Edinburgh Whisky Distillery Tour: Glengoyne & Deanston Tastings
Taste whisky the way it's made, at two distilleries that still do
A full-day whisky tour from Edinburgh visits Glengoyne and Deanston Distilleries with entry and four tastings included, plus a stop at Loch Lomond National Park. The driver-guide is English-speaking and groups stay under 16 people. Depart from Edinburgh Bus Station. Check in closes 15 minutes before departure.
Step-by-step itinerary
Whisky distilleries and Loch Lomond visit
- Visit Glengoyne Distillery tour
- Enjoy whisky tasting at Glengoyne
- Admire views at Loch Lomond National Park
- Visit Deanston Distillery tour
- Enjoy whisky tasting at Deanston
- Glengoyne Distillery Entry included 1h 15m
- Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park 1h 15m
- Deanston Distillery Entry included 1h 15m
What’s included
- Entry to both Glengoyne and Deanston Distilleries.
- four whisky tastings (two drams at each distillery).
- transport in a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach.
- an English-speaking driver-guide for the full nine hours.
- a stop at Loch Lomond National Park.
- Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 09:30
Information
Sample two working distilleries on a full-day tour from Edinburgh Bus Station with tastings and entry included.
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Traveler reviews
The experience
How do you actually taste whisky the way distillers intend it? Not in a bar, but standing inside the place where it's made. This tour picks you up at Edinburgh Bus Station and takes you to two working distilleries that couldn't be more different. Glengoyne sits at the foot of a hill and runs on a small scale with copper stills you can see from the tasting room. Deanston is the only distillery in Scotland that generates its own electricity, and the industrial architecture is part of what you're tasting: the water, the equipment, the process all shape the spirit. You get two drams at each one, tasting notes from the guide, and time to ask questions about what separates them.
The route takes nine hours total. After Glengoyne, you stop at Loch Lomond National Park to see the water that feeds the region's whisky production and take photos. Then on to Deanston for the second tasting and a walk through the working distillery. The driver-guide speaks English and stays with the group the whole day, so you're not navigating between stops or wondering what you're looking at. Groups cap at 16 people, which means you're not herded through in a crowd.
You travel in a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach. Luggage is limited to one carry-on-sized bag (20kg max) plus one small personal item, so pack light. Check in at the bus station 15 minutes before departure. If Deanston is closed (it has a silent season in late October and early November), the tour substitutes Rosebank Distillery instead, and your tasting experience stays the same.
Top questions
What's the difference between Glengoyne and Deanston that I'd actually taste?
Glengoyne is a small, traditional distillery at the foot of a hill, and Deanston is a large industrial operation that makes its own power. The scale, water source, and equipment shape the flavor profile of each whisky, and the guide walks you through what to notice in the glass at both stops.
Do I need to arrange my own way to the bus station, or is there pickup from my hotel?
The tour departs from Edinburgh Bus Station at Gate J and Gate K on St Andrew Square. Hotel pickup is not included, but public transportation runs to the station. You'll need to get yourself there and check in 15 minutes before departure.
How much whisky am I actually tasting on this tour?
You get two drams at Glengoyne and two drams at Deanston, for four tastings total across the day. Each tasting includes guidance from the driver-guide on what to look for in the whisky.
What if I don't drink alcohol? Can I still do the tour?
The tour is built around whisky tastings at both distilleries, and entry to those distilleries is included in the price. You're welcome to visit and skip the drams, but the experience is centered on tasting.
Is there food or lunch included on the nine-hour day?
Meals and refreshments are not included. You'll want to bring snacks or plan a meal stop, especially since the day runs from morning through early evening.
What happens if I'm traveling with someone under 18?
The minimum age for this tour is 18 years. Younger travelers cannot join, even if they skip the tastings.
Operated by Rabbies Trail Burners. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 4 days ago
Edinburgh Whisky Distillery Tour: Glengoyne & Deanston Tastings
9h · EN
from £ 109.59 per person
≈ US$ 147 in your currency
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