Stirling & Northeast Scotland’s Highlights - Discover Scotland: Experience the Best of Scotland - page 321

Speyside Don't Miss List
IAN LOGAN, BRAND AMBASSADOR, CHIVAS BROTHERS
1 THE GLENLIVET DISTILLERY
The home of the most iconic single malt whisky in the world, the Glenlivet
( www.theglenlivet.com ; at Ballindalloch, 10 miles west of Dufftown), offers a great
mix of old and new, and a chance to see how modern technology has been adapted to
work alongside traditional techniques. If you are a whisky connoisseur, join me on my
weekly tour and discover behind-the-scenes secrets.
2 SPEYSIDE COOPERAGE
The Speyside Cooperage ( Click here ) gives you a chance to watch a craft that has
changed little over the centuries - the quality of the cask is one of the biggest contrib-
uting factors to the flavour of a single malt. The team here supply barrels to distilleries
all over the world and share with the distillers the passion of creating the finest
whiskies in the world.
3 GORDON & MACPHAIL
The most famous whisky shop in the world, Gordon & MacPhail
( www.gordonandmacphail.com ; 58-60 South St, Elgin) is home to some of the oldest
whiskies, including a 70-year-old Mortlach. The Urquhart family (owners) have played
an important part in making single malt whisky what it is today, bottling these whiskies
long before the distillers ever did.
4 CORGARFF CASTLE
The impressive and remote Corgarff Castle (near Cockbridge, 30 miles south of
Dufftown on the road to Ballater) was once home to the redcoats whose job it was to
chase down illegal distillers in the early 19th century.
5 GROUSE INN
Set deep in the heart of the old smuggling country, this remote pub at Cabrach, in the
hills 10 miles south of Dufftown, has nearly 250 single malts on offer, with many many
more on display around the bar - a collection that is home to several rare and unique
bottlings.