Aberdeen is perfectly placed for whisky touring. Aberdeenshire’s own “Secret Malts” – Glen Garioch, GlenDronach, Fettercairn – are within 30–60 minutes. The heart of Speyside – Macallan, Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Aberlour – is around 75 minutes. A full day from Aberdeen gives you time for two or three distillery visits with tastings, and you see some of Scotland’s finest countryside along the way.
We collect you from your Aberdeen hotel, the airport, railway station, heliport, Signature FBO, or cruise port. You taste freely while we handle the driving – Speyside’s single-track roads and rural distilleries make a designated driver-guide particularly valuable.
Aberdeenshire’s Secret Malts
Most visitors head straight to Speyside. The savvy ones start closer to home. Aberdeenshire has eight distilleries producing exceptional whisky that rarely gets the attention it deserves. GlenDronach’s sherry cask whiskies are world-class. Glen Garioch – Scotland’s most easterly distillery, established in 1797 – produces honeyed Highland malts. Fettercairn is one of the oldest licensed distilleries in Scotland.
| Distillery | Location | From Aberdeen | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glen GariochOldmeldrum | Oldmeldrum | 30 min | Scotland's most easterly distillery (est. 1797). Honeyed Highland malts. Open year-round. |
| GlenDronachHuntly | Huntly | 50 min | World-class sherry cask whiskies. Nearly 200 years old. Open 7 days. |
| FettercairnFettercairn | Fettercairn | 40 min | One of Scotland's oldest licensed distilleries. Tropical fruit character. |
| ArdmoreKennethmont | Kennethmont | 55 min | Peated Highland malt – unusual for the east coast. |
| Knockdhu (anCnoc)Knock | Knock | 60 min | Light, floral single malt from a beautifully situated distillery. |
| GlenglassaughPortsoy | Portsoy | 70 min | Coastal distillery reopened in 2008. Sea-influenced drams. |
Speyside from Aberdeen
Speyside is the epicentre of Scotch whisky – over 50 working distilleries in a 50-mile radius. From Aberdeen, the drive takes you through rolling farmland and into the Spey valley. The Macallan’s new visitor centre (designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour) is architecturally stunning. Glenfiddich is the world’s most awarded single malt. Balvenie still uses traditional floor maltings and grows its own barley.
| Distillery | Location | From Aberdeen | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| The MacallanCraigellachie | Craigellachie | 1 hr 20 min | Iconic. The new distillery and visitor centre is architecturally stunning. Pre-booking essential. |
| GlenfiddichDufftown | Dufftown | 1 hr 15 min | World's most awarded single malt. Excellent visitor experience. |
| The GlenlivetBallindalloch | Ballindalloch | 1 hr 30 min | Remote glen setting. The original licensed distillery in the parish of Glenlivet. |
| AberlourAberlour | Aberlour | 1 hr 20 min | Double-cask matured. Charming village location on the River Spey. |
| BalvenieDufftown | Dufftown | 1 hr 15 min | Traditional floor maltings. One of the few distilleries to grow its own barley. |
| CardhuKnockando | Knockando | 1 hr 25 min | Founded by a woman (Helen Cumming). Key malt in Johnnie Walker. |
Sample itineraries
The Secret Malts day (half or full day)
Perfect if time is limited. Glen Garioch in the morning (30 minutes from Aberdeen), then GlenDronach near Huntly for a tasting and lunch. Return via the scenic Aberdeenshire countryside. Can be done as a half-day or extended with Fettercairn for a full day.
Aberdeen to Speyside (full day)
The classic whisky day. Drive through Huntly to Dufftown – the “Malt Whisky Capital of the World.” Visit Glenfiddich or Balvenie in the morning, the Macallan after lunch, and return via a scenic route through the Cairngorms or along the coast. Two or three distilleries with tastings.
Whisky and castles (full day)
Combine whisky with heritage. Start with Craigievar Castle (the Disney castle, Forbes clan history), then continue to GlenDronach or into Speyside. Or pair Dunnottar Castle on the coast with Fettercairn distillery inland. We design the day around your interests.
3-day whisky tour from Aberdeen
Three days is the sweet spot for a serious whisky tour from Aberdeen. A typical itinerary:
- Day 1: Aberdeenshire’s Secret Malts — Glen Garioch, GlenDronach, and Fettercairn. Overnight in Speyside (Craigellachie, Aberlour, or Dufftown).
- Day 2: The heart of Speyside — Macallan, Glenfiddich or Balvenie, and Aberlour. Cooperage visit. Evening at leisure in Speyside.
- Day 3: Glenlivet in its remote glen, then south through the Cairngorms or north via the coast. Return to Aberdeen with 6–8 distilleries under your belt.
We handle the driving, routing, and accommodation recommendations. You taste at every stop without worrying about the road. This works brilliantly as a father-and-son trip, a birthday, or a corporate reward.
Multi-day whisky tours
Beyond three days, we extend into the Highland distilleries — Glenmorangie and Dalmore on the Dornoch Firth, Clynelish in Brora, Talisker on Skye, or south to Highland Park in Orkney. A 5–7 day tour from Aberdeen can cover Aberdeenshire, Speyside, the northern Highlands, and the islands. We also run multi-day whisky tours from Inverness. See our multi-day tours page for full options.
You taste. We drive.
Private whisky tours from Aberdeen with a dedicated driver-guide and luxury Mercedes. We collect from your hotel, the airport, railway station, heliport, or cruise port. Tell us which distilleries interest you, or let us design the day.
What’s included
- Luxury Mercedes with professional driver-guide
- Collection and return to any Aberdeen location
- Tailored itinerary based on your preferences
- Local knowledge on distilleries, whisky regions, and scenic routes
- Flexible pacing – spend longer where you’re enjoying it
Distillery entry and tasting fees are arranged separately. Most distillery tours cost £10–£30 per person; premium experiences (e.g. Macallan) can be higher. We advise on booking and can help arrange where possible.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Speyside from Aberdeen?
The nearest Speyside distilleries (GlenDronach near Huntly) are about 50 minutes from Aberdeen. The heart of Speyside – Dufftown, Craigellachie, Aberlour – is around 1 hour 15 minutes. A full day gives you time for 2–3 distillery visits with tastings.
What distilleries can you visit from Aberdeen in a day?
Plenty. Closer options include Glen Garioch (30 min), GlenDronach (50 min), and Fettercairn (40 min). Further afield, Macallan, Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, and Aberlour are all doable in a full day. We design the route around your preferences.
Can the driver taste whisky too?
No. Your driver-guide is working and does not drink. That's the whole point – you taste freely while we handle the driving. Speyside's single-track roads and rural distilleries make this particularly valuable.
Do you pick up from Aberdeen hotels, airport, or cruise port?
Yes to all. We collect from Aberdeen city centre hotels, Aberdeen Airport, the heliport, railway station, Signature Flight Support (FBO), or the cruise/ferry port. Just tell us where you're staying.
Can you combine a whisky tour with castles or golf?
Absolutely. A morning at Craigievar Castle or Dunnottar followed by an afternoon at GlenDronach is a brilliant day. We also combine whisky with golf transfers – tee off at Royal Aberdeen in the morning, taste at Glen Garioch in the afternoon.
What's the difference between Speyside and Aberdeenshire whisky?
Speyside malts (Macallan, Glenfiddich, Glenlivet) tend toward fruit, honey, and sherry cask influence. Aberdeenshire's 'Secret Malts' – Glen Garioch, GlenDronach, Fettercairn – are less well-known but produce exceptional whiskies. GlenDronach's sherry casks are world-class. Visiting both regions in a day gives a real education in Scotch.