Why take a trip to the scottish whisky distilleries when visiting scotland
A trip to the whisky distilleries of Scotland is a must on a traveler’s agenda when in Scotland. In fact, Scotland is known not only for its beautiful rolling hills and castles but also for its distilleries. Whisky tourism is on the rise in Scotland and many people travel to this part of the world to experience the fine art of whisky making from the masters themselves.
Each whisky distillery in Scotland is different from the other. The main whisky producing areas in Scotland are divided into regions. The Speyside region, the Highland region, the Lowland region, the Islay region and the Island region are the main areas in which the famous distilleries of Scotland are located. Each of these regions has its own specific flavor to lend to the whiskies made here. For example whiskies made in the Highland and Speyside region are warm and sweet while the ones coming from the Islay region are extremely peaty and smoky in taste. The Island whiskies taste a little salty and owe this to the geography of the place in which the whisky is distilled and matured.
The Scottish tourism department has taken an initiative called the Scotland Whisky initiative. This initiative brings together the scotch distilleries of Scotland to offer the visitor a truly rewarding Scottish experience. The biggest whisky distillery operator present in Scotland is Diageo who have opened the doors of their distilleries to the visitors resulting in almost 210, 000 people visiting twelve of the distilleries run by the group. According to the Scotch Whisky Association, there are around 1.2 million tourists who visit the forty two distilleries present in Scotland.
A trip to a whisky distillery in Scotland will introduce you to the nuances of whisky making. It will take you through the entire process of how whisky is made. A whisky distilleries tour will take you to the distillery and explain to you the entire process of distillation. This includes learning how the grain used in making the whisky is fermented and the distillation process after which the grain spirit is called a whisky.
When you are visiting whisky distilleries you will be taken to visit the cellar in which the whiskies are left to mature. It is interesting to note that all whiskies made in Scotland have to be matured in casks made of oak. These whiskies also have to be left to mature for a minimum period of three years. Most Scot whiskies are matured for much longer periods as this process is the one which gives the whisky its unique flavor and individuality. You can also be a part of the tasting session which is organized by most distilleries when they open their doors to visitors. Some distilleries go a step ahead and give the visitor the pleasure to experience whisky tasting sessions at the place where the whisky is maturing.
Whisky distilleries have organized tours that coincide with food and drink festivals that add to the gaiety. These festivals are an excellent place to have the whole Scottish experience complete with food and drink.