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Speyside Whisky Experience
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Speyside Whisky Experience

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Speyside Whisky Experience
5
#2 of 8 Food & Drink in Elgin
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Elgin, Scotland
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Speyside Whisky Experience
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61 reviews
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Panikkos P
1 contribution
Wonderful whisky experience
Nov 2023 • Friends
Derek was an amazing person to have as our guide. He has huge knowledge of the whisky industry and the distilleries. Our day could not have been better. Derek arranged for the 4 of us us to visit 4 excellent distilleries and the day was a great experience. The day was organised superbly and he was excellent company with a clear passion for what he does. We feel very lucky to have had him as our guide and have him impart his wonderful knowledge. Can’t recommend him enough.
Review of: Private Speyside Whisky Experience
Written 19 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Derek H
Pani. Thanks so much for such a nice review. Glad you all enjoyed the experience. Derek
Written 21 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jen N
2 contributions
Great day out with Derek!
Oct 2023 • Friends
Derek curated a fantastic day for our group. Very knowledgeable and even added an extra bonus stop at Glenfarclas along the way. Highly recommend!
Written 27 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Curious60719319505
4 contributions
Wide experience of Speyside whisky
Oct 2023 • Friends
Derek curated a fabulous day for four of us who are all interested in whisky. We had a terrific diversity of drams and excellent tours covering the full spectrum of Speyside malts. His knowledge and experience was huge and we felt very priveleged to have him as a guide. Cannot recommend him enough.
Review of: Private Speyside Whisky Experience
Written 25 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Malcolm J
1 contribution
Fantastic introduction to the world of whisky
Sep 2023 • Friends
Derek is superb. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable about the whisky industry, but he is great a putting a tour together with just the right balance of education, history and tasting. He is also very good company for a couple of days of driving around the Speyside region - lots of interesting chats about local history as well as the history of whisky making.

There were four of us on the tour and we had two full days. Each day had a good mix of of whisky tours, whisky tastings and leisurely lunches.

Thoroughly recommended
Review of: Private Speyside Whisky Experience
Written 20 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Derek H
Hi Malcolm. Thanks for kind review. Glad all the guys enjoyed the tour and picked up a bit of whisky knowledge on route. Cheers Derek
Written 26 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Holly W
7 contributions
Perfect day of whisky tours and tasting
Aug 2023
Derek is a gem. Friendly and knowledgeable. His car was pristine and comfortable, and he kept us moving during the day without making us feel like we were hustling. He is the ultimate host and guide. We saw four distilleries, plus did a little riverside tasting. His go-to lunch spot is fantastic (and accommodates all kinds of food allergies).

One thing you should know, though, if you're doing distillery tours -- they are quite similar. If you like to get into the details of how each distillery differs, and you can't get enough of whisky-making info, go for it! But if you're there more for the tasting than the tour, keep in mind that the tours get slightly repetitive. This has nothing to do with Derek, but maybe consider doing tastings in some locations and not the full tour (if that's possible). Derek took us to one distillery with a FABULOUS tasting room and that's all we did there. That was a great addition to the day.
Written 17 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Derek H
Hi Holly - thanks for this nice review of my tour and the very relevant comments you made. Glad you enjoyed Speyside and hope to see you again. Derek
Written 19 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Beverly W
St Louis 10 contributions
Excellent Subject Matter Expert For Whisky Tours
Aug 2023 • Couples
We highly recommend Derek’s Speyside Whisky Tour. Our day was perfect thanks to Derek, who ensured we got to see & do everything on our whisky trail list. Derek’s knowledge & experience in the whisky industry is phenomenal- he shared fascinating history, distillery techniques, & local lore throughout our time with him. We’ll treasure this portion of our trip to Scotland always.
Review of: Private Speyside Whisky Experience
Written 9 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Derek H
Hi Beverley - thanks for such a nice review, and so glad you enjoyed my tour and Scotland in general ! Cheers Derek
Written 11 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Carri H
1 contribution
Amazing Speyside Tour
Jul 2023 • Couples
Our tour with Derek was great! We learned a lot, had fun whiskey tastings, saw the beautiful countryside and ate a great lunch! Derek is very knowledgeable and we had so much fun!
Written 2 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Derek H
Hi Carri thanks for the nice review - a pleasure to tour with you guys. Derek
Written 11 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Johanna M
San Mateo, CA7 contributions
Amazing!!! Use this tour company. You will not have any regrets
Jul 2022 • Friends
Wonderful experience. Derek was so nice and helpful in setting up our 2 day tour. We told him what we were interested in and he took care of the rest. Car was lovely, he had a lot of history and industry information and took us on an amazing tour. I have since told other friends about him and one group will be using him this August 2023. I'm sure they will love it!
Review of: Private Speyside Whisky Experience
Written 26 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ralph R
1 contribution
The best possible Speyside Whisky experience bar none!
May 2023 • Friends
I booked the Speyside Whisky Experience with Derek very last and late minute. Our previous plans had fallen by the way-side with another tour guide Catriona Stevenson from info@slaintescotland.com, which I don't recommend for she didn't even show up or answer our phone calls, she was a scammer which I had booked months ahead.

Fast forward to Dereck of Speyside whisky experience who I decide to call while I was in Scotland because I was supposed to be on a whisky tour with Catriona, so I chatted with Derek and he laid out a last minute 3 day tour plan with me over the phone starting the following day in Elgin, UK - Derek even picked up me and my friend at the train station in Elgin, and then we reviewed all of the next 3 day's plans and tours of distilleries. Derek stated that he did this all last minute, and I and my friend were very appreciative of Derek.

Derek took us to about 5 distilleries a day and many other distilleries for whisky tastings and well. It seems that Derek was well known by many of the distilleries by many of the employees, which was awesome! Derek knew of may of the local restaurants in the Speyside area very well and the area around all of Speyside. Moreover, Derek knew of many scenic areas and Castles and their History. Derek was like an encyclopedia for history and of Whiskies and their History.

In summation; Derek saved our trip in Scotland because we had been taken by Catriona Stevenson of info@slaintescotland.com by making up with a 3 day awesome tour of the Speyside! If I go back to Scotland for another Whisky tour, I would go with Derek Hancock of Speyside Whisky Experience at info@speysidewhiskyexperience.com
Review of: Private Speyside Whisky Experience
Written 15 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Derek H
Hi Ralph. So glad that you both enjoyed the tour, and I am extra glad that your experience of Scotland and our hospitality was saved at the last minute.... Thanks again for this nice review. Derek
Written 16 May 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sadie T
2 contributions
Book him now!!
Apr 2023 • Friends
My best friend and I had such a wonderful time with Derek! He picked us up at our B&B and escorted us to four different distilleries in the Speyside area. The tour was perfectly planned based on descriptions we gave him about ourselves, our interest, and our trip. Our trip overlapped with the region’s whiskey festival but Derek made sure to book things in advance and be flexible with the changes that some distilleries had for their normal operations. He was so informative, kind, patient, and personable. We learned so much about whiskey and the area! Plus, Derek is very well known at many of the distilleries so we were always treated like royalty because we were with him. Highly, highly, highly recommend!
Review of: Private Speyside Whisky Experience
Written 14 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Derek H
Hi Sadie. I am pleased that you enjoyed your tour. Great meeting you both and thanks for the glowing review. Derek
Written 16 May 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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SPEYSIDE WHISKY EXPERIENCE (Elgin) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go