World's Best Whisky Distilleries to Visit
From Jack Daniels to Jamesons: the Most Interesting Whisky Tours
Oct 21, 2009
Some things never slump in a recession and the world’s best whiskies are some of the things that don’t. As the sales of Scottish single malt continue to defy the economic climate and the reputation of America's and Japan's top whiskies continue to improve, something else is happening in the whisky world: more and more people are coming to visit the distilleries where the world’s best spirits are produced themselves. Tourismmatters.co.uk reported major rises in visitor numbers to key Scottish distilleries in 2009 such as Islay’s Bunnahabhain Distillery: all facts point to visitor interest in distilleries contributing significantly to overall growth in the single malt whisky business.
Whilst many distilleries across the world now open their doors to visitors eager to learn more about the qualities of the spirits they have been drinking, not all distilleries offer a good visitor experience. Below are some of the most worthwhile:
Best USA Distilleries
- Jack Daniels Distillery, Lynchburg, Tennessee: JD may be the number one American whiskey but it’s also the best distillery to visit. The romantic Jack Daniels advertisements on TV don’t lie: Lynchburg really is a sleepy, dreamy corner of the world and the distillery offers a thorough and quite personable tour experience. You get to see nearly all parts of the whisky production process and finish up the tour in a reconstruction of the bar Jack Daniels himself once run in Lynchburg: the White Rabbit Saloon (where you get a free lemonade).
Best Scottish Distilleries
Thanks largely to campaigns run by Scottish Homecoming 2009, Scotland's distilleries are increasingly popular visitor attractions.
- Bladnoch Distillery, Dumfries and Galloway: You will get a warm welcome at Scotland’s most visitor-friendly distillery, where you’re likely to get a personable tour from the owner himself. The distillery is tiny – with only a few staff – which adds to the magic of the experience. There is a campsite nearby and all kinds of weird and wonderful events held after-hours!
- Glenfiddich Distillery, Dufftown, Aberdeenshre: The best thing about the tour of the distillery where the world’s most famous and best-selling single malt whisky is produced is that it’s free. There’s a film about the history of Glenfiddich and the chance to see the characterful age-old distillery warehouses. The distillery holds the best distillery visitor centre of the year award.
- Jura Distillery, Isle of Jura, Argyll: This is Scotland’s remotest distillery. Once illicit stills littered the wild island of Jura – where red deer outnumber people by twenty to one – but now just this photogenic distillery remains. You can see where the whisky is matured in the sea to give it the unique briny flavour.
- Highland Park Distillery, Kirkwall, Orkney Islands: This is the oldest distillery in Scotland and is worth a visit for seeing the only floor maltings of any distillery in Scotland. You get a glance at every element of the production process as well as tastings – the 18 year-old malt got the vote for the world’s best single malt whisky in 2005.
Best Irish Distilleries
- Old Jameson Distillery, Dublin: Jameson's isn’t actually produced on site any more (although vatting is still done here) but this is a great visitor experience for finding out all about the history of Ireland’s top whisky. The Jameson Experience in County Cork in Southern Ireland is the place to go to see the whisky being made, but it doesn’t have quite the character of this distillery.
Best Japanese Distilleries
- Yoichi Distillery, Hokkaido: Nikka Yoichi 20 year old beat all of Scotland’s best whiskies to the prestigious award of best whiskey in 2008. This distillery with its photogenic pagoda towers, is around 50km from Hokkaido’s capital, Sapporo. It’s been around since the 1930’s and is now open daily for visitors: tours include the almost-obligatory tasting of the official best whisky in the world.
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