The ultimate guide to the Malt Whisky Trail in Scotland

The Scottish Malt Whisky Trail is a very unique trail in the world and the best way to start the trail of course is by chartering a private jet to the heart of the stunning Speyside. The trail takes place in nine world-famous locations. Among the nine locations is one historic distillery and of course the fascinating Speyside Cooperage.

Trailsites

The 9 locations along this trail are

1) Benromach

Just North of Forres at the top of Speyside lies the Benromatch distillery. Established in 1898, it was then purchased by the Urquhart family, the owners of Gordon and MacPhail in 1998. After re-equipment, it was reopened by the King of Wales. The resurrection of this distillery has marked the rediscovery of the lost style of Speyside Single Malt. Today the family works daily to build a long-term sustainable business and a legacy for future generations.

2) Cardhu

Nested in the heart of Speyside lies the Cardhu distillery. This distillery stands out for its history and the product it makes. Started off by John Cumming and his wife Helenin 1824, Cardhu is a fantastic starting point for the whisky discovery trail. Cardhu is not only home to the world-famous Johnnie Walker blend, but also offers new variations to the family like the Dardhu 15 and 18yrs. They feature a shop and brand centre and offer guided tours and tutored tastings.

3) Dallas Dhu

Dallas Dhu is a historic distillery that does not produce whisky anymore but is definitely a must-go for any passionate whisky lover. In this distillery, you will go back to the 1900s and explore how whisky was produced back then. This picturesque distillery will allow you to have a closer look into the old machinery and processes which helped create this global brand. The initial aim of this distillery when it first opened in 1898, was to produce malt for blends, as it was the primary drink at that time. As demand went down along with other factors, however, the distillery was forced to shut in the 1980s.

4) Glenfiddich

This world-famous distillery is home to the world's most-awarded single malt. Situated in Dufftown Glenfiddich was first founded in 1886 by William Grant and is currently run by the 5th generation of this family. Glenfiddich comes from Scots Gaelic and stands for “Valley of the Deer”. They have been the first distillery to sell single malt scotch whisky outside of Scotland in 1963. There are master classes available with tastings of a minimum of four different malts and guided tours led by experts. Besides that Glenfiddich also offers a beautiful gift shop to stock up with exquisite single malts to take back home on your private flight with LunaJets.

5) Glen Grant

This distillery which today is one of the most-selling whisky distilleries in the world was founded in 1840 by the two brothers, James and John Grant. The standard is maintained by master distillery Dennis Malcolm, who has worked in Glen Grant for the past 50 years. The distillery is located at the northern end of the village of Rothes and has a recently restored garden, which will make for a wonderful day out, besides the guided tours which take place any day of the week.

6) The Glenlivet

In this distillery, you will not only get to see the process of whisky making but will also learn how founder George Smith, established the first licensed distillery and defended it from smugglers. To this day the distillery continues with George Smith's vision to break traditions and will show you unique processes used today for such a unique distillery. The Glenlivet offers a newly opened Drawing Room bar, where you will be able to taste all whiskies, try a cocktail or get a snack paring too. They offer different kinds of tours and allow you to purchase any whisky including vintage and distillery exclusives.

7) Glen Moray

This small and informal distillery located in the city of Elgin will bring warmth to your tour, making it one of the sunniest distilleries of Speyside. Active since 1897, Glen Moray will give you a private tour of the Single Malt Scotch Whisky making. Besides that, the coffee shop offers a great menu to pair the different whiskies to unveil the new flavours of Glen Moray next to the classic collection. Always expanding and eager to overcome itself, this distillery will teach you a lot about the whiskies and their history and passion for crafting whisky.

8) Speyside Cooperage

The acclaimed cooperage is the epicentre of the whisky industry's cask manufacturing and management. Each year, they repair over 100 000 casks which make their way to other distilleries across Scotland. They repair the casks with only natural materials and they will take you on a guided tour showing you through the lifecycle of each cask where you will see the coopers working using traditional methods and tools.

9) Home of Chivas

For any whisky lover, the remarkable distillery of Chivas can not be left out. The originally called Strathisla distillery was established in 1786 making it the oldest operating distillery on the Malt Whisky Trail. Having been bought in 1950 by the Chivas brothers, the distillery is today known as the home of Chivas. With its natural spring waters, the distillery produces full-bodied single-malt Scotch Whisky. The experts will provide you with some information on the array of flavours and rare skills needed to blend them. The hosts will give you an excellent Distillery Reserve Collection Tasting that will teach you how whiskies are created with simple and natural ingredients from scratch.

Trail Map

Below are the locations by numbers of the distilleries.

Itineraries

Tailor-made itineraries can be made to your preferences ranging from 2 days to 5 days.

For more information, please go to the Whisky Trail website.

Getting there

The closest airports to the trail are Inverness and Aberdeen. Our LunaJets advisors will get you the correct aircraft to the airport you wish for. A private transfer will be included, if asked for, to get you to this eccentric experience of the Whisky Trail.

Book your private flight with LunaJets

Do you feel like visiting the astonishing Scottish countryside after reading about this unique trail? Book your flight with LunaJets today and upscale your trip in no time. LunaJets will guide you with only the best. Our LunaJets private aviation advisors will make sure all of your itineraries are planned to perfection and you can enjoy this exquisite trail.

How many days should I take for the trail?

Typically the trail should be between 2 and 5 days. Depending on your preferences and other activities it is advised to take the trail in 4 days so you can enjoy the beautiful country of Scotland and visit each distillery with time.

When is the best time to visit Scotland?

Scotland has a very humid climate and low temperatures in winter, so the best months to visit the country are usually summer. Spring and Autumn can also be considered but the chances of getting rainy days are higher.

Can I take whiskies on my flight back home?

Each country has its regulations on the amount of alcohol that can be imported so check with our LunaJets advisors and get your whiskies on board.

Which aircraft does LunaJets offer?

LunaJets has a fleet of over 4800 aircraft, so we will make sure the right aircraft is chosen for your trip to anywhere in the world.