Private Highland Whisky Tour including 10+ Single Malt Tastings
Description
Tour with a knowledgeable and passionate born and bred Scottish Highlander who will entertain you with stories and anecdotes about growing up and living in in the Scottish Highlands. Private whisky tastings from at beautiful locations throughout the day. Chocolate paired whisky tastings showcasing new and old whiskies and how they can be enjoyed with different chocolates. A comfortable luxury BMW X5 vehicle to see the Highlands in style and go places other tour vehicles can only dream of going. Enjoy an elevated vantage point so that you can see more of the beautiful Scottish Highland scenery throughout your tour. Chilled bottled water plus Scottish snacks and soft drinks included.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will take you to one of our favourite views in Scotland for some chocolate paired whisky tastings from our private collection. It changes throughout the year as new bottles are released and old bottles are finished off with friends and family. Millionaires View is the perfect place to enjoy a dram or two with Inverness Whisky Tours.
Distillery Tours & Tastings Many guests choose to include a distillery tour as part of their day, with a variety of different options available. Please let us know if you would like a tour booked and we can enquire about availability for your chosen date. It is also possible to drop in for a short presentation in their museum followed by a tasting from their extensive menu. One of our favourites is The Glenmorangie Signet. A bottle now retails for around £200 but you can sample a dram in their luxurious tasting room for £15.
Dornoch: A Whisky and Culinary Gem Discover the charm of Dornoch, home to the renowned Thompson Bros (Dornoch Distillery). Visit their specialist shop to explore a curated selection of rare and new independent bottlings—a must for any whisky enthusiast. For a truly local experience, you can dine at the Dornoch Castle Hotel and sample a dram from their award-winning whisky bar, celebrated as one of the best in the country. If you're looking for something different, Dornoch offers an impressive array of lunch options to suit every palate: Seafood with a view: The Highland Larder on Dornoch Beach. Contemporary dining: The newly opened Dornoch Golf Club clubhouse or Luigi’s. Local favourites: Green’s or the cosy Milk & Honey. Whatever you’re in the mood for, we’ll provide expert local guidance on the day to ensure you find the perfect spot to suit your tastes.
A firm favourite with our guests, this stop features an extensive collection of whiskies ranging from well-loved classics to rare, collectible bottlings. Whether you are looking for an old favourite or a unique independent expression, the selection here is exceptional. Hassle-Free Shipping: To make your visit even easier, the Cellars offer a worldwide shipping service (subject to local regulations). This allows you to post your purchases directly home, so you can pick out as many bottles as you like without worrying about luggage limits or customs queues.
Balblair is one of the most picturesque and welcoming distilleries in the Highlands. Whether you opt for the Discovery Experience (£25pp)—a fantastic introduction to their craft—or the more in-depth Essence Experience (£50pp) led by a senior guide, you will not be disappointed. Drop-in Tastings: If you prefer a more flexible visit, you can simply drop by for a tasting. Their incredibly knowledgeable and friendly staff will provide an introduction to the distillery followed by a curated flight of their core range, including the 12, 15, and 18-year-old expressions, as well as a special Single Cask bottling.
As the only distillery on the fertile Black Isle, Glen Ord is the perfect place to ground yourself at the end of your Highland journey. This is a stop that feels connected to the land, offering a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere to enjoy a final dram before heading home. The Heart of the Harvest: Glen Ord is one of the rare few that still houses its own on-site maltings. At the source of the process you can feel the farming heritage that has made this award-winning distillery a cornerstone of the Highlands. Glen Ord serves as a vital 'engine room' for Diageo, crafting the high-quality spirit that provides the signature smooth foundation for the world-famous Johnnie Walker blends. Distillery Exclusives: This is your chance to sample rugged, rare expressions that you simply won't find in the shops. Before we leave, you can even take part in the 'Bottle Your Own' experience—hand-filling a bottle of distillery-exclusive whisky to take a piece of the Black Isle home with you.
Black Isle Brewery: The Organic Frontier If time allows, we love to make a pit stop at the Black Isle Brewery. This isn't just a brewery; it's a working 130-acre organic farm where they grow their own barley and even keep a flock of Hebridean sheep. It is the only organic brewery in the Highlands and a true pioneer of the "soil-to-glass" philosophy. A Proper Highland Welcome: The atmosphere here is wonderfully relaxed and unpretentious. We’ll drop in for a chat with the team and a "wee taste" of their world-class craft beers—like the famous Red Kite or Yellowhammer. It’s a great way to see how a modern Highland business can thrive while staying rooted in the traditions of the land.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up from all hotels, B&B's and private rentals in and around Inverness, The Black Isle, Invergordon, Dornoch and Aviemore. If you are staying out with this area (including Speyside) please contact us with your address and we will be happy to advise if a pick up is possible.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(22)
Had the extreme pleasure of Gavin leading the Tour yesterday. Arrived in plenty of time for pickup in an immaculately presented BMW X7. We headed northbound on the A9 to Clynelish Distillery passing some of the most wonderful scenery in Northern Scotland. Arrived at the Distillery in plenty time for the tour where Gavin made the introductions and left us to partake in the Experience. After Clyneish we headed to Dornoch Castle Hotel for lunch where there was a huge choice from the menu but we all chose the home made pizzas. They come highly recommended. After lunch we then headed to Glen Ord distillery for some further education. Again Gavin was spot on with his recommendations, even to the extent that I treated myself to a self-bottled Singleton Of Ord. Throughout the tour Gavin displayed excellent knowledge, not only of the distilleries but of all the local areas and historical facts. He obviously has a passion for delivering top quality service, and a wee tip, if he offers you a wee square of white chocolate, take it as there is better to follow!!! I have no problem throughly recommending Gavin and Inverness Whisky Tours and would give it a 10/10 rating. Give him a shout, you won't be disappointed.
I had such a great time with Inverness Whisky Tours! From the moment I contacted Gavin, his expertise was evident. He's incredibly knowledgeable about the region, whisky, and distilleries, and he masterfully tailored a two-day private tour that maximized my time and allowed me to visit all the distilleries I truly wanted to see. Communication with him was super simple and fast. Thanks, Gavin! Moving on to the actual tour, Peter is a super nice person and an excellent tour guide. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with him, and he accommodated all my needs to ensure I had a fantastic experience. He didn't just take me to places; he engaged me with great stories and information about the region, the industry, and the distilleries. Additionally, being born and raised in the Highlands, his knowledge is unbelievable and truly adds authenticity to the experience. Thanks to Gavin, Peter, and everyone at Inverness Whisky Tours for such an amazing experience!
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re absolutely delighted to hear that you had such an amazing time with us. Gavin is indeed passionate about sharing the best of the Highlands, and we’re thrilled that he was able to tailor the perfect whisky tour for you. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to Peter as well—his local knowledge and storytelling really do add a unique touch to the experience! It was a pleasure hosting you, and we’re glad you got to experience the heart of Scotland’s whisky heritage. We hope to welcome you back for more unforgettable adventures in the future. Cheers, The Inverness Whisky Tours Team
Amazing experience. We used email to work out our tour itinerary. Gordon was very responsive and easy to deal with as we hammered out the details. Jason our tour guide was even more spectacular! He surprised us with an amazing bagpipe serenade, got us to 4 distilleries, one shortbread factory, and returned us 6-7 hours later. Gordon and Jason worked hard to give us a truly great memorable day.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such an amazing experience on your Highland Whisky Tour. It’s great to know that Gavin’s communication and Jason’s dedication made your day even more special. We’re especially glad you enjoyed the surprise bagpipe serenade—definitely a unique touch that makes the experience unforgettable! It sounds like you got to enjoy the best of both whisky and Scottish culture, from distilleries to the shortbread factory. We’re so happy we could craft a memorable day for you, and we appreciate your kind words. We’d love to welcome you back for more adventures in the future!
Gavin was a wonderful host for our full day tour. He has a welcoming, friendly, easy going demeanor. He shared his knowledge and appreciation of the many different whiskies we sampled and in doing so has changed my appreciation of scotch whisky. He included local historical sights on our tour and made many helpful suggestions about what else we should see while we were in the area. We highly recommend this tour.
Awesome experience. Liam was great. Very knowledgeable and entertaining. We never felt rushed and learned much about the history and making of Scotch. Will do it again on next visit.
In a word, our experience was "EXCELLENT"! Liam was our tour director, guide, driver and expert in everything about Scotch whisky. Knowledgeable, friendly, funny, safe and accommodating, Liam took us through some amazing countryside often along quiet local roads to distilleries that offered a wide range of whisky choices. He helped us understand what might be expected from each tasting. I highly recommend booking a tour through Inverness Whisky Tours. Thank you Liam!!!
Amazing experience!!! Our guide Liam was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. I cannot say enough good things.
It was a perfect day for a guys getaway weekend in Inverness. Gavin was very entertaining, and perfectly catered to our wants/needs
I can’t say enough good things about our day with Gavin/ Inverness Whiskey Tours, it exceeded all our expectations. I planned this day for my husband, as he is the Scotch whiskey drinker in our family, but this tour had plenty of things for me as well. First, Gavin is from the Highlands so we learned about whiskey, the community and the beautiful lands. We took the tour at Glenmorangie and it was informative & fun, finishing with a whiskey tasting. Next up was a tasting at Balblair Distillery, one of the oldest in Scotland. Their18 year old whiskey is a must sample! Along our route, Gavin made time for scenic stops/photos and more whiskey tasting. He picked several whiskeys that I enjoyed and had some big peaty/smokey whiskeys that my husband loved. Gavin recommended lunch options for us and we choose an outdoors, pub lunch in Dornoch, and then on to Dunrobin Castle for the tour and falconry exhibition, both were wonderful. On our way back to Inverness we sampled a few more whiskeys and made a quick stop at Black Isle Brewing for a tasting of their beers. (Excellent!). In addition to all this we saw Highland cows, Shetland ponies, seals, birds and the most fabulous vistas. I highly recommend this tour!
Amazing day (2 actually!). Gavin was a gracious knowledgeable local host and guide. He set up a bespoke itinerary prior to the visit. Everything was perfect and as advertised. Highly recommended. Did a second day of sightseeing with one of his colleagues as well—similarly great!
