5 Scottish whisky adventures for autumn & winter 🥃🍂
There are two types of people in Scotland when autumn arrives. Those who put the heating on, find a blanket and refuse to leave the house until March – Me. And those who look at the golden leaves, dramatic skies and suspiciously empty roads and think… “That looks like an excellent excuse to visit a distillery.” Graham
At Slanj, we’ve always believed whisky is about far more than what’s in your glass. It’s the history, the craftsmanship, the places, the people and the stories that somehow turn a quick dram into an entire afternoon.
And Scotland? Well, she has more stories than most.With Edinburgh’s Whisky Festival returning to Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Saturday 10 October, we thought this was the perfect time to look beyond the festival floor and explore the whisky adventures waiting around Scotland.
We caught up with Victoria Miller, founder of Sip Seekers, a platform helping whisky lovers discover and book tours, tastings and experiences across Scotland. We’ve put together five ideas for your autumn and winter whisky bucket list. Please don’t be mad when you end up planning several weekends away.
1. Go somewhere you’re not normally allowed. 👀
Not in a Graham, put that crowbar away sort of way. We’re talking about getting through the doors of working distilleries and behind-the-scenes spaces that aren’t normally open to visitors.
Sip Seekers has launched Unlocked, a collection of limited-capacity experiences offering unusual access to Scotland’s whisky industry. Its first experience takes guests inside Aberargie Distillery in Perthshire.
Aberargie doesn’t ordinarily operate as a visitor centre, so this is a chance to see a working distillery from a rather different perspective. Head of Production Graeme Mackeddie will take guests behind the scenes of its barley-to-bottle production, followed by a warehouse tasting and a locally prepared lunch.
Victoria and the Sip Seekers team are working with producers across Scotland to develop more Unlocked experiences, so even those who’ve already ticked off an impressive number of distilleries might discover somewhere new.
Our verdict? There’s something particularly special about seeing the parts of whisky production that don’t usually make it onto the visitor-centre tour. Find out more at Insider Tour
2. Make a proper Scottish escape of it. 🍂
You know those autumn days when Scotland looks like somebody’s turned the saturation up?
Golden trees. Mist hanging over the hills. A wee bit of sunshine, if we’re exceptionally lucky. It’s a glorious time to get out and explore. And if you’re making a whisky trip of it, why not go the whole hog?
The Isle of Raasay is a cracking option. The ferry journey alone is part of the adventure, with spectacular views towards Skye. Once there, whisky enthusiasts can explore the distillery, experience warehouse tastings and even stay overnight on the island.
Over on Skye, Torabhaig Distillery offers another opportunity to explore a working distillery, with an on-site café for anyone who believes a good day out should also involve lunch. Quite right.
Further south, there’s Glen Scotia in Campbeltown, where distillery tours and tastings provide a wonderful excuse to spend some time exploring this historic whisky town.
Our suggestion? Book somewhere lovely to stay, find a good restaurant and make a weekend of it. The whisky might be the reason you go, but the people and places are often what you’ll remember.
And if you’re driving, ask about drivers’ drams or takeaway samples where available. Scotland’s roads are beautiful enough without trying to combine the scenery with a tasting.
3. Go beyond the standard distillery tour. 🥃
But what if you’ve already done the classic tour? What next? Quite a lot, actually.
At Glengoyne, visitors can explore more involved experiences, including opportunities to create or bottle their own unique single malt.
Rosebank in Falkirk is another fascinating stop. After decades of silence, this historic Lowland distillery returned to production in 2023, bringing an important piece of Scotland’s whisky heritage back to life.
Then there’s Lindores Abbey Distillery in Fife, a place with extraordinary historical connections to whisky. The abbey has links to the earliest written reference to Scotch whisky, dating back to 1494. Yes, 1494….. We know!
And we thought our heritage exhibition went back a long way.
Across Scotland, you’ll also find warehouse tastings, blending experiences, rare drams and opportunities to get much closer to the craft.
That’s one of the things we love most about whisky. The more you learn, the more you realise there’s still a ridiculous amount left to discover. The Never Ending Story (best film ever).
Which brings us rather neatly to something we’re especially excited about at Murrayfield this year… Our brand-new whisky heritage exhibition, taking visitors on a journey back to the 1700s.
Add in live coopering demonstrations from the skilled team at Cambus Cooperage, and you’ll get a proper look at the people, skills and history behind the whisky in your glass.
We do like to give the old stories their moment. ❤️
4. Put something delicious on the itinerary. 🍫
Whisky and food. A pairing we wholeheartedly support. Particularly when there’s chocolate involved.
At Glen Moray, for example, you can explore whisky and chocolate pairings featuring creations from Edinburgh’s COCO Chocolatier.
If you’re planning something particularly special, The Glenturret in Crieff combines distillery experiences with the opportunity to dine at its two-Michelin-starred Lalique Restaurant. That’s certainly one way to elevate a day out.
But your whisky-and-food adventure doesn’t have to take place entirely within a distillery. If you’re joining us for Edinburgh’s Whisky Festival, our lanyard sponsor Fogo de Chão Edinburgh has a rather lovely little extra lined up.
During the week of 5 October, festival ticket holders who choose the Indulgent Churrasco at Fogo de Chão Edinburgh can enjoy a complimentary dram selected by Fogo. Simply mention the festival offer in the comments when making your reservation and show your festival ticket to your server.
A very good excuse to make a weekend of it, if you ask us.
5. Have a brilliant whisky adventure without travelling halfway across Scotland. 📍
We love a road trip, but sometimes the diary, the weather or the sheer thought of packing an overnight bag says otherwise. The good news? You don’t have to travel far to discover something special.
In Edinburgh, Holyrood Distillery brings whisky production right into the city.
Down in Leith, Woven’s Blending Rooms offer hands-on workshops where you can explore flavour, experiment with different whisky components and create your own blend to take home.
Head west and you’ll find The Clydeside Distillery on the banks of the Clyde, with Auchentoshan just outside Glasgow.
And Glengoyne, Rosebank and Lindores Abbey are all within easy reach of Scotland’s Central Belt.
There’s an impressive amount of whisky history, innovation and craftsmanship within a relatively short journey.
But what if you’d rather discover a whole host of whisky producers in one place?
Well……Funny you should ask. 😏
Edinburgh’s Whisky Festival — Saturday 10 October
If you’re reading this, you’ll likely already know we’re bringing together an incredible line-up of distilleries, independent bottlers and whisky producers at Scottish Gas Murrayfield for a proper celebration of all things whisky.
Expect hundreds of drams to explore, fascinating conversations, live coopering demonstrations and our brand-new whisky heritage exhibition.
Standard exhibitor tastings are all included in your admission, and you’ll receive a Glencairn glass and glass-holding lanyard to keep.
You’ll be able to catch up with Victoria and the team, discover more about the whisky experiences happening across Scotland and perhaps start plotting your next wee adventure.
You might even discover a dram at the festival that sends you off to visit the distillery it came from. Dangerous territory for anyone with an already overflowing whisky bucket list. 😂
Saturday 10 October 2026
Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Session 1: 12pm–3:30pm
Session 2: 4:30pm–8pm
Explore the festival and book your tickets.
We’ll see you there. Slàinte! 🥃