Unveiling Whisky's Finest Elixir: Explore Scotland's Prized Distilleries by Helicopter
If you're a fan of single malt whisky, then you'll love Scotland. The drink is so much more than just a social lubricant—it's an experience. But how do you get the most out of your trip to one of the world's top destinations for this delicious tipple? One way is by flying to your favourite whisky distillery by helicopter. Flights can be operated from anywhere in Scotland, and due to the versatility of helicopter travel, you can land at the distillery itself, allowing travellers stress-free and quick access to some of Scotland's most famous distilleries. Here are six Scottish whisky distilleries that can be visited by helicopter:
Tomatin Distillery
Tomatin Distillery is located in the village of Tomatin, which is situated in the Highlands and has a population of around 830 people. The distillery was founded in 1898 and has remained open ever since. This makes it the oldest distillery in Scotland not to have been mothballed or closed down during periods of economic hardship.
Tomatin Distillery has a variety of different tours. Their tours are available 7 days a week from 10:00am - 16:00pm. Prices vary depending on which tour you opt for.
Glenfiddich Distillery
Glenfiddich is the most visited distillery in Scotland. It is located next to the River Fiddich and was founded in 1876 by William Grant. The distillery is open to visitors all year round.
Glenfiddich has been awarded a Gold Medal on numerous occasions including:
The International Spirits Challenge (ISC) 2014 - Best Speyside Single Malt Whisky
International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) 2014 - Best Spey Valley Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Balmenach Distillery
Balmenach Distillery is located in the Speyside region of Scotland, near Aberlour and Glenlivet. It was founded as a single malt Scotch whisky distillery in 1897 by James Fleming who built his own distillery on land he owned at Balmenach Farm.
In 1925, James Fleming sold his shares to William Teacher & Sons Ltd., who then became owners of both The Glenlivet and Balmenach Distilleries until they were purchased by DCL (Diageo) in 1960s. Today, Diageo owns all six operating distilleries within its portfolio including Balmenach as well as Glen Elgin; Glenburgie; Kininvie; Rosebank; Tomintoul & Lagavulin
The Macallan Distillery
The Macallan Distillery is located in the village of Craigellachie in Speyside, Scotland. It has been making whisky since 1824 and produces one of the most famous single malts in the world: The Macallan Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
The distillery offers tours that take visitors through the distilling process from start to finish and give them an opportunity to sample some different expressions of this iconic brand. The tour concludes with a tasting session where you can try six different varieties including three new releases: The Macallan Rare Cask Batch 1, 2 & 3; plus two limited edition whiskies called Fine Oak 15 Year Old Sherry Wood Finish (2018) and Fine Oak 21 Year Old Sherry Wood Finish (2019).
Glenglassaugh Distillery
Glenglassaugh Distillery is located in Portsoy, a small town on the coast of Aberdeenshire. The distillery was founded in 1875 by James Stuart and Co., who went on to purchase the nearby Rosebank Distillery and transfer production there. Glenglassaugh closed in 1985 but reopened as a new independent distillery run by Charles Mackay & Co Ltd in 2008.
The new owners have worked hard to restore the building's original features and continue its long tradition of producing fine single malt Scotch whisky using locally sourced barley and water from nearby springs (the site also has its own water treatment plant).
Dalwhinnie Maltings Visitor Centre and Distillery Shop
Dalwhinnie is a village in the Scottish Highlands. The Dalwhinnie Distillery was built in 1897, and it's owned by Diageo. It's famous for its sweet, light and delicate single malt whisky.
The distillery has two stills that produce about 1 million liters of spirit per year (the equivalent of about 25 million bottles). The water used for making this whisky comes from the Allt Na Feithiche burn which flows through the grounds of the distillery before joining with another stream called Allt Dearg (Red Burn) further down towards Loch Ericht. This unique source gives Dalwhinnie a distinctive character compared with other distilleries in Scotland where most use water sourced from nearby lochs or rivers rather than burns like these two do!
If you're a fan of whisky and helicopters, then these Scottish distilleries are the perfect place to visit. All six distilleries can be visited by helicopter—so you can enjoy both your favourite drink and aerial views at once!