The whisky is the gold of Scotland and there isn’t a corner of the country, including the islands, without a distillery. The crucial area is the Spey Valley, on the northeast side of the northern Highlands.
Here is based the consortium of the Malt Whisky Trail, the promotional union of some historic distilleries that, as the name says, have practiced for centuries the “most Scottish” version of whisky, the undiluted one, with a particularly strong and smoky flavor, thanks to factors such as the peat used for the fire or the mineral-rich waters of the springs that feed the Spey river.
Malt Whisky Trail
Piercing a very green and well-kept landscape are the signs of the distilleries that are part of the Malt Whisky Trail, offering a suggestive and intoxicating journey among stills, casks, and bottles.
Glennfiddick
In Dufftown, for example, there are the doors of Glennfiddick, the distillery founded by William Grant in 1886 and still owned by the family. In 1969, it was the first to open its doors to visitors and today offers two types of tours: one free, suitable for everyone, and one for connoisseurs, paid, lasting about two hours and including a series of tastings. Booking is highly recommended.
Strathisla
Near Keith nestles Strathisla, the oldest distillery of Speyside (1786), with characteristic pagoda roofs built to ensure good malt drying. Here the renowned Chivas “royal” is produced, since 1843, that is, since Queen Victoria’s time, when it became the supplier of Balmoral Castle.
Macallan
In Craigellachie, an ancient residence has been restored to welcome visitors who want to learn everything about Macallan, nicknamed the “Rolls-Royce of Malt“.
