Glen Garioch Distillery

Glen Garioch Distillery stands on the edge of the small Aberdeenshire village of Oldmeldrum, about 17 miles north-west of Aberdeen. Founded in 1797, it is one of the oldest operating Scotch whisky distilleries in the country, drawing its water from the Coutens spring and its name from the fertile Garioch (pronounced "geery") valley that surrounds it. The cluster of low, whitewashed buildings and pagoda-roofed kiln form a classic Highland distillery scene.

Visitors can take guided tours of the working production area, walking past the mash tun, washbacks and copper pot stills, and finishing in the warehouses where casks of single malt mature slowly in the cool north-eastern air. Tastings introduce the distillery's characteristic spirit, traditionally described as rich, malty and lightly spiced, with bottlings drawn from sherry and bourbon casks of varying ages.

Oldmeldrum itself is a pleasant stop, with a tidy market square, independent shops and easy bus connections to Inverurie and Aberdeen. The distillery is a natural pairing with nearby castles such as Fyvie and Haddo House for a day exploring the Aberdeenshire countryside.