Edradour

Although not in Speyside, Edradour makes a great stopping point on the road north. It’s the smallest distillery in Scotland and run by only two men, Edradour (Gaelic for ‘between two rivers’) is located on Ben Vrackie Spring, just outside the picture-postcard town of Pitlochry in Perthshire. Established in 1825 it is nestled into the rolling hills of highland Perthshire about half way between Edinburgh and Speyside.

Cardhu

Established by John and Helen Cumming, these trailblazing whisky entrepreneurs have a fascinating story that is told through the Cardhu whisky tour experience. started in 1811 John had a reputation as a whisky smuggler but it was his wife who was selling bottles of whisky from the kitchen window.

Seeing the opportunity to legitimise their business through The Excise Act of 1823, John Cumming built the new Cardhu distillery further down the valley. John Walker & Sons took control of Cardhu in 1893 and today the quaint distillery is known as the ‘Speyside home of Johnnie Walker’.

Dalwhinnie

The highest distillery in Scotland, Dalwhinnie Distillery‘s history dates back to 1897. It’s location is on a bleak and desolate hillside where two old drovers roads met. When the railway arrived in the highlands it was the perfect setting for a distillery and the local founders John Grant, George Sellar and Alexander Mackenzie established the now internationally famous brand.

Tomatin

Although near the Speyside region, Tomatin Distillery is technically a highland malt. Local folklore suggests that whisky has been produced here since the 15th century when drovers (cattle herders) would stop to fill their horns with whisky. An official distillery is recognised as being established in 1897. It’s location close to Inverness provided amble custom and it’s water was sourced from Alt na Frith, running from the Monadhliath Mountains.