produce. Famous for their Singleton of Glen Ord whisky, this distillery, founded in 1838, is the only producer of single malt whisky in Black Isle. They export their aged single malt whisky exclusively to the South Asian market, meaning the easiest way to buy Glen Ord whisky in Europe is at the distillery. Apart from single malt whiskies, the majority of the whisky produced here is used in blends like Johnnie Walker and Dewar’s.

• Tour Offering: The distillery offers a variety of tours for all tastes.
• Tour Style: These fully-guided tours are known for being highly informative and engaging and offering a chance to sample a few different whiskies to help you develop your palate.
• Location & Access: Located just a 20-minute drive from Inverness, the Black Isle peninsula is well worth a visit. It’s known for beautiful fishing villages by the sea as well as some great chances for dolphin-spotting.
• Booking: To book your tour click here

Visitor Experience

Glen Ord Distillery – Home of The Singleton. The Singleton Visitor Experience showcases their single malts and local produce as part of the refurbished visitor centre.

Tomatin Distillery, Tomatin

Located in the Monadhliath Mountains over 1,000 ft above sea level just 16 miles south of Inverness, this Highland whisky distillery has been operational since 1897 and it was the first fully Japanese owned Scottish Distillery in 1986. Today, it produces whisky mainly for blended drams, including their own brands Talisman and Antiquary. Tomatin whiskies are known for a soft character with notes of fruit.

Tours of the distillery let you sample some of Tomatin’s single malt and blended whiskies as well as giving you a chance to bottle your own straight from the cask. As the distillery is just a 25-minute drive from Inverness, it makes for a good option for those travelling without a car as you could travel to the visitor centre by taxi. For those travelling to Inverness by car on the A9, visiting the distillery on your way to or from the city is also an option, as this is just a 3-minute detour.

Nearby Outlander Stop: Just 20 minutes away is Culloden Battlefield and the mystical Clava Cairns, a must for Outlander fans.

Tours & Experiences

Tomatin Whisky Distillery Tour. Tomatin – Bottle Your Own Whisky.

The Dalmore Distillery

The Dalmore has a long history: established in 1839 and founded by Alexander Matheson. In 1867 the descendants of the Clan Mackenzie took control and one of their first actions was to add the iconic 12 Point Stag to every bottle of Dalmore. The Stag is instantly recognisable and a symbol of the quality of the whisky. The whisky was cultivated by Richard Paterson for nearly five decades and today Gregg Glass continues the vision of The Dalmore.

The Dalmore Distillery has been reimagined and is now open to visitors. As you can imagine demand is high and booking in advance is essential. This multi-million investment has transformed the visitor experience. The Dalmore experience is three hours long and priced from £250 per person (minimum of two guests); you will enjoy a unique private guided tour showcasing production and warehousing with a maximum of 8 guests in your party. Discover Dalmore across its collections, paired with delicious canapés and a carefully curated tour with some surprises!

Nearby Stop: Drive along the Cromarty Firth or head to the Black Isle, known for dolphins, beaches, and craft breweries.

Glenmorangie Distillery, near Tain

Established in 1843, Glenmorangie has been producing its famous malt on the tranquil Dornoch Shores. You will find a fantastic selection of Whisky Tours with unparalleled access to the Distillery & its Warehouses. You can trace the journey of the Glenmorangie “Original” through its distilling process.

You will experience all stages of the whisky making process, learn about the pioneering use of only the finest casks and of course enjoy two tastings on this tour! This historic distillery is open five days a week; check out their website for full details.

Nearby Outlander/Castle Stop: Explore Dornoch and visit the majestic Dunrobin Castle, often likened to a French château.

Visitor Centre

Glenmorangie Whisky Distillery. Glenmorangie Visitor Centre offers guided tours and tastings that trace the distilling process from mash to maturation.

Glen Wyvis Distillery, Dingwall

Glen Wyvis is the newest addition to the Scottish distilling scene. Nestled beneath Ben Wyvis mountain in the Scottish Highlands, Glen Wyvis Distillery was established in 2015. Dingwall’s last whisky distillery closed in 1926. After a 90 year absence, Glen Wyvis revived the town’s lost distilling tradition: more than 3,000 like-minded people invested in Glen Wyvis to create the first ever 100% community-owned distillery.

Glen Wyvis is a pioneer of sustainable distilling; wind, hydro, solar and biomass energy power the operation. Unfortunately the distillery is not open for tours, however the whisky and team can be sampled and their story discussed at many local events.

Brora & Clynelish Distilleries, Brora

Brora Distillery was established in 1819 by the Marquis of Stafford. In 1983 the distillery was closed; however, 38 years later, after a comprehensive restoration, this grand old distillery reopened in 2021. Two hundred and five years later this beautifully restored distillery now benefits from a biomass boiler. Brora whisky is highly collectable, tours are very popular and must be booked in advance. Brora Distillery is just a short walk from Clynelish Distillery — enjoy two distilleries within minutes of each other.

Clynelish distillery is effectively on the same site as the Brora Distillery; both are now part of the Diageo family. Clynelish is known for its contribution to the Johnnie Walker blend and its important role in the Four Corners. Clynelish gives the blend those waxy notes. Clynelish remained open when Brora was mothballed in 1983. Since Brora was reopened in 2021 both distilleries are very popular with visitors and offer excellent tours, with many Clynelish visitors commenting on the quality of its tasting platters alongside the whisky.

Top Tip: Set off early from Inverness and visit both of these fabulous distilleries and combine with a trip to nearby Dunrobin Castle, which will stun you with its fairytale architecture. Learn More about the Brora distillery history here.

Dalwhinnie Distillery, Dalwhinnie

This Highland whisky distillery produces a world-famous single malt dram known for its notes of heather honey, citrus and vanilla. With its magnificent mountain views over the Cairngorm National Park, this distillery sits at the highest altitude in Scotland at 355m above sea level.

The Dalwhinnie distillery tour will teach you about the art of distilling and at the end of your tour, you can sample two different whiskies expertly paired with chocolates. Your guide will also give you suggestions for food pairings with whisky. You’ll also get to take home a Dalwhinnie whisky glass for free.

Located 55 miles from Inverness, a visit to this distillery can be combined with a visit to the Cairngorm National Park, offering a variety of outdoor activities. You could also visit the distillery on your way to or from Inverness if you’re taking the A9 — this is just a 4-minute detour.

Dallas Dhu Distillery Museum, Forres

Exciting news: The Dallas Dhu Distillery Museum has reopened; daily tours are available by appointment — call 01309 251 480 or email [email protected]. It really is one to visit as it is different from the rest on this list because it’s no longer operational: after producing whisky from 1899 to 1983, this Speyside distillery now acts as a museum.

A New Era: The Dallas Dhu Distillery Tour. In 1898, the Dallas Dhu Distillery was designed and constructed by legendary icons of Scotch whisky, Alexander Edward and Charles Doig. After nearly a century of producing classic Speyside single malt, the distillery fired its stills for the final time in 1983. Today, guests are welcomed to enjoy a rare opportunity to step back in time and to delve into the distillery’s Victorian past and learn about traditional whisky-making techniques.

• Offering 1: 1x dram (45 mins) Cost: £15
• Offering 2: The Dallas Dhu Distillery Art of Maturation Tour, enjoy your tasting tour through the heritage Dallas Dhu Distillery, with four drams of artfully matured Murray McDavid whisky, stopping at points of interest through the Victorian distillery. Offering: 4x drams (60 mins), Cost: £25

Located 28 miles outside of Inverness, a visit to Dallas Dhu could be combined with a visit to the nearby Brodie Castle or the eco-village of Findhorn for a memorable day trip.

Cardhu Distillery, Aberlour

Alongside single malt drams, the whiskies produced at this distillery are also a key component in award-winning Johnnie Walker blends. Located in the heart of Speyside, this distillery was founded in 1811 by a husband and wife team. Helen Cumming is said to have distilled the first gallon of the Cardhu whisky, making it the only malt Scotch whisky pioneered by a woman.

Tours of this distillery go deep into the history of the place and afterwards, you can visit the gift shop or relax with a dram of their exceptionally smooth and mellow whisky. The distillery is located 43 miles from Inverness and you could combine your tour with a visit to the nearby Ballindalloch Castle.

Uile-bheist Distillery, Inverness

Uile-bheist is new in 2023 — this brewery and distillery opened that year. The distillery and brewery are located on the banks of the River Ness just a short walk from the Palace Hotel & Spa. You can explore both distilling and brewing; tours start from £30 per person, book online here.

Escorted Scottish Distillery Tours

If you want to explore the distilleries and enjoy the tastings, then let an expert take the wheel. There are many guided whisky tours from Inverness.

Check out Happy Tours, they are local experts, excellent and experienced guides who offer a combined Tour of Glenmorangies Distillery and Dunrobin Castle. A fabulous tour capturing two Highland icons. See here for more information on Happy Tours.

New WOW Tours are offering a private Tour of 3 Whisky Gems, Tomatin, Glenfarclas and Glen Moray. This tour lasts 9-10 hours and one of its unique offerings is a stop at the Speyside Cooperage, where you will get an insight into the work of a cooper. See here for all the information and booking details.

Distilleries within 30 minutes of Inverness

• Uile-bheist Distillery: Inverness
• Glen Ord Distillery: Black Isle
• Tomatin Distillery: Tomatin
• Glenmorangie Distillery: near Tain
• Dalmore Distillery: Alness

Distilleries Further Afield – The Highland Whisky Trails

If you are passionate about whisky and want to find out more about the whisky trails across Speyside, Elgin and Huntly then the best starting point is www.maltwhiskytrail.com — the trail includes these distilleries all within driving distance of Inverness. See our explore page for more information on all these distilleries

• Benromach Distillery:
• Cardhu Distillery:
• Dallas Dhu Distillery:
• Glenfiddich:
• Glen Grant:
• The Glenlivet:
• Glen Moray:
• Speyside Cooperage:
• StrathIsla:

Whisky Experiences & Accommodation in Inverness

For a whisky lover, no visit to the Highlands would be complete without a whisky tasting experience. If you don’t fancy leaving the city or want to wow your friends with your whisky knowledge after a distillery tour, there are several ways to buy and enjoy some delectable drams in Inverness.

Highland Malt Whisky Experience at McGregors: this highly recommended experience runs six days a week from mid April to October. A memorable journey tasting some of the best malt whisky the Scottish Highlands has to offer, including Glenmorangie, The Dalmore, Tomatin, Glen Ord, Dalwhinnie, Balblair and Clynelish, whilst your hosts share the history, story, legend and music of the Scottish Highlands.

The Malt Room is Inverness’ first whisky bar, with a menu that spans all six Scottish whisky regions as well as a selection of bourbon and rye whiskies. It stocks an unbelievable range of over 300 malt whiskies. This cosy bar also stocks premium spirits, cocktails, wines, and exclusive beers. There are lots of whisky flights to choose from, served by the incredibly friendly and knowledgeable staff.

The Whisky Shop gives you a chance to do some shopping based on your newfound knowledge and get some gifts for family and friends.

Inverness Whisky is a small

Highland Whisky Trail Tips

• Base yourself in Inverness: It’s the gateway to the Highlands, with Tomatin, Dalmore, Glenmorangie, Glen Ord & The Singleton all within easy reach.
• Plan transport: Many distilleries require driving, so book a tour or arrange a designated driver.

Stay With Us — Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa

We hope you have enjoyed your guide to the best whisky distilleries near Inverness. Plan your Highland Whisky tour & book your stay at the AA 4 Star Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa. You can look forward to a warm Highland welcome; we are ideally located on the banks of the River Ness, opposite Inverness Castle. Only a few minutes walk to the Castle, the lovely Ness Islands and the vibrant capital of the Highlands full of shops, cafes and bars to tempt you.

Make the Palace your base, dine and sip your favourite tipple in the Brasserie, where there are plenty of whiskies for you to savour and views of the River Ness! Enjoy car parking, free Wi‑Fi and don’t forget the lovely leisure club. See our seasonal specials for a selection of our very best offers. Remember always book direct for your very best offers Call: 01463 22 32 43 or Email [email protected] and one of our friendly team will be happy to help!

Escape to the Leisure Club and Spa: The Inverness Palace Hotel is a perfect place to relax after a busy day exploring the Highlands. Take a dip in the swimming pool, book a massage in the Spa or relax those muscles in the sauna. All of our guests enjoy free access to our Luxury Leisure club.

Little Touches of Luxury: Add a little luxury to your getaway and book a Luxury Castle and River View Room. Wake up each morning to a fabulous view and enjoy the beautifully lit Inverness Castle and the Bridge as you draw your curtains in the evening.